A cross-disciplinary research team led by Prof. Chen Kuo-Long of the Department of Animal Science at National Chiayi University (NCYU) received the 2025 Future Tech Award. The team was recognized for its precision fermentation technology featuring net-zero carbon reduction, antibiotic-free animal production, and high-value conversion of agricultural waste. The award ceremony was held on October 18 at the Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC) Hall 1, with Cheng-Wen Wu, Minister of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), presenting the award. The technology has completed field validation and is ready for immediate deployment on Taiwanese livestock farms, paving the way for a new era of antibiotic-free, low-carbon animal husbandry.
The award-winning technology, “Improving Chicken Production Efficiency: ‘Reducing Carbon Footprint’,” was led by Prof. Chen and brought together faculty experts from NCYU’s College of Agriculture, College of Life Sciences, and College of Science and Engineering. The project was carried out in collaboration with the Taiwan Livestock Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, and Chiaho Agricultural Science Co., Ltd. Core team members include Associate Prof. Chia-Wen Hsieh, Associate Prof. Chia-Li Wei, doctoral student Yaling Hsiao, Prof. Gu Guo-Long, Prof. Bor-Chun Weng, Prof. Chishih Chu, Dr. Yueh-Sheng Lee, Dr. Zong-Yu Li, and Dr. Hung Ching-Chi, forming an integrated team that links academic research with industry practice. From October 16 to 18, the research team participated in the Taiwan Innotech Expo, setting up a technology showcase booth at TWTC Hall 1, which attracted collaboration inquiries from domestic feed manufacturers and major livestock operators. Manufacturers and operators noted that the technology not only shows strong potential to replace imported fishmeal but also meets increasingly stringent antibiotic-free production standards, describing it as “one of the few solutions that have genuinely moved beyond the laboratory stage.”
Highlights of the “Improving Chicken Production Efficiency: ‘Reducing Carbon Footprint’” technology include: (1) converting agricultural by-products such as soybean hulls, wheat bran, and mushroom substrate into high-efficiency feed additives; (2) a proven ability to replace both fishmeal and antibiotics, increasing broiler production efficiency by up to 12%; and (3) achieving Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 9 with ton-scale production line validation, enabling immediate implementation in Taiwanese livestock farms.
The NCYU research team stated that, based on practical needs gathered from exhibitions and exchanges at the Taiwan Innotech Expo, they will launch the next phase, which will focus on establishing a “field implementation assessment and pilot collaboration mechanism” tailored to different livestock farm types. Beginning with local demonstration sites, they aim to accelerate Taiwan’s sustainable transition toward antibiotic-free, low-carbon, and circular resource use in livestock farming.
Photo 1: Prof. Chen
Kuo-Long (4th from right), Prof. Gu Guo-Long (3rd from right), Prof. Bor-Chun
Weng (1st from right), Prof. Chishih Chu (4th from left), Associate Prof.
Chia-Li Wei (2nd from left), and other team members received the 2025 Future
Tech Award.
Photo 2: The NCYU
interdisciplinary team leads Taiwan’s transition toward antibiotic-free,
low-carbon animal husbandry.
Photo 3: The NCYU team
presented its innovative technology ready for immediate use on livestock farms
at the Taiwan Innotech Expo.
Photo 4: NCYU’s net-zero livestock innovation attracted collaboration inquiries from domestic feed manufacturers and major livestock operators.