| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立高雄餐旅大學 === 飲食文化暨餐飲創新研究所 === 105 === This research aims to explore the sustainability of Wasabi at the main plant area in Alishan, Taiwan. Through the field survey, this study was conducted by visiting the farmers of Wasabi, the authorities, and the environmentalists for comprehending the conflicts between Wasabi cultivation and environmental conservation based on the sustainability criteria for food created by Environmental Practice at Work Publishing Co Ltd.
Taiwan Wasabi, one of iconic local specialties and must-buy souvenirs from Alishan, has grown on Ali Mountain for well over half a century. As it grows specifically in the mountains on the altitude over 1,500 meters above sea level, the high altitude of Alishan provides a gifted environment for wasabi, especially under the superb conditions of temperature and humidity.
Since 1914, the Japanese had introduced the techniques of horticultural cultivation of Wasabi in Alishan. Owing to its rich production and fine quality, Taiwan Wasabi has been highly praised in Japanese market where enjoys the most of its exports. In the early years of cultivating wasabi, it brought high economic benefits, hence a great number of residents becoming wasabi farmers. In stark contrast to that, many scholars have kept questioning the destruction to soil and water conservation by cultivating wasabi for nearly two decades.
The study is mainly based on the planting process of Wasabi in the Alishan Township of Chiayi County by reviewing its historical development of cultivation, and how the rise of Wasabi has become the largest supply area to Japan under the circumstance of the unique and fertile environment of Alishan. By recording a series of industrial models from planting to selling, the researcher has found that soil and water conservation has been illegally damaged by a large-scale wasabi cultivation and forest land reclamation, whereas Alishan forests are all state-owned forest compartment. However, the government has to take into account of the livelihood of Wasabi farmers, making the process of growing Wasabi has been a gray area.
In recent years, for the purpose of protecting the forest lands, Forestry Bureau in Chiayi County has announced a comprehensive ban on Wasabi cultivation as well as an action of land resumption at the end of 2016. The results indicated that even though wasabi industry has been beneficial to the farmers, the deterioration of the ecological environment has caused an enormously serious impact on the sustainability of agriculture in Alishan.
The results indicated that even though wasabi industry has been beneficial to the farmers, the deterioration of the ecological environment has caused an enormously serious impact on the sustainability of agriculture in Alishan. According to the conflicts between Alishan and Wasabi, the improvement of Wasabi cultivation has been emphasized. The essential issue for Wasabi sustainability requires well-organized planning and comprehensive research.
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