Key Sustainability Actions
An-Shin Classroom Promotes Earth Care by Fostering Biodiverse Farmland Environments
In recognition of the International Day for Biological Diversity (May 22), SKS's An-Shin Classroom partnered with the Lanyang Branch of the Hualien District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, Ministry of Agriculture, and Ching Chu Yilan Cooperative to co-host the Farmland Ecosystem Building and Ecological Knowledge Empowerment Workshop on May 23. Participants included young farmers from Yilan, staff from the Extension Station, members of the An-Shin Classroom team, and partners from the Shin Kong Life Foundation. The workshop took place in the rice fields of Sanxing Township, Yilan, adjacent to Ching Chu Yilan Cooperative's facility.
Researchers from the Extension Station gave lectures, then guided participants through hands-on biodiversity observation in the contractfarmed organic rice paddies cultivated by SKS and Yilan's young farmers. Given the ongoing impacts of global climate change and warming, which is causing species to disappear without notice, there is an urgent need to better understand farmland ecosystems. For instance, planting native wildflowers and cultivating diverse vegetation on farmland can create habitats that support beneficial insects; this allows natural predators to reduce pests and thus minimize pesticide use, ultimately promoting better health outcomes for humans.
SKS Leverages Experience in Sustainable Agriculture to Support ESG STORE and Co-Create a Sustainable New Market
The ESG STORE, a customized matching platform for agricultural sustainability launched by Taiwan's Ministry of Agriculture, is now officially online. Owing to our years of hands-on experience in agricultural sustainability and community revitalization, SKS was featured as a case study demonstrating the diverse potential of Taiwan's land through sustainable development. Since 2015, SKS has partnered with young farmers in Yilan through an organic rice contract farming program. Every year, SKS employees collectively donate and purchase organic white rice, which is then distributed throughout remote areas of Taiwan to underprivileged families and older adults living alone. The longrunning Organic Rice Donation program is more than a public welfare effort that supports vulnerable households—over the years, it has also stimulated the growth of Yilan's local agriculture. For example, the "Come Farm and Eat in Yilan!" event jointly held with the Ching Chu Yilan Agricultural Marketing Cooperative in July highlighted recent achievements in sustainable agriculture and food and farm education. SKS also collaborates with the Cooperative to host regular events such as family days, small farmer markets, food education sessions, and rice harvesting activities. These events are designed to encourage more people to understand and value sustainable agriculture and environmental protection. SKS plans to deepen this partnership and will continue to work with the Cooperative by integrating local agricultural products into the Company's internal e-commerce platform for employee purchase. SKS will also continue to gather internal corporate resources to support new ESG innovation initiatives, aiming to maximize positive social impact and fulfill our corporate responsibility and mission.
