A blooming business: Guam gets a preview of Taiwan's AI-cultivated orchids

By Pacific Island Times News Staff

A burst of color filled the center court of Agana Shopping Center in Hagatna as a two-day orchid exhibition opened on March 27, bringing to Guam a slice of Taiwan’s floriculture, which has adopted smart cultivation.

“Taiwan’s flower business is in full bloom,” said Chia Ping Liu, director general of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, who led the ribbon-cutting ceremony, alomg along with Shawn Yang, deputy director.

Liu noted that Taiwan's flower industry has “generated millions in revenue and pride” for growers and exporters.

Taiwan is one of the world's largest flower exporters and is known for its wide variety of orchids. The industry features diverse, technologically advanced cultivation methods that continually evolve to meet market demands.

Liu said the Taiwan International Orchid Show, which took place from Feb. 27 to March 16 at the Ministry of Agriculture’s Floral Industry Innovation Park in Tainan, featured 30,000 orchids integrated with cutting-edge AI technologies.

"The expo welcomed more than 300,000 visitors and generated $25 million in international orders, demonstrating both the innovation and global competitiveness of Taiwan's floricultural industry," Liu said.

Taiwan's floral industry has adopted smart farming, using AI technology for precise cultivation of flower breeds, efficient energy use and the promotion of circular production.

The orchid showcase at Agana Shopping Center was organized by Eloida Dela Cruz of Robyn Planters and Joy Funtanilla of Flowers & Favours.

Robyn Planters is a plant retailer, while Flowers & Favours is a wholesale floral distributor on Guam that imports supplies from Taiwan.

For Dela Cruz and Funtanilla, the exhibition was a business opportunity and a chance to enrich island celebrations with unique, high-quality orchids, which are available for purchase and pre-order for holiday bouquets and gifts in time for Mes Chamorro and Mother’s Day.

The exhibit featured oncidium, vanda, phalaenopsis and renanthera and several other rare Taiwanese varieties.

Sponsored by Rouge International, one of Taiwan’s leading flower exporters, and counseled by the Taiwan Ministry of Agriculture, the event drew florists, collectors and casual shoppers.

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