Elderly Care in the Agricultural Sector in Taiwan and Japan: Practices in Food and Agricultural Education and Health Promotion

CHEN,SHIH-YING（China Productivity Center Agriculture Management Department）

Based on the projection of National Development Council (NDC), Taiwan will enter a super-aged society by 2025, with 20% of the population aged 65 and above. This demographic shift places significant pressure on the social, economic and healthcare systems, making the quality of life and social participation of the elderly critical issues.

In response, the Executive Yuan revised and approved the White Paper on an Aged Society on September 27, 2021, outlining a development vision centered on autonomy, independence, inclusion, and sustainability. This vision aims to enhance the health, autonomy, and social engagement of the elderly, fostering intergenerational harmony and sustainable development (See Table 1). The Food and Agricultural Education Act, promulgated by Presidential Order on May 4, 2022, is dedicated to promoting the sustainable development of agriculture and food security. The act emphasizes enhancing public awareness of food and agriculture through education, supporting local agriculture, and fostering a balanced dietary concept (See Table 2).

Both policies focus on improving the well-being and social participation of the elderly and agricultural sustainability. In alignment with these goals, the Ministry of Agriculture has introduced the Green Care and Food & Agricultural Education programs, strengthening the connection between elderly diets and agriculture to promote sustainable farming practices. This paper draws insights from Japan’s projects of Agricultural Welfare Collaboration (Nōfuku renkei) and JA Health Longevity 100 Plan, exploring how elderly participation in agricultural activities can enhance health and well-being while fostering social inclusion.

Table 1: The Five Key Goals of the "White Paper on an Aged Society"

Goals	Content
1. To improve the health and autonomy of the elderly.	Enhancing the health, vitality, and well-being of the elderly while ensuring their right to autonomy and access to quality medical services and social care.
2. To enhance social connections for the elderly	Encouraging and supporting the elderly for access to employment, social services, and continuing education, to maintain an active social life.
3. To promote intergenerational harmony and inclusion	Bridging generation gaps by promoting communication and interaction between the elderly and younger generations, fostering mutual empathy and respect.
4. To build an age-friendly and safe environment	Breaking societal stereotypes and age discrimination against the elderly, assisting in improving home environments and safety, and enhancing the friendliness and safety of the social environment for the elderly.
5. To strengthen sustainable social development	Strengthening the social foundation to address population aging, ensuring the sound operation of key social systems, and promoting sustainable social development.

Table 2: Promotion Guidelines in Article 4 of the Food and Agricultural Education Act

No.	Promotion Guidelines of Food and Agricultural Education
1	To Support and Recognize Local Agriculture: Develop a food and agricultural education system to promote a nationwide food and agricultural education movement, strengthening the public's recognition, trust, and support for the country's agriculture and agricultural products.
2	Cultivate a Concept of Balanced Diet: Cultivate the food and agriculture literacy, establish concepts and habits of balanced dietary consumption, and promote a healthy, ecologically sustainable diet and lifestyle, thereby enhancing the health of the population.
3	Cherish Food and Reduce Waste: Practice the consumption of local agricultural products, reduce food waste, minimize food ingredient usage, and decrease leftovers. Ensure food safety and food security, promote the rational and cyclical use of farmland, agricultural water, and other resources, and strive to ensure the stable access to food for the population.
4	Preserve and Innovate Culinary Culture: Encourage the preservation and innovation of local culinary culture, creating an environment for interaction between producers and consumers. This will help the public understand local food culture, agricultural and fishing village characteristics, and agricultural traditions, while also promoting the sustainable development of rural areas. The goal is to implement a healthy and ecologically sustainable diet and lifestyle.
5	Deepen the Connection Between Diet and Agriculture: Encourage the public to participate in various food and agricultural education activities, from production in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and animal husbandry to food dietary consumption. This will help them understand agricultural production methods, agricultural technology and research, agricultural knowledge, agricultural ecosystems, eco-friendly practices in farming, cultivation, and livestock raising, and the differences between conventional and eco-friendly agricultural methods.
6	Local Production and Consumption for Sustainable Agriculture: Integrate the production, processing, and trading of agricultural products and processed goods, benefiting local production, local consumption, overall economic development, and job creation. Strengthen the management of agricultural product safety, increase employment opportunities in rural areas, and promote the sustainable development of agriculture.

The project of Agricultural Welfare Collaboration (Nofuku renkei) in Japan was initially designed to help the disabled regain their confidence and life goals through agricultural activities, while promoting social participation. With the publication of the Vision for Promoting Agriculture, Welfare, and Welfare Cooperation in June 2019, agricultural welfare collaboration expanded beyond just the disabled to include the elderly and impoverished populations. In the context of labor shortages and the aging of the agricultural workforce, it has become an important means of attracting new labor.

In terms of elderly welfare, agricultural welfare collaboration designs various agricultural activities tailored to the different needs of elderly individuals. These activities not only improve their health but also promote social participation. For example, in the Nakadaira District of Ochi Town, Kochi Prefecture, retired elderly farmers are re-engaged in vegetable cultivation and sales, achieving economic independence while enhancing community interaction and cohesion. Meanwhile, the "Vegetable Garden Club" in Kami City provides elderly individuals without farming experience with recreational agricultural participation opportunities at community gardens. This helps improve their health, social interaction, and effectively protects farmland.

This model aligns well with the goals of the Food and Agricultural Education Act, which emphasizes "supporting local agriculture" and "sustainable local agriculture consumption." The success of agricultural welfare cooperation demonstrates that engaging the elderly in agricultural production can not only improve their health but also enhance their understanding of local agriculture and food sources, thereby promoting local economic development and sustainable agricultural practices. Furthermore, this model aligns with the goals stipulated in the White Paper on an Aged Society such as "enhancing the health and autonomy of the elderly" and "strengthening the social connections of the elderly," allowing elderly individuals to find their self-worth through agricultural participation, thus fostering social sustainability.

On the other hand, the JA Health Longevity 100 Plan in Japan combines three core pillars: exercise, diet, and medical care services, with the aim of extending the health lifespan of the elderly and improving their quality of life. This program promotes healthy diet, such as Nyuwashoku, i.e. dairy ingredients in traditional Japanese food, and five-colored bentos (boxed meals), to achieve balanced nutrition and cultural heritage. This approach resonates with ideas in Taiwan's Food and Agricultural Education Act, particularly in terms of "inheriting and innovating food culture" and "cultivating balanced dietary concepts."

The innovative model that combines nutrition with Japanese food culture has offered valuable lessons for Taiwan in enhancing the dietary health of the elderly. The principles of the Food and Agricultural Education Act can be implemented by integrating local specialty ingredients with modern nutritional needs to promote healthy diet for the elderly, reduce food waste, and achieve the rational and cyclical use of agricultural resources.

Items	Action plans	Key points
Exercise	Promote Agri-cise (Agri + Exercise) Preventive care exercises, including JA Ladybug Exercise (fall prevention), JA Bee Exercise (incontinence prevention) Rainbow Health Exercise (enhance body flexibility and coordination) Promote walking	Encourage farmers to engage in physical exercises while working on farms to improve their physical health Prevent falls and incontinence Promote physical activity to enhance strength and flexibility
Diet	Practice and promotion of Nyuwashoku, (dairy ingredients in traditional Japanese food) Practice of the five-colored bentos (boxed meals) Promotion of a national healthy eating program	Promote balanced diet Increase protein intake Reduce fat and salt intake, prevent nutritional deficiencies
Medical Care	Promote dental care Cognitive function stimulation activities	Promote oral health Prevent dementia Provide health checkups and medical care Enhance social engagement

In summary, the projects of Agricultural Welfare Collaboration (Nofuku renkei) and JA Health Longevity 100 Plan demonstrate innovative models that integrate agriculture with social welfare and health promotion. These experiences complement the core principles of Taiwan's Food and Agricultural Education Act and White Paper on an Aged Society, offering the elderly diverse avenues for health, social participation, and economic support, while also promoting sustainable agricultural development. By drawing on Japan's successful examples, we can further strengthen Food and Agricultural Education, improve the quality of life for the elderly, and foster the integrated development of agriculture and society.