With full support from the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), domestic agricultural academic and research institutions, and the industry, the 11th Asian Crop Science Association Conference (ACSAC 11), organized by the Agronomy Society of Taiwan (AST), was held at the Sheraton Grand Taipei Hotel in Taipei on May 19. This three-day international conference brought together nearly 400 experts, scholars, young researchers, and industry representatives from 21 countries worldwide. The conference was themed “Toward Net-Zero Production, Food Security, and Sustainability.” Experts from academia, government, industry, and research institutions engaged in in-depth discussions to address the pressing global challenges in agriculture, including reduced crop yields and ecological damage caused by extreme climate events. Participants expressed strong anticipation for the outcomes of the exchange.
This year (2025), Prof. Wen-Lii Huang, Vice President of ACSA and Dean of Student Affairs at NCYU, served as the organizing chair of ACSAC 11 on behalf of AST. With the full support of the MOA and various partners from government, industry, academia, and research, he successfully organized the first in-person ACSAC conference since the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s conference covered core topics including sustainable agriculture, smart agricultural technologies, climate-resilient crop breeding, biotechnology applications, and genetic improvement strategies. The conference featured keynote presentations by several international scholars showcasing the latest research achievements in emerging Asian agriculture. Additionally, a Young Scholars Forum and a Student Poster Session were organized to encourage international academic exchange and interdisciplinary collaboration.
As one of the co-organizers, NCYU actively engaged in conference organization and academic participation, submitting nearly 20 research papers. These covered a wide range of topics, including plant regulatory mechanisms under heat and drought stress, functional analysis of plant hormones and transcription factors, genetic transformation and molecular breeding strategies, crop diversity analysis and conservation, as well as the reuse of agricultural by-products. These contributions closely aligned with the conference themes of net-zero production, food safety, and environmental sustainability, highlighting NCYU’s research strengths and interdisciplinary integration capabilities in crop science.
In his opening remarks, NCYU President Han-Chien Lin stated that the university has long been dedicated to developing crop adaptation strategies in response to environmental changes, and has actively promoted the integration of basic and applied research. Hosting and participating in this conference not only strengthens NCYU’s international academic network but also clearly demonstrates Taiwan’s contributions to agricultural research on both regional and global scales.
Organizing
Chair Prof. Wen-Lii Huang noted that the event invited experts and scholars
from home and abroad. By sharing innovative achievements and practical
experiences from different countries, the conference was enriched with diverse
content and helped foster momentum for international collaboration. The
resulting research and development outcomes are expected to promote continued
agricultural progress in various nations and contribute to building a more
resilient and sustainable agricultural future for the Asia-Pacific region. The
conference preparation revitalized and strengthened a platform connecting crop
science scholars and experts across generations and institutions in Taiwan.
This renewed network ensures academic continuity and collaboration, and lays a
solid foundation for the development and vision of Taiwan’s agricultural
science and technology over the next three decades.
Photo 1: The 11th Asian Crop Science Association
Conference opened in Taipei, bringing together experts from academia,
government, industry, and research.
Photo 2: NCYU President Han-Chien Lin delivered the
opening remarks.
Photo 3: Prof. Wen-Lii Huang (third from right) from
the Department of Agronomy at NCYU served as the Organizing Chair of the 11th
Asian Crop Science Association Conference.
Photo 4: Nearly 20 papers by NCYU faculty and
students were presented at the 11th Asian Crop Science Association Conference.