TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Tainan’s Guanmiao District is transforming pineapple farming by recycling waste into textile fibers and animal feed, part of an effort to reduce environmental impact and lower farming costs.

The initiative, led by the Tainan City Government and Cava Co. Ltd., was unveiled Monday at the Guanmiao produce market. It showcases how pineapple leaves, stems, and mulch can be repurposed into high-value products that also create jobs, per a press release.

Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che (黃偉哲) said pineapples are a key crop for Tainan, but post-harvest waste—including roots, leaves, and plastic mulch—has long posed a burden on both the environment and farmers, per CNA. He said Cava's technology improves soil conditions, reduces pesticide use, and helps stabilize production and pricing.

Traditionally, farmers plow pineapple waste back into the soil, but its slow decomposition forces them to use fungicides and leave the land fallow for up to 180 days. The use of plastic mulch further harms soil quality and increases labor and costs.

The new project has established a demonstration zone using mechanized recycling that eliminates the need for chemicals and reduces the fallow period to just one week. This allows for year-round planting and better responsiveness to market demand.

Collected pineapple waste is sorted and processed into fiber and enzyme-rich products, cutting disposal costs and creating a circular production cycle. Pineapple leaves are spun into natural fibers for clothing, while stems are turned into animal feed additives that support digestion and improve livestock health.

In a pilot program last year, Cava processed waste from 15 hectares into feed, enzymes, cat litter, and fabric for apparel and floor mats. The company aims to expand the program to 80 hectares by 2026 and eventually cover more of Tainan’s pineapple-growing regions.