Smart Net-Zero

December 18, 2025 | Yunlin County Government (In Chinese) |

Yunlin County Government announced the adoption of probiotic technology to reduce GHG emissions from paddy rice cultivation as part of its low-carbon agriculture initiative. The approach applies beneficial microorganisms to rice fields to improve soil conditions and suppress methane emissions during flooding periods, addressing rice cultivation as a major source of agricultural methane emissions in Taiwan. Implemented in collaboration with local farmers, agricultural cooperatives, private enterprises, and a research team from National Chung Hsing University, a 2-year field trial (0.6 ha) reported sharp annual emission reductions—methane (CH₄) down 81%, N₂O down 68%, and CO₂ down 77%—while rice yields increased by 1.8% in the first crop and 10.2% in the second. The initiative demonstrates a scalable, field-based mitigation pathway that integrates emission reduction technologies into conventional rice farming without compromising productivity, reflecting growing subnational engagement in climate-smart agriculture.