World Food Day: Taiwan People's Food Bank Association Rescues 1,400 Metric Tons of Food and Revives Traditional Oil Millet Farming

Comprehensive Food Resilience: Food Banks Bridge Gaps in the Supply Chain

To mark World Food Day on October 16, the Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) and its sole accredited member in Taiwan－"Taiwan People's Food Bank Association" (台灣全民食物銀行協會), and GFN member organizations across 51 countries jointly launched the "#FoodForChange" (食物逆轉剩行動) campaign, promoting food recovery and waste reduction.

Between 2021 and 2025, the association rescued more than 1,400 metric tons of food and collected approximately 2.72 million donated items, benefiting approximately 2.58 million people. Guided by the principle of comprehensive food resilience, the association also announced plans covering 4 key areas: "Production, Distribution, Sustainability, and The Dining Table."

Lu-Hsia Liu (劉露霞), Secretary-General of the association, said: "Innovation is not just about new technologies. It is also about taking effective approaches further and deepening their impact. On the one hand, we rescue every portion of good food that is still safe to eat, making its value visible and measurable."

Liu noted that food insecurity does not necessarily stem from insufficient supply; it can also result from food failing to reach those who need it effectively. Food banks therefore serve as a vital link between agricultural production, food distribution, and social welfare services. By preserving climate-resilient crops at the source, rescuing safe food along the supply chain, and delivering nutritious food to children and older adults in rural and remote communities, food banks help strengthen climate resilience and advance equitable access to nutrition.

Production | Taiwan Oil Millet Cultivation Expands More Than Tenfold in 4 Years

Since launching the Taiwan Oil Millet Revival Project (台灣油芒復耕計畫) in 2022, the association has expanded cultivation from small-scale trial plots for food to more than 2,910 square meters in 2026. The cultivated area has grown more than tenfold in 4 years, with participating partners across Miaoli, Nantou, Yunlin, Pingtung, Hualien, and Taitung.

Taiwan Oil Millet (scientific name: Spodiopogon formosanus) is drought- and salt-tolerant, giving it potential for climate-resilient agriculture. Nutritional analysis shows that it contains 15.56 grams of crude protein per 100 grams, approximately twice the amount found in brown indica rice.

The association has also conducted trial cultivation in the Fataan (馬太鞍) area of Hualien to observe how the Taiwan Oil Millet grows in distinctive soil conditions and extreme environments.

Distribution | More Than 1,400 Metric Tons of Food Rescued in 5 Years and Delivered to Welfare Organizations Nationwide

Through an organization-to-organization distribution model, the association redistributes safe food donated by companies and retailers—with intact packaging and within its expiration period—to more than 220 small and medium-sized social welfare organizations across Taiwan. From 2021 to 2025, it recorded approximately 3,789 institutional distribution instances.

The association noted that food rescue is a practical way to reduce waste while addressing nutritional needs. It can also help meet potential demand arising from the government's future policy to provide free school lunches to all elementary and junior high school students across Taiwan.

Sustainability | GFN International Impact Measurement Framework to Be Introduced in 2027

To quantify the social and environmental benefits of food donations, the association plans to introduce the "FRAME Methodology: Food Recovery to Avoid Methane Emissions" (食物救援影響衡量方法) developed by GFN in 2027. The framework will align food donation outcomes with corporate sustainability indicators, making the impact of donations more concrete and measurable. Details regarding the relevant program will be released separately when it officially launches in 2027.

The Dining Table | Continuing to Support Children in Rural Communities and Inviting Everyone to Create Change Through Food

For years, the association and the Nutrition Foundation of Taiwan (NFT) have jointly implemented the "Nutrition Supplements for Children in Rural Areas of Taiwan" (NSCRT) program. From the 2016–2017 through the 2025–2026 academic years, the program partnered with more than 70 schools and after-school tutoring centers, serving over 400,000 participant visits. In the 2026–2027 academic year, the program serves 13 schools and approximately 545 students.

The association is also inviting the public to share videos for the "#FoodForChange" campaign and encouraging children and young people aged 5–19 to enter the "World Food Day poster contest" under the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The entries must be submitted by November 6.

The association calls on businesses, schools, and communities to join its food rescue and oil millet revival initiatives to help build a sustainable and resilient food system.

2026 Food for Change－World Food Day Campaign Video:
【2026 世界糧食日 創新當下 糧安未來 Innovate today nourish tomorrow!】

Food Bank Explainer Short Video:
【No Waste, No Hunger｜台灣全民食物銀行協會－用食物創造改變】 

【About World Food Day】
World Food Day is observed annually on October 16 to commemorate the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 1945. Events are held in approximately 150 countries each year, making it one of the most widely observed international days on the United Nations calendar.

【About the Taiwan People's Food Bank Association】
Founded in 2011, the Taiwan People's Food Bank Association joined the Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) in 2012 and remains GFN's sole accredited member in Taiwan. Its vision is "No Waste, No Hunger." Using an organization-to-organization model, the association distributes donated food and supplies free of charge to more than 220 small and medium-sized social welfare organizations across Taiwan. It also operates the Nutrition Supplements for Children in Rural Areas of Taiwan (NSCRT) program and the Taiwan Oil Millet Revival Project.
The association has received several awards in recognition of its contributions, including the Community Nutrition Education Contribution Award from the Taiwan Nutrition Society in 2019, the Silver Award of the National Social Group Philanthropic Contribution Awards from the Ministry of the Interior in 2021, and the Public Construction Golden Quality Awards in 2024.

Source: Taiwan People's Food Bank Association
Compilation & Ttranslation: EnergyOMNI