Yilan County has once again secured the highest honor of "5-Star City" in the 6th Food Education City Survey organized by foodNEXT Media, achieving a remarkable six-year winning streak and taking first place nationwide. The "2026 5-Star Food Education City" award ceremony was grandly held yesterday morning (the 22nd) at the Huashan 1914 Creative Park in Taipei, where Acting County Magistrate Lin Mao-sheng personally attended to receive this honor on behalf of Yilan. This distinction demonstrates the outstanding results of the Yilan County Government's long-term efforts in food and agricultural education, school lunch programs, food safety governance, and sustainable agricultural policies. The county team has long been committed to establishing a comprehensive three-in-one system combining "food education, food safety, and food agriculture." Deeply rooted in the local community, these dedicated efforts have earned high recognition, sharing this glory with all residents.
Acting County Magistrate Lin Mao-sheng stated that Yilan County's achievement of being named a 5-Star City for six consecutive years and topping the national rankings is the joint result of the county team, schools, farmers, nutritionists, and all food education partners. The county government will continue to prioritize and safeguard residents' health while deepening food and agricultural education. This approach encourages children to understand the land and cherish food from an early age, establishing healthy eating habits. Through cross-departmental cooperation, Yilan aims to build a food education city that balances health, the environment, and sustainability, serving as a vital national benchmark for food education development.
This year's (2026) survey evaluated cities across four main dimensions: "Agriculture & Environment," "Education & Culture," "Health & Nutrition," and "Food Safety & Hygiene." Yilan emerged as the nation's top 5-Star City in the results, maintaining its 5-star rating for six consecutive years. This year, it exceptionally claimed first place nationwide in both the "Agriculture & Environment" and "Food Safety & Hygiene" categories.
In terms of "Agriculture & Environment," Yilan boasts 36 specialized agritourism venues—the highest number in the nation. This not only boosts local agriculture but also integrates food and agricultural education with environmental sustainability. In "Food Safety & Hygiene," Yilan demonstrated excellent performance across hygiene indicators spanning production, manufacturing, and distribution, achieving notably high compliance rates in inspections. Through joint cross-departmental inspections, the county rigorously inspects agricultural and livestock products, raw materials, and catering kitchens, implementing risk management "from farm to table" to perfect the food safety network and ensure residents can eat with peace of mind.
Regarding food and agricultural education, Yilan County enacted the Healthy Diet Right Autonomous Ordinance as early as 2015. Through the "Elementary and Junior High School Educational Farm Program," the county encourages schools to set up farms and integrate them into school-based curricula, allowing children to practice the spirit of food and agriculture in daily life. Furthermore, Yilan achieved the highest school participation rate nationwide in the Agriculture and Food Agency's "Rice-Based Food Education School" program. Notably, this year, Yilan also ranked first nationwide in the "Percentage of Schools Promoting Children's Environmental Education by the Wilderness Conservation Association." This fully demonstrates the county's dedication to eco-friendly practices and sustainable education, planting the seeds of ecological conservation and sustainable development deep within children's hearts. Yilan will continue its relentless efforts to jointly build a healthy, sustainable, and happy city, making food education a key cornerstone of urban competitiveness.