Taiwanese strawberries now have carbon labels. The Miaoli District Agricultural Research and Extension Station of the Ministry of Agriculture conducted a carbon footprint assessment of fresh strawberries at Tai-yi Leisure Farm. After a year of guidance, they successfully passed the review by the Ministry of the Environment and obtained the "Product Carbon Footprint Label."

This label records the carbon footprint emissions of strawberries from production to disposal and recycling. The Miaoli Agricultural Research and Extension Station stated that in the future, they will guide businesses to precisely reduce carbon emissions at key points. They also encourage consumers to choose products with carbon footprint labels to jointly promote the industry's transition to lower carbon emissions.

In a press release on the 6th, the Ministry of Agriculture announced that the Miaoli Agricultural Research and Extension Station conducted a carbon footprint assessment of the "400g plastic hand-held box strawberries" produced by Taiyi Leisure Farm, making it the first strawberry in Taiwan to receive a carbon footprint label. The Miaoli Agricultural Research and Extension Station noted that since Taiwan launched the carbon labeling system in 2009, over 500 products have received carbon labels, primarily concentrated in the food and manufacturing industries, with relatively few agricultural products. The acquisition of the strawberry carbon label not only broadens the scope of agricultural products with carbon labels but also promotes green consumption.

Director Lu of the Miaoli Agricultural Research and Extension Station stated that the carbon footprint of strawberries is based on the "Carbon Footprint Category Rules (CFP-PCR) for Fresh Fruits" published by the Ministry of the Environment, recording the carbon footprint emissions of strawberries from production to disposal and recycling.

The assessment results show that the total carbon footprint emissions for the "400g plastic hand-held box strawberries" produced by Taiyi Leisure Farm amount to 1.1 kg of CO2 equivalent (CO2e). The carbon footprint distribution across different stages is as follows:

Raw material acquisition: 68.81%
Manufacturing: 30.81%
Usage: 0.33%
Waste disposal: 0.05%

The Miaoli Agricultural Research and Extension Station pointed out that the raw material stage accounts for the highest proportion of the strawberry's carbon footprint, with fertilizers, drip irrigation electricity, and seedlings being the top three "carbon emission hotspots." To achieve the goal of reducing the carbon footprint by 3% within five years, the station will continue to assist Taiyi Leisure Farm by introducing professional technical teams. These teams will guide the farm in rational fertilizer management, improving fertilizer use efficiency, and implementing energy-saving irrigation systems.

The Miaoli Agricultural Research and Extension Station participated in the Ministry of Agriculture's "Agricultural Product Carbon Footprint Assessment Plan." According to the Ministry of Agriculture, after the carbon footprint assessment, Taiyi Leisure Farm identified its carbon emission hotspots and will try using recycled paper for packaging materials. The Ministry of Agriculture will also assist more agricultural enterprises in obtaining carbon labels, encourage businesses to reduce carbon emissions, and develop carbon reduction technologies.

The Miaoli Agricultural Research and Extension Station emphasized that encouraging consumers to purchase products with carbon footprint labels will prompt more businesses and manufacturers to join the green carbon initiative and produce low-carbon products, contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. In the future, the station will continue to assist with the carbon footprint assessments of agricultural products, encourage businesses to reduce carbon emissions, and develop carbon reduction technologies. They will also try using recycled paper for packaging materials. This collaborative effort aims to move towards sustainable carbon reduction in agricultural products.

Source:  Environmental Information Center