Healing Agriculture is more than a vision—it is a growing practice that redefines how landscapes support human well-being. At NTU, researchers across various disciplines are leading innovations that combine natural environments with technology, design, and science to cultivate health in both body and mind.
At the forefront is the Green Health Research Center, directed by Professor Hui-Mei Chen. The Center houses four labs that integrate XR, AIoT, and biosensing technologies to create immersive healing experiences. These include 360° virtual gardens, Tai Chi landscapes, and real-time physiological tracking via Apple Watch and HealthCloud, enabling the Center to redefine how people interact with nature—whether in hospitals, classrooms, or across borders.
Professor Yu-Sen Chang's research on horticultural therapy explores how creative, multisensory indoor activities—like leaf printing and moss ball making, paired with the experience of forest-like aromas—can reduce anxiety, balance autonomic functions, and promote emotional well-being, especially in urbanized or restricted settings.
Within the forest realm, the work of Professor Chia-Pin Yu on forest therapy emphasizes nature as a preventive health strategy. His team has developed immersive experiences and inclusive forest trails in sites like the Basianshan National Forest Recreation Area, offering scientifically grounded, restorative activities for seniors, urban dwellers, and those unable to access nature directly.
Finally, Professor Chun-Yen Chang's HEALS Design System provides a smart, 18-step planning framework that uses AI, GIS, and real-time health data to guide participatory therapeutic landscape design. HEALS has already been implemented at NTU for teaching and public engagement, showcasing how data and empathy can be used jointly to create socially just, health-promoting spaces.
Together, these projects embody the power of Healing Agriculture—a discipline in which forests, gardens, and green technologies work in synergy to care for people and the planet.