From Learning to Leading: A Youth Assistant’s Path in Organic Transition

Founded in 1997, Tse-Xin Organic Agriculture Foundation (TOAF) is a non-profit organisation committed to promoting the principles of organic farming. In partnership with governments, businesses, communities and individuals, TOAF works to protect life on the planet by transforming land-use practices and consumer behaviour through training and support for farmers to transition into organic agriculture. The Foundation also works to promote Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) to invite closer connection with the source of their food and deeper understanding of farmland biodiversity.

We spoke with Howard Hao-yu Chen, a youth assistant in the Organic Development Section of TOAF, to learn about his journey as a young practitioner promoting the transition to organic farming in Taiwan.

Can you tell us more about yourself and how you started your work at TOAF?

I have a background in plant pathology. In other words, I studied the development and use of pesticides. Most of my former classmates would end up working for large chemical pesticide companies after graduation. I took a different path, because I had seen first-hand in laboratories and beyond how pesticides were introduced as a topical symptom relief. Many farmers may only have a very limited picture of what pesticides do to their farmland, being unaware of the potential pollutions and effects they may cause to the soil and environment.

My journey to becoming a member of TOAF started with volunteering at the Organic Tea Expo in the Nantou city of Taiwan when I was still a master’s student. The experiences there were eye-opening: not only did I see perspectives and approaches that I didn’t know in my studies, but I was also attracted to the mission of promoting organic agriculture. After I finished my studies, I seized the opportunity to work for Tse-Xin.

Could you show us more how you work at TOAF?

My first project is to support the transition to organic farming in the Yangmingshan National Park, which is also known as the ‘Backyard of Taipei’ given its proximity to the metropolitan. In 2020, TOAF was entrusted by the national park management to promote eco-friendly and organic farming within its premises.

I mainly support the transition of several plants, such as mandarin and calla lily, to eco-friendly farming, i.e. the removal of chemical pesticides in the farming process.

Getting to know the Yangmingshan National Park

Officially promulgated in 1985, the Yangmingshan National Park is situated on the northern edge of the Taipei Basin, covering a total area of approximately 11,334 hectares, with elevations ranging from 56 to 1,120 meters above sea level.

Yangmingshan boasts a diverse ecosystem, providing home to over 1,200 plant species, numerous bird species and a variety of butterflies and amphibians. Its unique microclimates and varying altitudes create distinct habitats, from sub-tropical to temperate.

What were the major challenges you encountered in this project?

The transition of different species constitutes a different level of challenge. In the case of mandarin, we had to provide technical visits and support, especially to solve pest issues. We would also need to secure market outlets for the produce and recruit volunteers to educate consumers on why organic produce is precious and a token of tireless hard work.

The technical challenges are tricky but manageable. The hardest part was to build trust with the farmers. The Yangmingshan National Park follows a top-down management approach. As entrusted consultants of the park, we were greeted with a sense of distrust from the farmers — Why would they want to listen to a couple of young people appointed by the government who tell them to change how they farm, when their way has been working for decades?

“I still remember the looks of disbelief on the farmers’ faces when my colleagues and I told them we’d buy their ‘ugly fruits’ during the first years of transition. Those looks are slowly replaced by joy and growing trust when we were able to find outlets for the produce, develop and market their products. It all felt like a dream,” shared Howard.

If mandarin was a tough challenge, calla lily was almost beyond our reach. In the case of mandarin, even if the organic produce did not look picture-perfect, we could still peel off the skin and use the fruit flesh as an ingredient for other products, such as fruit salad or beverages. That does not work for calla lily, whose only purpose is ornamental. At first, we did not dare to think about including it in our transition plan. We just wanted to take record of the species and initiate interactions with the farmers. The reason why we went ahead with this near mission impossible was because we found red bellied annulate keelback, an endangered species, in the fields.

To conserve the dwindling population of the rare snake, we had to brace ourselves for the mission. We were overjoyed to learn that two family farmers were willing to give it a try, despite the reluctance of their father. To persuade more farmers, we installed wildlife cameras in the fields to capture the activities of wild animals across the fields.

“Many farmers tended to think of farmland as a place where they grow their food or flowers. With the photos and videos on our cameras, we’d like to show them that their fields host a much bigger biological diversity than they realised, a diversity that we all should strive to protect,” explained Howard.

Key project phases

You have shared with us how tricky and challenging your work has been. What motivates you to brave such difficulties?

Apart from the determination to protect biodiversity, as I mentioned before, what keeps us motivated is the sense of community and reciprocal support we’ve been experiencing as part of Tse-Xin.

“We sometimes refer to it as the ‘spirit of a fool’ – foolish enough to go against all odds, foolish enough to dream and try to work towards it.”

We also hope that the Yangmingshan project would serve as a model to inspire more attention to and awareness about organic farming and its role in biodiversity conservation. Located just 20 minutes from Taipei by car, the park serves not only as a popular recreational destination for city dwellers but also as an invaluable educational hub, offering visitors a chance to learn about nature, conservation, and sustainable practices.

What do you think would help reassure farmers to transition to and continue to engage in organic?

In the process of building trust with farmers, we realised that it is crucial to help them build confidence and understand why their choice to engage in transition is meaningful and beneficial. A key to building confidence is visibility for their efforts – through organising press conferences and increasing media coverage of their efforts, farmers feel reassured and seen. This could also help connect them to their potential new customers.

Another important measure is community building. The process of transition to organic is often filled with bumps and stumbling blocks. It is especially at these times that farmers need to use the help of their community, for sharing their practices, for exchanging experiences, or simply for emotional support. A solid technical and emotional support network contributes to continuous engagement.

The story of Howard serves as a telltale sign why the mission of  IFOAM – Organics International matter: to support community building, knowledge exchange and awareness raising for the organic movement worldwide. It is this extensive support network and the sense of belonging it offers that secure the continuous engagement of organic farmers and practitioners, through thick and thin.