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Second cohort of UOG, NMC students explore smart agriculture in Taiwan

Second cohort of UOG, NMC students explore smart agriculture in Taiwan

Second cohort of UOG, NMC students explore smart agriculture in Taiwan


8/15/2024
UOG tropical agriculture major Joshua Artuz points to a watermelon growing in a greenhouse at Huang Lin Machinery Co., Taiwan.
UOG student Daisy Kuo tours the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute of the Ministry of Agriculture.
Northern Mariana College student Bonnie Sagana takes a photo while touring the greenhouse at Huang Lin Machinery Co., Taiwan.
UOG and NMC students tour agro-biotech equipment manufacturer Taiwan Hipoint in Kaoshiung City.
UOG and NMC students tour the Princess Green Nursery Social Enterprise, learning how they use tissue culture technology to rapidly mass produce high-value, healthy seedlings.
UOG and NMC students listen as an employee of Known-You Seed Co. explains the technology the company uses to develop seeds to survive in various environments. 
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Fifteen students from the 91快播 and Northern Marianas College got to explore advancements in agriculture in Taiwan as participants of the Smart Agriculture Technology & Culture Experience Study Abroad Program in July. The students were the second cohort, following the first group in July 2023, to be selected for travel scholarships from the J. Yang & Family Foundation.

Photo of a student comparing plant images on a comptuer programThe nearly two-week experience took the students around Pingtung County, Taiwan, learning from agricultural professionals and faculty of National Pingtung University of Science & Technology. The central theme of the itinerary was the integration of technology for agricultural sustainability.

鈥淭he theme of last year鈥檚 trip was virtual reality鈥搑elated activities. This year, many agriculture-related courses have been added as well as agriculture field [demonstrations],鈥� said Dr. Hank Tsai, assistant professor of scientific agriculture at NPUST.

The program itinerary included farm visits, lectures, and agribusiness tours, including:

  • Angel Garden Leisure Farm, an agritourism business;
  • Taiwan HiPoint, an agricultural research equipment manufacturer;
  • Known-You Seed Co., a crop breeding and seed production company famous for its seedless watermelons;
  • Huang Lin Machinery Co., a company that assesses the influence of various control devices on the microclimate of greenhouses.

鈥淥ne of my favorite memories from the trip was the chance to engage with professionals in Taiwan. Visiting agricultural industries and farms was a highlight, particularly the field trips to HiPoint and Known-You Seed,鈥� said Rosemarie Faisao, a junior at Northern Marianas College. 鈥淚 was amazed to see how technology has transformed agriculture, making it much simpler compared to the traditional methods.鈥�

Photo of a student rolling out a tarp next to a greenhouseOne day the students got hands-on experience building a tunnel greenhouse 鈥� from measuring the foundation using trigonometry to building it using power tools.

鈥淭he experience working with other foreign students and my fellow Saipan islanders was an experience I will not forget,鈥� said Kaelan Arciaga, a UOG senior studying tropical agriculture production.

The Smart Agriculture Technology & Culture Experience Study Abroad Program will continue to be held once a year, with the third cohort slated to head to Taiwan in January.

For more information, contact Dr. Kuan-Ju Chen at chenkj@triton.uog.edu. 

Photo of a group of students in a greenhouse