TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan has partnered with the European Union to bring smart agriculture technology to Tuvalu, aiming to strengthen food supply in the Pacific island nation.

The Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) said Friday that its mission in Tuvalu secured EU funding for the first time to launch its smart agriculture project, per CNA. The initiative targets Funafuti, Tuvalu’s capital, where a growing population faces food production pressure.

The program will receive NT$5.75 million (US$194,600) and marks a milestone for Taiwan’s global tech diplomacy. TaiwanICDF Deputy Secretary-General Hsieh Pei-fen (謝佩芬) said the project promotes agricultural innovation and advances Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung’s (林佳龍) “Diplomatic Allies Prosperity” initiative.

Tuvalu’s Deputy Secretary for Natural Resources Development Scott Pelesala, who was at the MOU signing, praised Taiwan’s years of agricultural support, calling the new project a boost for nutrition and public health.

Under the new partnership, Taiwan will introduce four technologies: precision irrigation, vertical pipe cultivation, organic farming materials, and simple chicken coops. These will help grow leafy vegetables for daily consumption and supplement existing crops to meet rising demand in Funafuti.

TaiwanICDF said the project will serve as a model for Taiwan’s smart agriculture in the South Pacific, showcasing how digital tools can improve food resilience in climate-vulnerable nations.

Tuvalu is severely threatened by rising sea levels. Its average elevation is less than 2 meters above sea level, making it extremely vulnerable to flooding caused by global warming and melting polar ice.