Healthy eating is one of the key issues for the elderly. In response, Health Promotion Administration of Ministry of Health and Welfare in collaboration with APEC, hosted an international conference today, focusing on three main themes: nutrition policies, empirical research, and AI applications. The conference provided a platform for exchanging experiences on promoting healthy diets and age-friendly environments for the elderly. Taiwan shared its blueprint for nutrition promotion policies and achievements in promoting healthy diets for the elderly, working together with other economies to create an age-friendly healthy eating environment.

APEC economies join hands to address the aging trend in the Asia-Pacific region

With the accelerating aging population, changing demographic structure and rising morbidity in Asia-Pacific region, the health of the elderly has become one of the key public health issues today. To promote the development of policies on health diet for the elderly, the “APEC Conference on Policies and Technologies to Promote Healthy Aging with Healthy Diet” was held by the Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare on March 26, 2025, at the Chang Yung-Fa Foundation International Convention Center. Experts from Canada, Japan, Singapore are invited to share their best practices in nutrition policy development and healthy diet promotion. In addition, the representatives of APEC economies and relevant experts from Taiwan and abroad are invited to exchange their insights. A total of ten economies and more than 300 participants have registered, working together to promote healthy diets for the elderly.

The United Nations advocates for healthy aging, with nutrition as a key element

According to the United Nation Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), the Asia-Pacific region is moving towards an aging population. It is estimated that by 2050, the population over 65 years old will increase to 1 billion; additionally, the UN Decade of Healthy Aging: Plan of Action 2021-2030 emphasizes the importance of health promotion and improving health literacy in achieving healthy aging, and nutrition plays a crucial role. Adopting a healthy diet can not only delay disability, reduce the incidence of non-communicable diseases, but also reduce the medical and financial burdens. This underscores the necessity of promoting age-friendly dietary policies.

Bringing together international industries, governments, academia, and research, to share experiences and future blueprints.

To addressing the challenges of aging society in Asia-Pacific region, this conference focuses on three topics, which are “Nutrition Development Strategy and Policy”, “Explore Healthy Aging Diet with Evidence-based Practice” and “Constructing Age-Friendly Environment and Healthy Diet with AI Applications”. Distinguished speakers from different economies include Ms. Rachel Ngo, Director of Physical Activity and Healthy Ageing Programmes, Health Promotion Board from Singapore, Prof. Koji Miura, Specially Appointed Senior Professor of Fujita Health University from Japan, Prof. Katsuya Iijima, Director of Institute of Gerontology; Professor, Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo from Japan and Mr. Yoshimitsu Mori, President of Japan Care Food Conference from Japan. Besides, we are honored to have Prof. Mary R. L’Abbe, Professor Emeritus of the Department of Nutritional Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto from Canada as the keynote speaker to share the global nutrition issues and challenges. A panel discussion is also be arranged, inviting representatives from Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia to share policies and strategies in addressing the challenges of aging society.

Toward a super-aged society, creating an age-friendly eating environment

Taiwan entered an aged society in 2018 and has become a super-aging society this year. In response to the health needs of the aging population, the government has adopted various healthy diet policies. In 2023, the Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare successfully promoted the legislation of the “Nutrition and Healthy Diet Promotion Act” that came into effect in 2024. Through the legislation, the government actively supports the establishment of community nutrition promotion centers and collaborates with the academic and private sectors to develop relevant policies, demonstrating Taiwan’s commitment to promoting healthy diets. Furthermore, to create an age-friendly dietary environment, Taiwan published a “Texture modified Diet Manual” in 2019, combined local dietary habits with adjustments in local ingredients, cutting, and cooking techniques, ensuring that the elderly receive appropriate and balanced nutritional support, thereby enhancing their health and quality of life. Through this conference, Taiwan will share our experiences in nutrition promotion policies, AI applications and healthy diet policies with APEC economies as well as promote dialogue and exchange experiences between economies in order to build a comprehensive age-friendly dietary environment, provide holistic health support for the elderly, and jointly address the challenges and opportunities of an aging society.

Reference: Conference Website of the APEC Conference on Policies and Technologies to Promote Healthy Aging with Healthy Diet: https://www.2025apechpa.org/