Council of Agriculture Minister Chen Chi-Chung attended the groundbreaking ceremony in Pingtung today (the 5th) for the “Phase I Plant Construction Project for the Customized International Freshness Logistics Center” at the Agricultural Biotechnology Park. In his remarks, Chen stated that the project is a key part of Taiwan’s agricultural cold chain logistics system. With an investment of NT$574 million, the facility is scheduled for completion in February 2022 and will be handed over to Roundday Logistics for operation, expanding the nation’s cold chain processing and logistics capacity.

The International Freshness Logistics Center spans approximately 3 hectares and is designed to serve both export markets and domestic demand for agricultural products. It will introduce advanced cold chain management systems and upgrade existing cold chain facilities to strengthen sorting, handling, storage, and transportation capacity for fresh produce. The goal is to stabilize supply, maintain product freshness and quality, and enhance export competitiveness. The center is planned to include 1,347 pallet positions for chilled storage and 7,800 for frozen storage, along with a HACCP-compliant processing and packaging area capable of handling 10 metric tons per day. Additional facilities will include ripening rooms, vacuum pre-cooling, rapid freezing, and pressure-difference pre-cooling. With a total floor area exceeding 3,000 ping, the center will provide comprehensive cold chain services—from post-harvest handling, washing and sorting, cutting, processing, and packaging to cold storage and final distribution—once operational.

The Agricultural Biotechnology Park stated that, over the past three years, policies such as the New Agriculture Innovation Promotion Program and the New Southbound Policy have driven strong investment momentum across its 233-hectare main site and 163-hectare expansion area, with continued growth in tenant recruitment and business operations. Six major industry clusters—including natural product value-added applications, aquaculture and value-added processing, livestock and poultry biotechnology and value-added applications, agricultural materials, biotech testing and contract services, and energy-efficient controlled-environment agricultural facilities—continue to grow. Looking ahead, the park will align with the Council of Agriculture’s production–marketing adjustment and export promotion measures, while leveraging one-stop administrative services, bonded-zone tax incentives, streamlined import and export customs clearance, low-interest project financing, and R&D and industry–academia collaboration support. These efforts aim to help the International Freshness Logistics Center achieve its expected benefits and connect upstream and downstream partners, farmers, and fishers to form an integrated agricultural and fisheries supply chain.

Council of Agriculture Minister Chen Chi-Chung noted that many high-quality agricultural products in Taiwan are competitive in international markets. The International Freshness Logistics Center will play an important role in stabilizing supply and demand, improving product quality, and expanding logistics and distribution capacity. He added that the Council of Agriculture will fully promote and support the project while strengthening progress management, ensuring the most comprehensive combination of infrastructure, facilities, and supporting measures to create win-win outcomes for the industry, operating companies, and farmers.

Reprinted from the Council of Agriculture