202404/18
The 2024 World Bamboo Congress, supported by the Executive Yuan and co-organized by the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute (NTCRI), and Taiwan Bamboo Society, commenced today, April 18, at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Hsinchu. The congress will be followed by a series of events on bamboo culture and sustainable development on April 21 and 22 at the NTCRI in Nantou. The congress brought together more than 200 key figures from 30 countries, as well as local experts and scientists from the bamboo industry. Themed Next Generation Bamboo, the event aims to explore how the diverse applications and sustainable development of bamboo will impact the next generation.
During the 5-day congress, 17 professional speakers from around the world will share their perspectives and experiences with bamboo in their respective fields. From circular economy to sustainable living, architecture to design, community development to environmental protection, the speakers will explore the potential and innovation of bamboo in various domains.
Among many professional speakers from the international industry and academia, Arief Rabik, Indonesia’s bamboo expert, founder of IndoBamboo, and World Bamboo Ambassador, will share his views on revitalizing the bamboo industry chain and sustainable management of bamboo groves; David Sands, founder of the US company RIZOME and chief architect of Bamboo Living, will talk about the trend of bamboo as the world’s premier building material; Felix Böck, innovator of the Austrian company ChopValue, will talk about the impact of the circular economy on the bamboo industry; and Luis Felipe Lopez, engineer at the Base Bahay Foundation in the Philippines, will also join the speakers to share his expertise on climate-smart living. In addition, Ming-Yuan Kan, former president of Taiwan Bamboo Society and principal architect at D.Z. Architects & Associates, will share his thoughts on the bamboo building movement in Taiwan and how he has been exploring the use of bamboo for local building in Taiwan in recent years. Stan Shih, founder and honorary chairman of Acer Inc., and Gunter Pauli, an advocate of the blue economy, will talk about the miraculous application of bamboo in the maritime industry. Last but not least, many other leading experts will share exciting ideas on bamboo-related topics at the congress.
In addition to academic exchanges, the congress also offers other interesting activities. International shakuhachi master John Kaizan Neptune, accompanied by David Neptune playing the Takeda bamboo drum and Ying-Jung Liu from Hana No Waon performed at the opening ceremony, showcasing the charm of bamboo culture. Yoshihiro Yamagishi, president of bamboo products company Taketora, drove his car made of tiger-stripe bamboo, the “Bamboo Chaser”, adding an artistic and technological element of surprise to the opening ceremony.
At the lunch banquet on the opening day, the Agriculture and Food Agency served a vegan model menu with bamboo shoots as the main ingredient. The dishes were a fusion of modern cuisine and traditional Taiwanese culinary specialties, allowing participants to enjoy a “bamboo feast” marked by local creativity. Meanwhile, the myriad benefits of the bamboo economy were demonstrated at the Bamboo Expo and through six innovative bamboo structures on the National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University campus.
The opening day was not only the first day of the congress, but also the day on which the 6th World Pioneer Awards were presented, recognizing the pioneers of the bamboo industry and their contributions. This year, three pioneers of the bamboo industry from Taiwan were honored:
(I) Wei-Chih Lin (the late former researcher of the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute), whose research focused on the classification, introduction, and utilization of bamboo species and who published more than 50 academic papers and related publications. The award was received by his daughter, Dr. Na-Sheng Lin of Academia Sinica. Dr. Lin is a pioneer in bamboo mosaic potexvirus research, following in her father’s footsteps by promoting the sustainable management of Taiwan’s bamboo species.
(II) Wen-Huang Liu, a native of Zhushan, Nantou, founded his bamboo furniture manufacturing company in the 1980s and invested in the development of laminated bamboo products. In addition to developing various kinds of exquisite furniture, the five-kilometer-long curved bookshelf in the Koo Chen-Fu Memorial Library of the College of Social Sciences, National Taiwan University is also one of his iconic products.
(III) Wen-Chih Wang, a native of Chiayi, specializes in the production and creative development of woven bamboo products. Inspired by the traditional basket weaving techniques of Taiwan, he tries to use bamboo as a structural element to design large spaces. He is not only a world-renowned master craftsman, but also an outstanding artist and architect. He has created works of art that have been exhibited all over the world, including in Japan, France, and Australia.
The 2024 World Bamboo Congress not only represents a new milestone for Taiwan’s bamboo industry, but also demonstrates Taiwan’s proactive stance toward sustainable development, circular economy, and the promotion of bamboo culture. The congress will provide new inspiration and impetus for the development of the global bamboo industry. For more information about the event, visit the official website and social media platforms to explore the endless possibilities of bamboo with bamboo enthusiasts from all walks of life!