Making the Best of Integrated Crop Management: Saving Cost of Short-term Crop Management for Farmers while Ensuring Bountiful Harvests
Farmers who have attended agricultural seminars hosted by governmental agencies are likely familiar with Integrated Pest Management (IPM), a method that combines the use of pesticides with various techniques such as physical, biological, and agricultural control measures to reduce pest/pathogens populations and minimize pesticide residues. Besides reducing the development of pesticide resistance among pests, IPM also has positive effects to our environment.
However, the use of different control methods can only reduce the damage caused by pests and have limitations on improving crop yields. In recent years, Integrated Crop Management (ICM) has emerged internationally. ICM incorporates Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) with IPM, enhancing crops' inherent resistance to pests/pathogens and improving nutrient uptake and physiological transformation.
Dr. Yang Hsiu-Chu, a retired researcher from the ACRI, has been a major advocate for ICM promotion in Taiwan. The Ministry of Agriculture of Taiwan has implemented the "Demonstration Project for Promoting the Introduction of Crop Integrated Management (ICM) into Production and Marketing Group Verification," promoting ICM for crops such as pineapples, dragon fruits, rice, cucumbers, and sweet potatoes. The Taiwan ICM Enterprise Alliance, comprising JHB Taiwan Corporation, Hopax Fine Chemicals, Agrogreen, and Group Gain, introduced ICM schemes for strawberries, coffee, cantaloupes, mangoes, and citrus fruits at last year's Asia-Pacific Agricultural Technology Exhibition. These schemes utilize organic fertilizers combined with microbial agents and liquid fertilizers, along with potassium phosphite, plant essential oils, and trace elements such as manganese and zinc, to enhance the absorption of major and trace elements while simultaneously reducing pest/disease occurrences.
In field demonstrations of short-term crops, using microbial agents derived from Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis, organic fertilizers with added microbial agents, and potassium phosphite, strawberry yields increased by 5% to 17%. Combining microbial product with organic fertilizers further increased Chinese cabbage fresh weight by 35%. Spraying cinnamon essential oil product increased tomato yields by 15%. Additionally, irrigating potatoes with cinnamon essential oil, microbial product, and potassium phosphite increased yields by 28%, 18%, and 5%, respectively, while reducing the incidence of potato scab.
During Taiwan Smart Agriweek in 2024, two mainland China cpmpanies into the Taiwan ICM Enterprise Alliance, including JHB China Inc. and Duofen Agriculture. In addition to existing items like immune inducers, plant protection essential oils, botanical pesticides, and microbial fertilizers, leaf nutrient agents have been added. These additions will further assist farmers in implementing ICM for crop production management, enabling them to quickly mitigate initial losses caused by pests while simultaneously increasing crop yields and quality during harvesting periods.
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As global climate change intensifies, "heat stress" triggered by high summer temperatures has become a core challenge for the poultry farming industry. Meanwhile, under the dual trends of animal-friendly farming and antibiotic reduction, improving poultry immunity and gut health through precision nutrition has become key to maintaining production efficiency. In response, Jiahe Agrochemical Co., Ltd. (hereafter referred to as Jiahe Agrochemical) has proposed a full-cycle integrated feeding management solution tailored to the distinct physiological needs of layers and broilers, covering the "brooding period, mid-laying/growing stage, and environmental management.
With Taiwan's agriculture facing multiple challenges such as an aging population, laborshortages, and climate change, how to effectively pass on the years of field experience accumulated by veteran farmers and combine it with emerging technologies to improve management efficiency has become an important issue for agricultural development. Agro-Green International Co Ltd stated that the future of agriculture not only requires experience,but also data analysis and smart technology to assist decision-making, creating a new generation of management models that combine inheritance and innovation.
Why AI in agriculture, fisheries, and livestock? Because relying solely on traditional experience is no longer enough.
In recent years, the global agricultural landscape has experienced rapid changes. Factors ranging from extreme weather events and international conflicts to fluctuating raw material prices continue to impact agricultural production and supply chain stability. For Taiwan's agricultural sector, which relies heavily on imported materials and international trade, maintaining steady production and mitigating risks in an uncertain environment has become a critical issue. According to Liangnong Modern Agriculture Technology Co., Ltd., a 'preventive management' approach will be a vital direction for Taiwan's agriculture as it moves toward resilience and sustainability.
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