2024 was a profoundly significant year for Shannung Foods on its journey of sustainable transformation. Facing food security challenges brought by global climate change and a rapidly growing consumer demand for healthy and transparent diets, we chose to no longer view "sustainability" as an optional add-on to corporate social responsibility, but rather as a core strategy deeply integrated with business growth and brand competitiveness. Last year, the Company's greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 18.3% compared to the baseline year, achieving its mid-term target ahead of schedule; the food safety management system was fully upgraded to the latest FSSC 22000 V6 version; supply chain human rights due diligence covered 342 core partners; and the integrity governance mechanism also completed ISO 37001 anti-bribery management certification. These milestones fill me with deep satisfaction and further strengthen my belief that leading by example and doing the right thing is the only path to building long-lasting brand trust.
In the food industry, we are at the core of the value chain encompassing agriculture, processing, logistics, and consumption, and have both the responsibility and the ability to influence the entire supply chain to move towards a more sustainable direction. Therefore, this year we launched Taiwan's first large-scale farm carbon management alliance in the food industry, collaborating with 12 contract farms to promote source-level carbon reduction; concurrently, we established the "Rural Sustainable Innovation Fund" to provide financial and technical support to young farmers interested in sustainable agriculture. I believe that only when our agricultural partners can also share the fruits of sustainable transformation can Shannung Foods' net-zero commitment truly be realized.
Looking ahead to 2025, Shannung Foods will continue to deepen its climate actions: planning to complete carbon emission baseline inventories for the fourth and fifth plants, launch a Scope 3 supply chain emission reduction roadmap, advance natural packaging material replacement plans, and expand the employee stock reward system to allow more partners to share in the Company's growth. We pledge that while pursuing continuous growth, we will never do so at the expense of the environment, employee well-being, or integrity principles. We sincerely thank all stakeholders for their long-standing trust and support for Shannung Foods.
Before this report went to print, I revisited the Taichung Flagship Plant and the Yunlin Contract Farm. Under the newly completed skywalk-type photovoltaic canopy, crops were still thriving. A farmer smiled and told me, "With this system, harvests during typhoon season are much more stable." This statement convinces me more than any financial figure: sustainability is not an option, but our most fundamental responsibility to the next generation and to this land.
Chairman Lin Cheng-Hsiung, General Manager Chen Mei-Hui, Respectfully Submitted