Program History

Foundation of Agricultural Science Initiatives in Taiwan

Taiwan's interest in agricultural sciences began gaining momentum about 40 years ago with a focused breeding program for local rice varieties. Since then, various life science research institutes have undertaken diverse agricultural projects, including crop improvement, aquaculture, and more. At Academia Sinica, institutions such as the Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, the Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, the Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, and the Institute of Molecular Biology have contributed to this effort by developing research projects and graduate programs to address specific challenges in specialized areas of agricultural biology.

Establishment and Goals of TIGP-MBAS

In 2003, Academia Sinica established the Taiwan International Graduate Program (TIGP) in Molecular and Biological Agricultural Sciences (MBAS) in collaboration with National Chung Hsing University (NCHU). This interdisciplinary program aims to inspire young graduate students to pursue innovative research in bio-agriculture by fostering a dynamic learning and research environment. The program is dedicated to training students in multidisciplinary approaches to tackle critical questions in biotechnology and to develop cutting-edge technologies and experimental systems for advancing agricultural biotechnology research and development.