The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) promotes carbon reduction and has completed Taiwan's first carbon footprint assessment for flowers, using the main export flower Phalaenopsis orchid as the model crop. The carbon footprint of one 2.5-inch Phalaenopsis seedling is 0.4 kg CO₂e, and the assessment has been transferred to the industry.
The MOA issued a press release today, stating that in response to the global 2050 net-zero emission target and international market carbon reduction regulations, it is following the four core principles of "reduction, carbon sink, circular economy, and green trends" to promote low-carbon transformation in the agricultural sector.
The MOA said that the Flower Innovation Park Research and Development Center took the lead in using Taiwan's main export flower item, Phalaenopsis orchid, as the model crop, successfully completing Taiwan's first carbon footprint assessment for flowers.
According to the results of the carbon assessment by the Flower Innovation Center, the carbon footprint of one 2.5-inch Phalaenopsis seedling is 0.4 kg CO₂e.
The MOA stated that completing the carbon footprint assessment of Phalaenopsis seedlings not only establishes a specific quantitative benchmark but also helps the industry accurately identify carbon emission hotspots, serving as an important basis for subsequent carbon reduction and management.
Taiwan's Phalaenopsis orchid industry is highly internationally competitive. According to MOA statistics, over 80% are exported, with an output value of up to NT$5 billion. Out of every three Phalaenopsis orchids in the global market, one comes from Taiwan, and seedlings are the main export type.
The MOA said that in the face of the global net-zero emission trend and the gradual strengthening of carbon disclosure and product environmental information requirements by various countries, early introduction of carbon footprint assessment not only helps enhance corporate image and product added value but also attracts export markets that value sustainability, consolidating and strengthening the international competitive advantage of Taiwan's flower industry.
The Flower Innovation Center said that this assessment was conducted in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Environment, and through interviews with operators of different business scales and product types, integrated and summarized the key production processes of Phalaenopsis orchids; in addition, it collected the corresponding CO₂ emission equivalents for each process, and developed a "Carbon Emission Hotspot Inventory Program for Phalaenopsis Production Process," which can quickly calculate the carbon emissions of each process and the total amount. The technology transfer has been completed. (Editor: Wu Surou) 1150610
