The 2022 award ceremony of the first green conservation "Big Footprint Award" was jointly organized by the Forestry Bureau, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, and Tse-Xin Organic Agriculture Foundation (TOAF). The award included three main categories, namely "Production Operations," "Ecosystem Creation," and "Soil Carbon Sequestration." Following three months of document reviews and on-site selection, 13 model farmers were selected to receive the award at the ceremony held on November 22, which was joined by Director General Lin Hwa-Ching of the Forestry Bureau and Chief Executive Officer Su Muh-Rong of the TOAF. The Green Conservation Label aims to promote the sustainable development of agricultural activities that take into account both farmers' livelihoods and environmental conservation. Over the past 12 years, it has guided farmers in accumulating experience using many eco-friendly farming practices. On this occasion the special characteristics and experiences of the award-winning farmers will also be compiled into a book. The aim is to further promote the exchange of experience and technological advancements among farmers, encouraging more people to join in the green conservation efforts, and raising public awareness on the value of Green Conservation Label products "for the good of the environment and the people." The First Edition of the "Big Footprint Award" Showcased the Features of Eco-Friendly Farming Practices By promoting the Green Conservation Label, the Forestry Bureau and the TOAF have demonstrated the contributions of farming to ecological protection thanks to the eco-friendly practices of farmers, providing motivation to farmers beyond agricultural output. The design of the Green Conservation Label is based on the concept of "Footprints in the Fields." It represents the spirit of humans and animals sharing a field, which is an area that farmers must devote their efforts to. The "Big Footprint Award" aims to select model farmers who silently work and protect the land, in order to praise and encourage them, allowing the public to better understand the efforts of green farmers protecting the ecology. Farmers who conform to the Green Conservation Label must farm without affecting the habitat of the organisms in their fields nor the natural ecosystem in the fields' proximity. In addition to not using chemical pesticides, fertilizers, and herbicides, farmers must also actively build habitats for animals, protecting the species and biodiversity of their fields. Therefore, the first edition of the "Big Footprint Award" was divided into three categories: The "Production Operations" category focuses on field management techniques for the soil, diseases, pests, and weeds, as well as on the benefits of field production and sales. The "Ecosystem Creation" category, on the other hand, pays attention to the value of habitat creation and agroecology services. Lastly, the "Special Award of the Year" is based on international carbon neutral issues, and so the "Soil Carbon Sequestration" category was established. Through these three aspects, it is hoped that the award will highlight the value and contributions of green conservation efforts to production, ecological, and environmental issues. The Forestry Bureau and the TOAF specially published the "Special Edition of the 2022 Green Conservation Big Footprint Farmers," which included the field scenery, farming characteristics, and experiences of 16 farmers who were awarded and selected in this edition of the "Big Footprint Award." The special edition also featured comments from the selection committee, and it is available on the official website of the TOAF for everyone to see, hoping to encourage more farmers to join in the ranks of green conservation. Establishing the Special Award of the Year to Raise Farmers' Awareness and Encourage Them to Implement Soil Carbon Sinks Farmers Yen Ming-Chuan and Teng Chiu-Mei, who are a married couple, won the special award in the "Soil Carbon Sequestration" category this year after they improved their fields' soil, increased organic matter, and maintained the soil's carbon sink function by laying mulch and reducing plowing. Furthermore, taking into account their carbon footprint, the couple took many actions, including making their own compost. This improved their fertilizer use efficiency, facilitating the continual accumulation of the carbon sink capacity of their fields' soil. According to the Forestry Bureau, extreme weather has intensified in recent years. From last year's severe drought to this year's heavy rains, these weather events have brought unprecedented impacts on agriculture. The best way to deal with climate change is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the source. President Tsai Ing-Wen announced in 2021 that Taiwan will attain net-zero emissions by 2050. In response, the Council of Agriculture immediately established the "Climate Change Adaptation and Net Zero Emission Project Office," showing the great importance that the agricultural sector attaches to climate change policies. Besides focusing on farmland ecosystems, the TOAF joined the "4 Per 1000 Initiative" in 2021 to promote the importance of soil carbon sequestration, provide suggestions for farmers, and invite them to conduct experiments. The TOAF hopes that through the participation of farmers, more data and experience can be accumulated, in order to promote the farming techniques of soil carbon sinks. For this reason, the theme of the Special Award of the Year of the first "Big Footprint Award" was "Soil Carbon Sequestration." By doing so, the award aims to raise farmers' awareness and encourage them to implement soil carbon sinks, contributing to the global environment together. Green conservation values biodiversity and soil health, which are beneficial for carbon sequestration. On this basis, the TOAF has recommended that farmers should make key adjustments and actively take measures to increase soil carbon sinks. These include: Cultivating fields with no-plow techniques or reducing plowing to avoid soil compaction; minimizing soil exposure using grass cultivation or mulch to protect the fields; and utilizing compost, organic fertilizer, straw, fallen leaves, etc., to increase organic matter. Combined with regular observations, record keeping, and soil inspections, more carbon dioxide can be converted into soil organic matter through precise carbon sequestration methods to increase the benefits of soil carbon sinks. Protecting the Big and Small Footprints in the Fields through Green Consumption Behaviors As of the end of October 2022, a total of 459 farmers across Taiwan have obtained the Green Conservation Label, covering an area of more than 742 hectares, 42 protected species, and 263 habitat conservation projects. This is living proof that green conservation has blossomed in all corners of Taiwan. "Every time you make a purchase, you are choosing the type of world you want to live in." Green Conservation Label certified products can be found in all Leezen stores in Taiwan and some Carrefour and PX Mart stores, as well as e-commerce platforms such as Leezen Everyday and Buy Directly From Farmers. It is hoped that through the "Big Footprint Award," consumers will have more opportunities to follow the big footprints of farmers, protect the small footprints of wildlife in the fields, and support the recovery of Taiwan's ecosystems.
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