The Development History Of Organic Agriculture

Chronicles of Organic Events

Taiwan

Year

International

1924

Germany

Rudolf Steiner was the first to advocate organic cultivation of crops.

1946

Great Britain

The “Soil Association” was established.

1947

United States

J.I. Rodale established the “Rodale Institute” for organic agriculture research.

1953

Japan

Okada Mokichi established the Mokichi Okada Association for promoting natural farming.

1972

France

Roland Chevriot (Nature et Progrès), Lady Eve Balfour (UK Soil Association), Kjell Arman (Swedish Biodynamic Association) and Jerome Goldstein (Rodale Institute) jointly promoted and established the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM).

The Agriculture and Forestry Department of Taiwan invited scholars and experts from National Taiwan University and Chung Hsing University to evaluate the feasibility study of implementing organic agriculture in Taiwan.

1986

In accordance with the “Organic Agriculture Feasibility Project”, field tests of organic agricultural improvement were respectively conducted at Kaohsiung District Agriculture Research and Extension Station and Tainan District Agriculture Research and Extension Station (in Qishan and Lucao).

1988

The Agriculture and Forestry Department of Taiwan promoted the “Pioneer Project of Organic Agriculture”, set up simple compost houses and tried organic cultivation.

1990

United States

The government passed the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA).

1991

EU

The EU formulated the Guideline for Organic Agricultural Products (Regulation (EEC) No.2092/91).

1993

EU

The EU officially implemented the Guideline for Organic Agricultural Products (Regulation (EEC) No.2092/91).

The Agriculture and Forestry Department of Taiwan organized the “Pilot Demonstration Project of Organic Agriculture Management”.

1995

The Agriculture and Forestry Department of Taiwan set the standards for organic cultivation of rice, tea, vegetables and fruits.

1996

The Agriculture and Forestry Department of Taiwan formulated the “Directions for the Pilot Use of Organic Agricultural Product Label”.

1997

South Korea

The government has passed the Law on the Promotion of Environmentally Friendly Agriculture.

1998

Japan

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan published the definition of organic agricultural products in the Japanese Agricultural Standards. In order to maintain and enhance the natural cycle of agriculture and to avoid the use of chemically synthesized fertilizers and pesticides to full yield the productivity of agricultural land according to the nature of soil concessions, it is necessary cultivate and manage agricultural products in way of minimizing stress on the environment.

On March 15, the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan announced the implementation of “Directions for Organic Agricultural Products Certification Institutions”, “Directions for the Advisory Group on Organic Agricultural Products Certification” and “Production Standard for Organic Agricultural Products”.

1999

On June 22, the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan announced implementing “the Application and Inspection Directions for Organic Agricultural Products Certification Institutions” as the review basis of private certification institutions for the Council.

2000

2002

United States

The United States has fully implemented the National Organic Program (NOP).

2006

Japan

The Japanese National Diet (Congress) passed the Organic Agriculture Promotion Law, which accelerated the all-round development of domestic organic agriculture.

On January 29th, the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan promulgated the Agricultural Production and Certification Act, which formally legislated to standardize the certification system of organic agricultural products and established a compulsory certification mechanism, specifying that domestic organic agricultural products must be certified by the certification body under this law before they can be sold as organic.

2007

EU

The EU announced the new Organic Agriculture Council Regulation (EC No. 834/2007).

The Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan promulgated and implemented the Organic Agricultural Product and Organic Agricultural Processed Product Certification Management Regulations and Imported Organic Agricultural Product and Organic Agricultural Processed Product Management Regulations.

The “Organic Farmers Market” of Chung Hsin University was officially opened.

The Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan proposed the agricultural policy, “New Agricultural Movement”, which listed the development of organic agriculture as an important objective.

2009

The Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan began to guide the establishment of “organic agriculture zones”, to cluster the benefit for the industry and promote regional organic agriculture management.

The Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan has designated November 11th as “National Organic Agriculture Day”, and the Association of Taiwan Organic Agriculture Promotion issued a statement of “Taiwan Organic Agriculture Proclamation”.

2015

International

On March 20th, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) proposed the idea of “Organics 3.0”.

The Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan has proposed the “New Agricultural Innovation Promotion Program”, which makes organic and environment-friendly farming an important policy goal to accelerate the development of organic agriculture.

2016

The Organic Agriculture Promotion Act was promulgated by presidential decree on May 30th, and was implemented one year after its annoncement.

2018

EU

The EU announced the new Organic Agriculture Regulation (EC No. 2018/848).

The Organic Agriculture Promotion Act was officially implemented on May 31st, which will promote the sustainable development of organic agriculture in Taiwan.

2019

National Chung Hsing University and the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan have officially unveiled the establishment of“Organic Agriculture Promotion Center” together.

At the first meeting of the Organic Agriculture Promotion Consulting Board held on September 3, the OAPC was formally designated as the Project Promotion Unit.

2021

2022

On February 3, the Taichung City Government announced the establishment of the Longquan Organic Agricultural Promotion Zone and the Hebadai Organic Agricultural Promotion Zone. Subsequently, on October 17, the Taitung County Government established the Ziyuan Organic Agricultural Promotion Zone in Guanshan Township.

2023

On August 16, the Hualien County Government announced the “Hualien County Organic Agricultural Promotion Zone Establishment and Guidance Rules.” Likewise, on September 8, the Yilan County Government issued the “Yilan County Organic Agricultural Promotion Zone Establishment Review and Guidance Management Rules,” which aim to foster an organic agricultural production environment and further expand the area dedicated to organic agriculture.

On December 1, the first specialized research institution for organic agriculture in Taiwan, the “Organic Agriculture Research Center,” was officially established in Hualien County. Its primary responsibilities include researching organic agricultural technologies, promoting demonstration projects, training young farmers, and being committed to aligning with global standards.