Changhua County Mayor Visits Denmark's Dalum Agricultural College, Exploring Smart Livestock and Green Agriculture Experiences

As climate change intensifies and the national goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 looms, countries urgently need to accelerate the green transformation of their agricultural sectors and enhance resilience to climate change. On June 20, Changhua County Mayor Wang Huimei led a delegation to visit Dalum Agricultural College in Odense, Denmark's third largest city, to learn about local practices integrating precision feeding, data management, and organic waste recycling.
The delegation first arrived at Dalum Agricultural College, which has been dedicated to practical agricultural education since its founding in 1886, specializing in sustainable livestock management, bioenergy applications, and agricultural operations. The management model presented at the college drew significant interest from the delegation, particularly regarding the education and training of livestock workers, the data-driven monitoring of farming processes, and the operation of manure biogas fermentation systems. These practical experiences are highly relevant for Changhua as it seeks to enhance its precision livestock and circular agriculture policies.
On the afternoon of the same day, the team visited Ul-vsbjerggaard Farm, located about 55 kilometers from the college, to witness how the farm tackles the challenges posed by extreme weather with new ideas and technology. Mayor Wang emphasized that through this exchange, Changhua not only benefits from advanced agricultural technology but also promotes local green agriculture and climate resilience governance.
Mayor Wang noted that the Changhua County Government is actively promoting the modernization of livestock facilities. To date, upgrades have been completed at 366 integrated pig farms and 140 chicken farms, representing the highest number in the nation. The transformed farms have reported significant improvements, with water-saving rates averaging 50% and labor efficiency increasing by 66%. Furthermore, both animal health and environmental management have improved. The county government has also sought more than NT$3 billion in funding from the central government to build a "Comprehensive Resource Utilization Center for Livestock Manure and Wastewater," which aims to process and convert livestock waste into reusable biogas energy, achieving the goal of turning waste into assets. This initiative is crucial for enhancing the overall sustainability of agriculture.
Dalum Agricultural College, founded in 1886, is a historically significant and practically oriented agricultural educational institution in Denmark, specializing in sustainable livestock management, bioenergy applications, and agricultural management. According to Carsten Friis Poulsen, the head of the international department at the college, nearly 60% of Denmark's land is used for agriculture, but only 2% of the population is engaged in farming. Denmark exports 80% of its agricultural products, making it Europe’s largest agricultural exporter, with meat, dairy, and cheese being the main products exported.