Fresh-keeping extraction technology adds value to agricultural products; the good water of Hualien and Taitung offers endless potential for rice shrimp farming
The Eastern Industrial Technology Service Center of the Ministry of Economic Affairs invited institutions such as the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute and the Food Industry Research and Development Institute to share technological resources and help farmers in eastern Taiwan grasp technology trends and production and marketing channels. The course "n Possibilities for Industrial Upgrading Across New Knowledge" attracted more than 50 agricultural practitioners.
Liu Fangyin, project manager at the Stone and Resource Industry Research and Development Center, explained that most of the course content was designed to meet the needs of small farmers, such as pre-transport handling and packaging material technology for agricultural products, or the testing and certification required by sales channels. These are pain points for small farmers handling production and sales on their own, so new technological resources and consultation channels were provided to save farmers from having to rack their brains alone and to help them seek expert assistance; in addition, the good water of Hualien and Taitung also has deep potential for aquaculture development.
Many biological fresh-keeping technologies Extraction technology adds value to waste
The packaging of agricultural products is not only for looking good and being easy to transport; it is best if it also has the function of maintaining freshness. A longer shelf life not only helps reduce freight costs but also expands the sales range. Huang Jincheng, director of the Technical Service and Promotion Center at the Food Industry Research and Development Institute, pointed out that in packaging materials and fresh-keeping technology, biological fresh-keeping methods have now been developed. After fruit is harvested, soaking it in yeast liquid can remove pathogenic bacteria on the surface and extend the fruit's fresh-keeping time. Making full use of microorganisms can reduce the use of chemical additives.
In addition, waste from agricultural product processing can also gain new life through extraction. Huang Jincheng gave an example: mango kernels left after the flesh is removed contain 10% oil. Mango kernel oil has a special glyceride and polyphenol content, and its melting point is similar to that of cocoa butter, giving it the potential to replace cocoa butter, and it can also be developed into beauty products.
However, how to obtain these new technologies and the scale of investment required are the focus farmers care about most. Huang Jincheng said that the Food Industry Research and Development Institute has a free Line group consultation service. Farmers can leave questions, and the institute will mobilize different professionals to provide appropriate assistance, hoping to help everyone find solutions more efficiently.
(Image / taken from a Food Industry Research and Development Institute report presentation)
Good water in Hualien and Taitung; key points on the aquaculture potential of Amano shrimp
"Every aquarium needs more than one Amano shrimp, so the industry has considerable prospects." Lin Xuelian, director of the Aquaculture Science and Technology Research Institute of the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute, explained that because Amano shrimp have a strong ability to feed on organic debris and algae, 20 years ago they became a key export product among functional shrimp species for Taiwan aquariums. In 2006, export volume once reached 10.8 million individuals. In recent years, due to overfishing, exports have not exceeded 2 million individuals, so both industry and academia are actively developing breeding and aquaculture technology.
Wild populations of Amano shrimp live in streams in Yilan, Hualien, Taitung, Pingtung and other places that can connect to the sea. They are a diadromous shrimp species: adult shrimp go to the sea to spawn, and juvenile shrimp return to streams to grow, so artificial breeding technology needs to overcome the requirements of two kinds of water quality. Lin Xuelian said that after years of trials, the Aquaculture Science and Technology Research Institute has now established a standard breeding and aquaculture process for Amano shrimp. As long as operators have the equipment in place, they can begin production immediately.
Lin Xuelian further pointed out that because Hualien and Taitung are the original habitats of Amano shrimp, water quality requirements for breeding and aquaculture are easy to solve, and the economic value is high, so it could become a core development industry for a single township. The only prerequisite is first crossing the cost threshold for equipment and technology transfer; after that, as long as the standard operating procedures are followed, there is no problem producing tens of thousands of Amano shrimp per day.
