Celebrating the 2025 Asia Pacific Orchid Conference and Taiwan International Orchid Show

The 2025 Asia Pacific Orchid Conference and Taiwan International Orchid Show successfully concluded on March 23rd after a 16-day run. This co-occurrence event marked two significant milestones: the 15th APOC and the 21st anniversary of TIOS, celebrating Taiwan's prominent position in the global orchid industry.

Opening and official ceremonies
Before opening to the general public on March 8th, judging took place on March 6th, followed by the Opening Ceremony on March 7th. Taiwan President William Ching‑te Lai delivered a commemorative speech celebrating TIOS's 21-year journey and expressed optimism for the continued prosperity of Taiwan's orchid industry for the next 20 years and beyond. This sentiment perfectly aligned with the show's theme: "Next 20," symbolizing the vision for two more decades of growth and innovation.

Historical significance
The connection between TIOS and APOC runs deep. In 2004, Tainan City hosted the first Taiwan International Orchid Show alongside the 8th Asia Pacific Orchid Conference. Now, 20 years later, TIOS celebrated its 21st anniversary while once again hosting the APOC, now in its 15th edition. This reunion of both events marked an important milestone in Taiwan's Orchid Industry.

Exhibit design and philosophy
This year's exhibition design represented a culmination of 20 years of landscape design evolution. Artistic Director Jay Wu created a main exhibition that brilliantly synthesized three distinct periods of TIOS design philosophy, those being the "Natural Harmony" approach that defined its early years (2004-2010), the innovative design techniques from the middle period (2011-2017), and the ecological art sensibilities characteristic of recent exhibitions (2018-2024).

The result was a comprehensive living retrospective that not only celebrated two decades of artistic development but also explored future possibilities for orchid exhibition design.

International participation
The landscape displays featured entries from ten international organizations representing the Dominican Republic, Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam. These international exhibitors competed alongside five local Taiwanese organizations for the best landscape display award.

The grand champion title for landscape display went to Damrong Star Club from Thailand with their theme "Nature's Masterpiece: A Symphony of Orchids and Life." Their display aimed to showcase orchid diversity while highlighting the importance of conservation efforts for these natural treasures.

Competition highlights
Approximately 1,500 individual orchids competed for championship honors, demonstrating Taiwan's exceptional orchid varieties and cultivation techniques. A rigorous evaluation process conducted by an international panel of judges identified the most valuable winning varieties. This year's competition hall was enhanced by the addition of nearly 300 commercial varieties from representative growers, showcasing their signature varieties and latest breeding achievements.

Conference program
The APOC Conference ran from March 8-10 with programs of 49 presentations and 19 poster sessions. The topics encompassed the entire range of orchid science and industry, including breeding techniques, cultivation methods, conservation strategies, genetics research, ecology studies, and habitat preservation.

A special session on Plant Variety Rights & Protection was held on March 8th, featuring representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO), and Taiwan Seed Improvement and Propagation Station (TSS) sharing insights on regulatory frameworks in different countries.

The Orchid Industry Summit Forum included speakers from the Netherlands, Japan, and Vietnam who presented valuable perspectives on their respective national orchid industries.

Botanical garden representation
The conference featured presentations from representatives of several globally significant botanical gardens, including the Eric Young Orchid Foundation, Gardens by the Bay in Singapore, Longwood Gardens in the USA, the Singapore Botanic Gardens, and the Colombia Botanical Garden of Medellín.

These presentations highlighted the role of botanical gardens in orchid conservation, research, and public education.

Supporting young researchers
To encourage young scholars to proceed with their orchid research, the conference awarded Young Investigator Awards to six participating students for outstanding oral and poster presentations. By recognizing these emerging researchers, APOC demonstrates its investment in the future of orchid study and helps ensure continued scientific advancement in the field for years to come. This support is particularly vital as the orchid industry faces new challenges related to climate change, sustainability, and evolving market demands.

The co-hosting of the 15th APOC and 21st TIOS in 2025 represents an important milestone for Taiwan's orchid industry. As reflected in the "Next 20" theme, this event celebrates both past achievements and future possibilities in orchid cultivation and appreciation. The international participation, research presentations, and creative displays demonstrated the collaborative nature of the global orchid community. As environmental challenges and changing market dynamics continue to evolve, the knowledge sharing and partnerships fostered at this event will help support sustainable practices and continued innovation in orchid growing. The return of both events to Taiwan after 20 years speaks to the country's significant contribution to orchid development while acknowledging that future success will depend on global cooperation and adaptation to new realities in horticulture and conservation.

For more information:
Taiwan Orchid Growers Association
www.toga.org.tw