Cut off by high mountains from the industrialised west of the island,

臺灣島國西部的工業化，以中央山脈為分界，

this valley is known as Taiwan's back garden.

花東縱谷被視為臺灣的後花園。

Local farmers work small plots of land, often by hand.

在地小農，以雙手務農。

But hidden from view, change is underway.

看不見的改變正醞釀著。

''Alting'', a startup from Taipei,

「Alting」，一間位在首都臺北的新創公司，

is trying to give local rice farmers a boost

給在地小農一股力量

by linking their harvest to the web,

試著將農民的農穫，

using the internet of things, and

連結網路

recording all the information with blockchain technology.

利用科技記錄生產履歷。

These sensors measure weather patterns and chemical changes in the soil,

感應器能偵測氣候與土壤中的化學物質變化，

and can also allow consumers to watch in real time

消費者也能夠即時掌握

how their rice is grown.

稻米的生產歷程。

''Alting'' placed a set of sensors in

Alting 公司於七月，在魏瑞廷先生的農田中

one of Wei Jui-ting's fields in July.

設置感應器。

Mr Wei is shifting his father's rice fields to organic farming.

魏先生將父親的稻田轉作為有機稻植。

He hopes full transparency will give him an advantage.

他希望生產履歷的透明化能夠助他一臂之力。

Blockchain is distributed digital ledger that records

區塊鍊紀錄下數位帳目

and stores all the information.

並儲存所有資訊。

It is both open and secure.

既開放，又安全。

And linking Jui-ting's fields to the internet

連結瑞廷先生的農田訊息到網路上

could achieve much more.

能做到更多。

When farmers bring their rice to the local mill,

當農民將稻米送至碾磨廠，

the grain is hulled, dried, and

去殼與烘乾

tested for moisture, protein content, and potential pesticide residues.

測試濕度、蛋白質與農藥殘留。

The increasingly unpredictable climate

無可預知的氣候

has a big impact on these elements.

對此影響甚鉅。

Chen Cheng-hung, who runs the mill,

陳政弘經營一間稻米碾磨場

believes that the data collected from farmer's fields will help.

認為從農田取得數據很有幫助。

Mr Chen says that tiny sensors will change the way farmers work.

陳先生表示，微感應器會改變農民的工作模式。

Once that is achieved, the project's backers believe

一旦達標，此計畫的贊助者相信

wild swings in agricultural commodity prices,

農產品價格

created by natural disasters, will be consigned to history.

受天災左右的因素將走入歷史。

A stable price, despite an unstable climate.

穩定的價格，除去不穩定氣候的不可抗力因素

A benefit to consumers and farmers alike.

對消費者與農夫皆是利大於弊。