CH Biotech R&D Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as CH Biotech; stock code: 6534) is one of the few companies in Taiwan dedicated to the research and development of innovative agricultural biotechnology and new drugs. Its sustainable and innovative agricultural biotech products of “Radiate” series have won the “Taiwan Circular Economy Awards — Outstanding Award for Innovation Technology” four times.

In recent years, climate change has led to frequent disaster and consequently food crisis has become increasingly severe. Coupled with the global policy to halve chemical fertilizer usage, this has deepened the dilemma of reduced crop production for farmers. Therefore, CH Biotech has invested in the R&D of the new, innovative and sustainable agricultural biotech product “Radiate,” which has been successfully licensed to Loveland Product Inc. (LPI), the subsidiary of Nutrien Ltd., which is the world’s largest retailer of agricultural products. “Radiate” has been recognized by the Nutrien Ltd. as a sustainable carbon reduction product and has now become one of the solutions promoted ardently in the carbon program.

The main technology of “Radiate” lies in (1) enhancing the climate resilience of plants and thereby reducing agricultural losses due to climate change, (2) promoting the development of crop root systems and thereby improving water and fertilizer use efficiency, and (3) lowering carbon emissions from agricultural production and further creating a net-zero and eco-friendly agriculture. Scientific data show that “Radiate” provides a diverse range of functions for plant growth and development, which includes enhancing the plant’s absorption and transport of water and nutrients, improving photosynthesis and nitrogen assimilation capacity, promoting the development of the aboveground parts, and establishing a systematic cycle for increased crop production, along with efficacy of drought resistance. In addition, “Radiate” has the potential to reduce carbon emissions during agricultural production. CH Biotech conducted a carbon reduction benefit assessment based on last year’s “Radiate” sales volume of 186.5 thousand gallons, which is estimated to be applicable to approximately 11.936 million acres (4.83 million hectares) of land, and can reduce approximately 127.4 thousand metric tons of CO2. Based on the calculation of the carbon dioxide absorption capacity of Taipei Daan Forest Park, which covers nearly 26 hectares, at 389 tons, the carbon reduction potential of 'Radiate' in 2022 is approximately equivalent to the carbon absorption of nearly 327 Taipei Daan Forest Parks for a whole year.

Global warming has forced advanced countries to actively develop new varieties of crops. At the same time, these countries are seeking to reduce the damage to the soil caused by traditional pesticides and chemical fertilizers for lower carbon emissions and increased farming efficiency. Innovative technologies of CH Biotech not only bring new hope to agriculture, but also provide effective solutions to global climate change issues.