Annual Training Programs The 164th Regular Session on Agricultural Development and Policy
Duration September 5 to October 3, 2025
Course Outline
I. Title: The 164th Regular Session on Agricultural Development and Policy
II. Organizer: International Center for Land Policy Studies and Training
III. Duration: III. Duration: 29 days, scheduled for September 5 through October 3, 2025 (excluding arrival and departure)
IV. Target Audience: 28 international participants of middle and high-level government officials or
experts in the fields of agricultural development and policy
V. Objectives:
1. Providing the participants with understanding of the most recent lessons learned in achieving goals for effective agricultural development and policy.
2. Giving the participants a deeper knowledge of agricultural economics, agricultural technology, agricultural resources, and international trade and market issues.
3. Introducing the participants to the techniques of economically and institutionally analyzing agricultural development and policy.
4. Arming the participants with skills and perspectives in policy-making of agricultural economics and industrial policy, agricultural technology, agricultural resources, agricultural market and trade.
5. Assisting participants with exploring models, policy development and policy implementation regarding
(1) Agriculture in the Age of Climate Change and Environmental Degradation
(2) Agricultural Resources and Technology Policy
(3) Agricultural Value Chains and Sustainable Rural Development
(4) Agricultural Development and Policy in Taiwan
VI. Course Components
1. General Structure (tentative):
(1) Agriculture in the Age of Climate Change and Environmental Degradation (Week 1):
Theories of economic development with a special view on the agricultural sector and rural regions; Challenges in Assessing the Impact of Climate Change Risks on Taiwan; Globalization, trade and farm sector development; Agricultural production, its unpaid environmental costs and interactions with global warming; Looking for solutions: Circular agriculture, Net-zero-emission agriculture and technological innovations in the pipeline; Policy interventions: Objectives, theoretical concepts, methodological approaches, actors, and instruments in practice; Planning and evaluation tools; The Challenge of Food and Agriculture in Developing Countries in the Era of Globalization.
(2) Agricultural Resources and Technology Policy (Week 2): Farm Management in the 21st Century Challenges and Opportunities; Sustainable Ag Practices: Economics, Barriers, Practicalities, Pros and Cons, Incentives; Global Farmland Markets: Supply, Demand, Land-Use Competition, Key Future Global Demand Drivers, Regional Differences; The Application of ICT in Smart Agriculture; Global Comparisons: Crop Yields/Production Costs/Challenges to Production; Agriculture & Food Systems of the Future: Discussion; Development of Agricultural Science and Technology in the New Century in Taiwan; Circular Agriculture and Net Zero in Taiwan.
(3) Agricultural Value Chains and Sustainable Rural Development (Week 3): Value chain analysis; Rural Regeneration; Value chain promotion; Sustainable bioeconomy; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Environmental Input-Output Analysis; Sustainable Rural Development; Farmers’ Association and Women Participation
(4) Agricultural Development and Policy in Taiwan (Week 4): Field Trips
2. Instructors (tentative): Instructors include one course coordinator, international lecturers from around the world and local lecturers from Taiwan.
3. Presentation
(1) In addition to class lecturing and field trips, the program at the International Center of Land Policy Studies and Training (ICLPST) encourages interaction among participants. Individuals are expected to not only learn the theory from the lectures of the instructors, but also learn through debate about real-world problems from case presentation and active discussion with fellow participants and other professionals. Therefore, each participant will be required to make a 30-minute presentation to the group regarding the major problems facing agricultural development and policy in their countries.
(2) The presentation shall include the following components:
A. Country Background: The first part of your presentation should include general information about your country’s agricultural development and policy issues. You should consider the following points:
a. Geographic Background: It is helpful to prepare a map of your country.
b. Agricultural Institutions and System: Information of the political system would facilitate understanding of agricultural development in your country.
c. Your Job or Position: Try to identify the functional role of your affiliated institution as far as agricultural administration is concerned.
d. Issues: To the best of your knowledge, identify the pressing issues of agricultural development and policy-making, such as agricultural economics, industrial policy, technology, resources, trade and market issues, food safety, farmers’ organizations et al. in your country.
e. Future Challenges: It would be useful to highlight the foreseen major agricultural development and policy issues of the primary concern in your country.
B. Problems and Solutions: In addition to background information, the presentation should cover at least one major contemporary agricultural development and planning problem in your countries. Examples of effective solutions and difficult experiences should be provided to share with all participants. To take advantages of participants’ working experience, they are free to choose a topic at their convenience and should be prepared to explain the nature of the above said problem.
(3) Preparation: It is expected that participants will have prepared materials for their presentations prior to their arrival at ICLPST. Besides, multi-media such as video player, computer and projector will be available for the presentation. During the training course, the participants will be divided into three panels in accordance with the three themes covered in the first three weeks. Each panel shall be composed of six to eight participants according to the participants’ expertise and choice of time. The three themes are as follows:
A. Agriculture in the Age of Climate Change and Environmental Degradation in Participating Countries
B. Agricultural Resources and Technology Policy in Participating Countries
C. Agricultural Value Chains and Sustainable Rural Development in Participating Countries
4. Field Trips: The field trips and cultural visits are arranged in line with the specific topics addressed in the course; they typically take the participants to agricultural planning agencies in the central and local governments, land offices, et al.; within the trips and visits, the participants are given a chance to take in the beautiful views in some internationally renowned scenic spots and cultural sites, which are hoped to help the participants see and feel for themselves Taiwan’s development in its society and economy as well as its friendly people and good tradition.
5. NOTE WELL:
(1) The course emphasizes experience sharing and direct participation; lectures and participants’ presentation are all conducted in English, while field trips and cultural visits are guided by the Center’s staff members, who act as interpreters whenever necessary to enable the participants to better communicate and understand the hosts during the visits.
In each of the five objectives identified above, instructors would be expected to provide (a) relevant theory that informs the subject, (b) discussion of cases illustrating the implementation success/failures of the subject, and (c) prescription for appropriate policy action in developing and transition economy countries. Participants are encouraged to take part in class discussions so that the participating countries’ experiences can be shared. The course makes extensive use of technical seminars to enhance the sharing and common understanding of imparted knowledge.
I. Title: The 164th Regular Session on Agricultural Development and Policy
II. Organizer: International Center for Land Policy Studies and Training
III. Duration: III. Duration: 29 days, scheduled for September 5 through October 3, 2025 (excluding arrival and departure)
IV. Target Audience: 28 international participants of middle and high-level government officials or
experts in the fields of agricultural development and policy
V. Objectives:
1. Providing the participants with understanding of the most recent lessons learned in achieving goals for effective agricultural development and policy.
2. Giving the participants a deeper knowledge of agricultural economics, agricultural technology, agricultural resources, and international trade and market issues.
3. Introducing the participants to the techniques of economically and institutionally analyzing agricultural development and policy.
4. Arming the participants with skills and perspectives in policy-making of agricultural economics and industrial policy, agricultural technology, agricultural resources, agricultural market and trade.
5. Assisting participants with exploring models, policy development and policy implementation regarding
(1) Agriculture in the Age of Climate Change and Environmental Degradation
(2) Agricultural Resources and Technology Policy
(3) Agricultural Value Chains and Sustainable Rural Development
(4) Agricultural Development and Policy in Taiwan
VI. Course Components
1. General Structure (tentative):
(1) Agriculture in the Age of Climate Change and Environmental Degradation (Week 1):
Theories of economic development with a special view on the agricultural sector and rural regions; Challenges in Assessing the Impact of Climate Change Risks on Taiwan; Globalization, trade and farm sector development; Agricultural production, its unpaid environmental costs and interactions with global warming; Looking for solutions: Circular agriculture, Net-zero-emission agriculture and technological innovations in the pipeline; Policy interventions: Objectives, theoretical concepts, methodological approaches, actors, and instruments in practice; Planning and evaluation tools; The Challenge of Food and Agriculture in Developing Countries in the Era of Globalization.
(2) Agricultural Resources and Technology Policy (Week 2): Farm Management in the 21st Century Challenges and Opportunities; Sustainable Ag Practices: Economics, Barriers, Practicalities, Pros and Cons, Incentives; Global Farmland Markets: Supply, Demand, Land-Use Competition, Key Future Global Demand Drivers, Regional Differences; The Application of ICT in Smart Agriculture; Global Comparisons: Crop Yields/Production Costs/Challenges to Production; Agriculture & Food Systems of the Future: Discussion; Development of Agricultural Science and Technology in the New Century in Taiwan; Circular Agriculture and Net Zero in Taiwan.
(3) Agricultural Value Chains and Sustainable Rural Development (Week 3): Value chain analysis; Rural Regeneration; Value chain promotion; Sustainable bioeconomy; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Environmental Input-Output Analysis; Sustainable Rural Development; Farmers’ Association and Women Participation
(4) Agricultural Development and Policy in Taiwan (Week 4): Field Trips
2. Instructors (tentative): Instructors include one course coordinator, international lecturers from around the world and local lecturers from Taiwan.
3. Presentation
(1) In addition to class lecturing and field trips, the program at the International Center of Land Policy Studies and Training (ICLPST) encourages interaction among participants. Individuals are expected to not only learn the theory from the lectures of the instructors, but also learn through debate about real-world problems from case presentation and active discussion with fellow participants and other professionals. Therefore, each participant will be required to make a 30-minute presentation to the group regarding the major problems facing agricultural development and policy in their countries.
(2) The presentation shall include the following components:
A. Country Background: The first part of your presentation should include general information about your country’s agricultural development and policy issues. You should consider the following points:
a. Geographic Background: It is helpful to prepare a map of your country.
b. Agricultural Institutions and System: Information of the political system would facilitate understanding of agricultural development in your country.
c. Your Job or Position: Try to identify the functional role of your affiliated institution as far as agricultural administration is concerned.
d. Issues: To the best of your knowledge, identify the pressing issues of agricultural development and policy-making, such as agricultural economics, industrial policy, technology, resources, trade and market issues, food safety, farmers’ organizations et al. in your country.
e. Future Challenges: It would be useful to highlight the foreseen major agricultural development and policy issues of the primary concern in your country.
B. Problems and Solutions: In addition to background information, the presentation should cover at least one major contemporary agricultural development and planning problem in your countries. Examples of effective solutions and difficult experiences should be provided to share with all participants. To take advantages of participants’ working experience, they are free to choose a topic at their convenience and should be prepared to explain the nature of the above said problem.
(3) Preparation: It is expected that participants will have prepared materials for their presentations prior to their arrival at ICLPST. Besides, multi-media such as video player, computer and projector will be available for the presentation. During the training course, the participants will be divided into three panels in accordance with the three themes covered in the first three weeks. Each panel shall be composed of six to eight participants according to the participants’ expertise and choice of time. The three themes are as follows:
A. Agriculture in the Age of Climate Change and Environmental Degradation in Participating Countries
B. Agricultural Resources and Technology Policy in Participating Countries
C. Agricultural Value Chains and Sustainable Rural Development in Participating Countries
4. Field Trips: The field trips and cultural visits are arranged in line with the specific topics addressed in the course; they typically take the participants to agricultural planning agencies in the central and local governments, land offices, et al.; within the trips and visits, the participants are given a chance to take in the beautiful views in some internationally renowned scenic spots and cultural sites, which are hoped to help the participants see and feel for themselves Taiwan’s development in its society and economy as well as its friendly people and good tradition.
5. NOTE WELL:
(1) The course emphasizes experience sharing and direct participation; lectures and participants’ presentation are all conducted in English, while field trips and cultural visits are guided by the Center’s staff members, who act as interpreters whenever necessary to enable the participants to better communicate and understand the hosts during the visits.
In each of the five objectives identified above, instructors would be expected to provide (a) relevant theory that informs the subject, (b) discussion of cases illustrating the implementation success/failures of the subject, and (c) prescription for appropriate policy action in developing and transition economy countries. Participants are encouraged to take part in class discussions so that the participating countries’ experiences can be shared. The course makes extensive use of technical seminars to enhance the sharing and common understanding of imparted knowledge.
March 21,2025
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