Good Farmer Grand Tour (5) Wheat replanting urgently needs manpower and equipment
In Taiwan's diet, bread and wheat-based foods are becoming more and more common, second only to rice. Unlike rice, the wheat used to make flour is almost entirely imported. Given the two major threats of climate change and oil scarcity, there is a need to raise wheat's self-sufficiency rate.
However, Taiwan's wheat cultivation depends solely on private, self-driven recultivation, and agricultural departments are short of research personnel and equipment. Lu Husheng, a professor in the Department of Agronomy at National Taiwan University, describes it as "like a unit with incomplete equipment" that "cannot fight" when facing a food crisis.
Since becoming CEO of the Rural Development Foundation, Lu Husheng has turned his attention domestically and has actively considered the necessity of increasing wheat cultivation in Taiwan. He says that compared with other crops, wheat cultivation, seedling breeding and research are weak domestically. At present, Taiwan's wheat cultivation area is about 100 hectares, which is not comparable to the 300,000 hectares of the Japanese colonial era; and for breeding talent, there are only two wheat breeders at the Taichung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station.
Lu Husheng, a professor in the Department of Agronomy at National Taiwan University, will arrange an exchange of wheat cultivation experience between Taiwan and Japan. Image source / Xiyuan Wheat Facebook fan page
Though wheat cultivation has limits, breakthroughs are still possible
Wheat likes a dry climate and cannot have too much moisture. It fears rain, but also cannot be too dry or lacking water. It suits a temperate climate. Taiwan has inherent environmental disadvantages for growing wheat. For a long time, wheat has been treated as a winter rotational crop and must be harvested before rice seedlings are transplanted in March, leaving a very short growing time for wheat. Therefore, variety selection is based on early maturity, heat tolerance and moisture tolerance, all of which limit wheat quality.
But Lu Husheng says, "Taiwan's climatic conditions being unfavorable for wheat does not mean we should be pessimistic. Science is so advanced now that we should do our best to find wheat varieties suitable for Taiwan." Besides rotation, farmers can also make wheat the main crop and rotate with soybeans. In this way, wheat gets a longer growing time, and the varieties that can be chosen will increase.
When facing the challenges of climate change and food security, coarse grains, especially the food diversity of wheat recultivation, are like biodiversity: each is an extra layer of adaptability and an extra layer of survival security, like what Japanese people call "extending life": increasing the chance of survival.
Wheat research and development must not be neglected
What makes Lu Husheng even more anxious is that there are only 2 young researchers doing wheat seedling breeding. Breeding is a master-apprentice system. A numbered seedling, such as the Kaohsiung No. 139 rice variety, cannot be understood in its characteristics without a master taking an apprentice to the field to observe the traits of this seedling, let alone developing affection for it.
But Taiwan has long neglected wheat cultivation. With limited national resources, breeding personnel are often reassigned to varieties popular in the market, such as flowers and fruit trees. In addition, grain seedlings have long had large planting areas and low economic benefits and have not received attention. When the older generation of masters retires, there is no time to pass things on to the next generation. Techniques gradually decline, and the whereabouts of seedlings are completely unknown, making the recultivation process even harder.
Fortunately, some wheat seedlings remain, and the flame is still alive, though there is a gap between generations. "Wheat seedling research and development can be said to be in a stagnant period. If we do not plant anymore, there will be no chance. To improve wheat breeding, we should increase research talent and hardware equipment." Hardware equipment such as laboratories, testing equipment and flour milling machines is also different from the large machines in ordinary flour mills; it must be relatively small, and all require funding.
Breeding talent comparison: wheat and corn in urgent need
Also among coarse grains, compared with soybeans, wheat breeding research talent is in even more critical condition. Lu Husheng says Taiwan has certain demand for peanuts, mung beans and adzuki beans, and has also developed a certain scale and stable prices, so they have already gained a firm footing. Soybeans and edamame belong to the same variety; there is no shortage of breeding talent, and there is also a market.
Corn is in the same situation as wheat or even more critical. There are only two corn breeding specialists, and both are nearing retirement. If no one takes over, it may be lost. Lu Husheng says, "Once it is lost, to recultivate again, it will take at least ten years to breed varieties suitable for this land."
Corn breeding personnel are nearing retirement. With no successors, they will fall into the predicament of being lost. Image source / Taiwan Environmental Information Association
Mapping wheat
Besides cultivation, the noodle-making industry is a finely graded industry. Flour gluten is related to protein. Varieties bred with high protein also have relatively high gluten. High-gluten flour is an element in making top-grade bread. "Bakers of the level of Wu Pao-chun all have to keep trying, seeking the most suitable gluten among flours from various countries, and keep experimenting with gluten blending to make the best bread." This shows the importance of research and development in the wheat industry.
To let farmers know under which climatic conditions wheat yields the best and meets economic benefits, Chen Xiaojun, a graduate student advised by Lu Husheng, will cooperate with farmers to investigate and study a wheat yield map. Through precision equipment, they will monitor microclimatic conditions in the fields, understand light, temperature and humidity, and see under which conditions the best yield per unit area can be grown. Second, Lu Husheng looks forward to research on a quality map to identify the best noodle-making properties (quality).
This research requires establishing a quality laboratory. In addition to breeders, it must also include cross-disciplinary cooperation with millers and bakers to identify varieties suitable for market products. This process requires constant experimentation to understand the limit of the wheat grade that Taiwan's land can nurture.
The noodle-making industry has already developed a precise grading system. Photo / Hu Muqing
Promoting Taiwan-Japan exchange to grow top-quality Taiwan-produced wheat
Japan and Taiwan have similar conditions for growing wheat. During the Japanese colonial era, Taiwan grew a lot of wheat. Having just returned from a visit to Japan two weeks ago, Lu Husheng plans to introduce Japanese wheat cultivation methods and promote exchanges between the private sector and Japan. Before the wheat harvest in April next year, he is expected to arrange, through the foundation's assistance, for farmers to visit Hokkaido.
Japan already knows the limits of wheat cultivation, and farmers can also grow varieties suitable for making noodles or bread according to market needs. Therefore, market demand and supply can be matched, and the wheat will not go unsold. This approach of grasping market segmentation is worth learning from in Taiwan.
For example, if the public likes the gluten texture of noodles like those in beef noodle soup, breeders will help develop suitable varieties, and there can be a brand so that everyone knows which Taiwan variety and origin it comes from after eating it.
Rhapsody in the farmland
Wheat has already developed such precise grading. Therefore, Lu Husheng believes that farmers who want to grow wheat should first understand these properties and cooperate with researchers, so as to avoid growing crops of a grade less favorable to the market and losing everything.
Central Taiwan is relatively suitable for wheat, the north is too humid, and the south often has droughts. Lu Husheng suggests first establishing a wheat base in central Taiwan, then gradually extending the cultivation area to the south and north, step by step stabilizing both quality and yield. He looks forward to establishing a wheat demonstration field to grow the best-quality wheat, like a bellwether for other farmers to refer to and observe.
This rhapsody stacked from wheat is entering its most moving movement. On Taiwan's farmland, Taichung Selected No. 2 wheat seedlings strive to break through the soil. On one hand, they explore downward the codes hidden in the land, taking root and growing, extending life for Taiwan's agriculture.
Lu Husheng cherishes the group of farmers willing to grow wheat led by Shi Minghuang, director of Xiyuan Xing. "This group of farmers is very important. They shoulder the responsibility of passing on experience and preserving techniques." He also does not forget to encourage the two wheat seedling researchers, hoping that our society, besides flowers, fruit trees and edamame, can also pay attention to the breeding talent working for the food we need in daily life. (This article was also published in the Environmental Information Electronic News.)
Taiwan's wheat cultivation is just starting, extending life for Taiwan, and its equipment needs to be excellent. Photo / Guo Zhirong
Further reading
Good Farmer Grand Tour (4): Finding a path for local soybean revival
In order to restore soybean cultivation in Taiwan, the Xiyuan Wheat Contract Farming Group established the Soybean Special Task Force this year, hoping to write a new milestone for the recultivation of local coarse grains. To find suitable good seeds, Director Shi also took considerable effort, and finally slowly began the difficult road of recultivation. During this Good Farmer Grand Tour, farmers specially went to the Kaohsiung District Agricultural Improvement Station to visit Dr. Zhou Guolong, known as the "Edamame Prince", seeking professional knowledge on soybean cultivation techniques and rediscovering the way to grow local soybeans.
Good Farmer Grand Tour (3): Old farmers + small farmers learn in the wheat field
One itinerary of the three-day Good Farmer Grand Tour was to visit Qiaode Elementary School under the Wheat Field Learning project. At the end of November this year, they opened up 20 sq m on campus for teachers and students to grow wheat together, and diligently updated the cultivation records in the Xiyuan Wheat production history. No matter how tight the schedule, this group of passionate "old farmers" on the grand tour had to meet these outstanding "small farmers".
Good Farmer Grand Tour (2): A trip to comfort injured wheat
Mr. Shi Minghuang, who promotes "local wheat and coarse grain recultivation" in Taiwan, and contract-farming friends launched the "Good Farmer Grand Tour" round-island itinerary last week, visiting farmers growing wheat and soybeans in various places to observe the environments and crop growth of different fields and exchange cultivation experience and techniques. NewsMarket participated throughout the "Good Farmer Grand Tour", recording this rather milestone-significant "local coarse grain recultivation round-island journey" and the process of learning with farmers.
Good Farmer Grand Tour (1): A recharging trip for wheat and soybean recultivation farmers
Braving the cold wind, the "Good Farmer Grand Tour" team led by Shi Minghuang, director of Xiyuan Xing, with more than 20 farmers participating in wheat and soybean recultivation, carried out a 3-day round-island observation itinerary, visiting farmers in various places and exchanging knowledge on cultivation, processing, production and marketing with breeding experts and scholars. This trip can be said to be a milestone in Taiwan's private efforts to raise the food self-sufficiency rate.
A big gathering of 40 elementary schools across Taiwan: Wheat Field Learning, GO!
"Farmers, sorry! We came late." In view of the fact that "food education is the part of environmental education most closely related to individuals", the "Xiyuan Wheat Contract Farming Farmers Group", which has long promoted local wheat cultivation in Taiwan, and the "National Federation of Teachers Unions", newly established in July this year, chose Yunlin, known as the nation's agricultural capital, to jointly announce the "Wheat Field Learning" cultivation plan. At present, 40 elementary schools and homeschooling groups across Taiwan have responded.
Taiwan wheat, long time no see! Special topic guide
Taiwan's wheat needs practice, from production to sales, from spiritual encouragement to practical support, everyone needs to help make it happen. News&Market's self-produced special topic "Taiwan wheat, long time no see!" interviewed the important drivers of this wave of wheat revolution. It is their attitude and persistence that opened up new possibilities. Let us come to the wheat field scene together and cheer for Taiwan wheat!