The Taitung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station (TTDARES) of the Ministry of Agriculture held the 2025 Food and Agriculture Education In-service Training at the TTDARES Regional Education Center on November 14. The 12 participants were professional educators in the realm of food and agriculture education. According to the Ministry of Agriculture’s Guidelines for the Qualification and Training of Food and Agriculture Education Professionals, it was held to assist those qualified to complete their training within five years, extending their eligibility as educators in the field while honing their skills and instruction capacity.
Deputy Director Lu Po-song stated that the TTDARES has long promoted food and agriculture education in the region, working closely with farmers, schools of all levels, and farmers’ associations in designing diversified classes through which participants are encouraged to make use of their skills and food and agriculture education concepts are continually promoted.
First, associate researcher Chen Ying-fang spoke on the diversity of added-value applications for Taitung’s special agricultural products and discussed major points in the areas of processing and food safety management. Next, assistant researcher Huang Yun-en led participants on a tour of the Taitung Agricultural Product Added-value Trial Production Center while explaining product R&D and trial processes. The training was aligned with the theme of “dietary intake and lifestyle” in the dimension of “dietary health and consumption” from the established Three Dimensions and Six Themes of Food and Agricultural Education. The goal is for participants to integrate what they have learned into their instruction to further the practices of sustainable agriculture and healthy diets.