Smart Net-Zero

June 10, 2026 | Central News Agency (CNA) | (In Chinese)

Taiwan's Floral Industry Innovation Center, under the Ministry of Agriculture, completed the island's first carbon footprint inventory for cut flowers, using Phalaenopsis orchids — Taiwan's leading floral export — as the model crop. The assessment found a 2.5-inch orchid seedling carries a carbon footprint of 0.4 kg CO2-equivalent. Researchers developed a dedicated calculation tool, identifying emission hotspots across the production process, and the methodology has already been transferred to industry. Taiwan exports more than 80% of its orchid production, worth an estimated NT$5 billion annually, supplying roughly one in three orchids traded globally, primarily as seedlings. The inventory gives the sector a quantified baseline to support emissions management and strengthen competitiveness as international markets increase disclosure requirements for carbon and environmental product information.