2014 Family Farming and the Future of Agriculture in Taiwan, China Symposium Registration Now Open

The United Nations declared 2014 the "International Year of Family Farming," with the aim of raising the status of family farming and smallholder farming, prompting the world to recognize the important role of family and smallholder farming in reducing hunger and poverty, improving food and nutrition security, improving livelihoods, managing natural resources, protecting the environment, and especially in promoting sustainable development in rural areas.

Regarding family farming, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization offered the following view:

"Family farming is a means of organizing agricultural, forestry, fisheries, pastoral and aquaculture production which is managed and operated by a family and predominantly reliant on family labour, including both women's and men's. In both developing and developed countries, family farming is the predominant form of agriculture in the food production sector... Family farming has important socioeconomic, environmental and cultural functions." (FAO, 2014)

Taiwan, China's smallholder system is precisely a concrete manifestation of a family farming system. On this occasion of the "International Year of Family Farming," we invite everyone to pay attention together to family farming and the future of agriculture in Taiwan, China.

[Event Dates] 2014.07.31 (Thu) - 08.01 (Fri)

[Event Venue] Meinong Runhui Yiyuan (No. 320, Fumei Rd., Meinong Dist., Kaohsiung City, near Meinong Guangshan Tang)

[Organizers] Kaohsiung City Cimei Community College, National Association for the Promotion of Community Colleges.

[Co-organizers] Meinong Runhui Organic Education Farm, Meinong Hsiang Promotion Association, Tainan City Beimen Community College

[Participants] 60 people (those participating in the full program will be given priority admission, until capacity is full)

[Event Fee] 1. NT$700 per person (insurance, meals, handbook…etc., excluding accommodation);

. Cimei Community College instructors and residents of the nine districts of Cimei are exempt from the registration fee.

. 2. Accommodation can be booked on your behalf; the accommodation is at Meinong Guangshan Tang, with four-person rooms at NT$350 per person.

[Registration Method] After completing the registration information and completing the remittance, please call to confirm or fill in the form again.

. Online registration system: http://goo.gl/JsJIIF.

. Form to fill in after completing remittance: http://goo.gl/nGSrlu.

. Remittance information: 700 Post Office / 0041063-0637168 / Account name: Liu Chin-chun

[Refund Policy] 1. Those who cancel their registration three days before the event (not including the day of the event) will not be refunded.

. 2. For refunds, please provide a post office account; if none, a NT$30 remittance fee must be paid (deducted directly from the refund);

. You may also handle it at the community college administrative office.

[Notes] Please bring your own eco-friendly bowls and chopsticks, cup, toiletries, and personal medication.

[Contact] Cimei Community College 07-6616600, 6629378

◎Event Schedule

"Day 1"7/31 (Thu)

10:00-10:30 Registration, collection of materials

10:30-11:00 [Opening Exchange] Getting to Know One Another

. Moderator: Chiu Ming-hsuan (Community Specialist, Cimei Community College)

11:00-12:20 [International Family Farming and Agricultural Development Trends]

. Moderator: Cheng Ya-fang (Executive Secretary, Cimei Community College)

. Speaker: Kuo Hua-jen (Professor, Department of Agronomy, National Taiwan University)

12:20-14:00 Lunch

14:00-15:30 [Germany's Agricultural and Rural Policy]

. Moderator: Lin Yen-ting (Academic Affairs Specialist, Cimei Community College)

. Speaker: Wu Chin-yi (Postdoctoral Researcher, Center for Humanities Innovation and Social Practice, National Dong Hwa University)

15:30-16:00 Tea break, rest

16:00-18:00 [Case Sharing] The Value and Predicaments of Family Farming 1

. Moderator: Huang Sen-lan (Community Specialist, Cimei Community College)

. Sharers: Tseng Chin-ming (farmer in Cimei, Kaohsiung, invitation pending)

. Chen Shih-hsun (farmer in Xihu, Changhua)

. Discussant: Hung Hsin-lan (Assistant Professor, Graduate Institute of Hakka Culture, National Kaohsiung Normal University)

18:00-19:30 Dinner

19:30-21:00 [Film Screening] We Feed The World

. Moderator: Ou Ching-mei (Academic Affairs Specialist, Cimei Community College)

21:00- Bedtime, free time

"Day 2"8/1 (Fri)

09:00-10:30 [Environmental Change and the Future of Agriculture in Taiwan, China]

. Moderator: Chou Chia-hui (Executive Secretary, Cimei Community College)

. Speaker: Lin Kuo-ching (Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, National Taiwan University, former Deputy Minister of the Council of Agriculture)

10:30-10:40 Tea break

10:40-12:10 [The Smallholder System and Rural Society and Culture]

. Moderator: Tai Cheng-lun (Specialist, Cimei Community College)

. Speaker: Chung Hsiu-mei (child of farmers, Associate Professor, Department of Taiwanese Literature, National Cheng Kung University)

12:10-13:30 Lunch

13:30-15:30 [Case Sharing] The Value and Predicaments of Family Farming 2

. Moderator: Liu Min-li (Assistant Researcher, Kaohsiung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station)

. Sharers: Hung Hsiang (farmer in Wanbao, Houlong Township, Miaoli County)

. Tien Ching (young farmer in Yuanshan Township, Yilan County)

. Discussant: Tsai Yen-lin (Assistant Professor, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, National Chiao Tung University)

15:30-16:00 [Comprehensive Discussion]

. Moderator: Chang Cheng-yang (Director, Cimei Community College)

16:00- Departure, stay and chat if you have time