MAMA Biweekly Newsletter – Mar. 17th 2021
Exclusive Interview – Ching-Fong Chang
(Chairman of MAMA)
Taiwan Marine Biotechnology Development Trends in the next 3-5 years
Taiwan’s applied biotechnology industry output for 2020 is approximately US $3.8 billion. The public is paying more and more attention to health and environmental issues. The world’s overall trend is towards public health, food safety, and improving life quality. Moreover, because of COVID-19, the development is accelerated.
In terms of marine biotechnology, Taiwan’s marine biological resources are abundant and highly diverse. The development of marine active substances into drugs is a very favorable and important part of the research from mollusks, sponges, fungi to drug development or enzymes. At least three drugs are made from marine active substances that the U.S. FDA has approved, and many are in clinical trials. The active substances have antibacterial, anticancer, and antiviral components, and there are other good vitamins, enzymes, and antibiotics in the ocean.
60-80% of the world’s aquaculture resources are exported from Asia. Taiwan is also close to China and Southeast Asia markets. Therefore, with the integration of IT and IoT, there will be great potential for development. The overall trend is favorable to the aquaculture industry’s development due to decreased fishery resources and environmental and climate change.
Another relatively important thing is food. The current trend and focus on food safety also have much functional food and health food redevelopment. The food industry in Taiwan is already very well developed, coupled with the existing foundation of agriculture. It is essential to establish healthy and safe food. Food sources and from farm to table production and marketing history systems are also gaining importance. The value of these products is getting bigger and bigger.
The future challenge will be the link from the fry to the production and marketing to the processing, which may be a professional division of labor or a one-stop-shop. Taiwan is expected to be the seed bank of Asia, and the technology of ornamental fish (breeding, production, and sex control) and peripheral industries. The problem of fry is gender control, and we need to achieve infertility to control the key technology and not lose seeds.
Taiwan can be the core base for key technologies and quality seedlings for marine biotechnology in the Asia-Pacific region. At the same time, we can also take care of production, marketing, and logistics.
CY Huang Affairs Perspective
The conflict between energy transformation and ecological conservation
The recent discussion on the conflict between energy transformation and ecological conservation has aroused concern due to the Da Tan Algal Reef Referendum. The referendum’s main complaint is the relocation of CNPC’s third natural gas receiving station away from Da Tan Algal Reef in Taoyuan, hoping to protect Da Tan Algal Reef and the nearby marine ecological environment.
Environmental conservation groups and scholars say that algal reefs grow slowly. Hence, it is rare to have a large algal reef area, and the 27-kilometer-long algal reef in Taoyuan has 7,600 years of history and should not be destroyed. Also, the algal reef has a high level of biodiversity. In recent years, many rare and iconic marine life such as juvenile Red-Fleshed Hammerheads have been found there, indicating that the algal reef area is a good ecological environment.
The government wants to build a third natural gas receiving station mainly in response to the government’s energy transformation policy, hoping that by 2025 the proportion of natural gas power generation can reach the goal of 50%. Taoyuan Datan power plant power generation can supply the northern region to make up for the gap in nuclear power generation and transmission to the neighboring Taoyuan, Hsinchu, and other key towns in the technology industry.
In the future, there are certain aspects of Taiwan’s industrial development that need more attention. The first point is to pay more attention to environmental conservation. In the past, the main focus of industrial development was on policy direction and economic development. In recent years, Taiwan has become more and more aware of environmental protection, and the speed of modern information dissemination and participation in public affairs is increasing. If the process is not properly publicized and transparent, it will easily blur the focus and degenerate into populism. The second point is to do a good job of cross-border communication and public relations. Industry, government, and the private sector must have a sound communication platform and strengthen their links. Industry development can no longer only look at the economic side with the rise of environmental awareness but also strengthen public relations and communication.
Lian Tat Company
Lian Tat Company (LTC) was established on March 12, 1959. Since its inception, it has acted as a resource integrator by sourcing machinery tools and turnkey equipment from Europe and the USA to assist local company’s industrialization.
Since 1980, LTC expanded its business scope to source diesel engines for marine and power plant applications by associating with leading brands such as MAN, MTU, Alstom, etc. Its customers include Taiwan Navy, Customs, Coast Guard, Taiwan Power Company, shipping companies such as Evergreen, ferry owners and operators, etc.
Establishing a full-fledged marine engine service workshop in 1994, LTC set a new milestone in its history. With the establishment of the workshop, and a strong service team providing timely on-site and workshop service, LTC has created unparalleled sales and service records for the fleets of the Taiwan Navy and Coast Guard.
Ocean Economy in Taiwan
To promote offshore wind power, the Director-General of the Bureau of Energy said that the government is already thinking about sustainable ocean development for 20 years later
More than 100 exhibitors from 12 countries around the world participated in 2021 Wind Energy Asia. Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, and Sweden exhibited in “country pavilions” and created the first virtual-reality integration, allowing exhibitors to meet one-on-one with potential buyers from 40 different countries through physical booths and online to offline virtual-reality integration booths.
The “Maritime Talent Competence Division” in Maritime Technology Innovation Center is audited by TUV Rheinland Taiwan to be the complete GWO certified training center in the Asia Pacific
The “Maritime Talent Competence Division” is audited by TUV Rheinland Taiwan, become a GWO-certified training institute, which will provide basic and advanced courses for the wind power industry in Taiwan and Asia in compliance with GWO standards.
2021 Wind Energy Asia with 27 industry forums deepen the connection and communication
2021 Wind Energy Asia forum mainly focuses on 4 major fields, “Taiwan Offshore Wind Power Current Situation and Industry Investment”, “Human Resource Development and Financial Management”, “Marine Environment and Wind Farm Operation”, and “Floating Wind Turbine Solutions”.
The Explorer Dream under Dream Cruise Line completed its annual survey in Kaohsiung, which shows the industry potential of Kaohsiung in the cruise industry chain
With completing the annual survey of the Explorer Dream, it is the first time that Kaohsiung shows international cruise industry of its ability of vessel maintenance, that all international cruise running Asia line can finish maintenance in Kaohsiung, nat only can save the oil and miles from sailing to Singapore but also can operate in a short time.
With AI, the head of the aquaculture business acquired the first Best Aquaculture Practices license in Taiwan
Industrial Technology Research Institute developed ”Smart International Pre-Certification Innovation Service (beCert)” with AI and Block ChainTechnology, which helped Kouhu Fisheries received the first Best Aquaculture Practices(BAP) license in Taiwan. BAP is recognized by European and American large market purchasing suppliers, like Walmart, Costco. It would help Taiwan to get into the international fishery supply chain.
Ocean Economy in Southeast Asia
Nippon Express China-Vietnam cross border rail freight service launched
The East Asia Region section of Nippon Express Co Ltd has launched a new cross-border rail freight service from Suzhou, China, to Hanoi, Vietnam using international rail lines connecting both countries.
Vietnam recovery held back by steep ocean rates and box woes
At this point all industries are impacted, especially the low-value products; their export volumes have been reduced tremendously due to the added costs, and imports are affected too because while Vietnam is one of the top countries in terms of Covid-recovery economically, and orders from overseas clients are rising, importing raw materials for manufacturing is an issue.
Fish farms in Vietnam, Mexico achieve milestone sustainability certifications
Seafood producers in Mexico and Vietnam have achieved firsts in earning certification from the Aquaculture Stewardship Council and Global Aquaculture Alliance’s Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) program. https://reurl.cc/qmYa1n
New Dalian – Southeast Asia container services being launched
The two new direct shipping services cover Dalian-Vietnam and Dalian-Singapore-Malaysia. Wan Hai Lines and Interasia will jointly operate the service to Vietnam, deploying three 1,800 TEU containerships.
