Agricultural businesses and cooperatives are the heart of technological transformation

On the afternoon of February 14th in Hanoi, the German Agriculture Association (DLG), in collaboration with the Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper, organized a press conference to announce the AGRITECHNICA ASIA Vietnam 2025 Exhibition. The theme of the event is "Promoting green initiatives in Southeast Asia."

The exhibition is scheduled to take place from March 12-14, 2025, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City.

"In the process of technological transformation and developing sustainable agricultural value chains, we believe that agricultural businesses and cooperatives are at the heart of the transformation. I believe that events like AGRITECHNICA ASIA Vietnam 2025 will be an opportunity for us to meet and exchange information", said Ms. Sonja Esche, Agriculture Team Leader of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).

According to Ms. Sonja Esche, at AGRITECHNICA ASIA Vietnam 2025, GIZ will focus on bringing together international experts to drive the agricultural transformation in Vietnam. This will be achieved through climate-smart solutions, capacity building and strengthening public-private partnerships aimed at promoting sustainable agriculture.

Germany and GIZ have had a longstanding technical cooperation with Vietnam over the years. In her speech at the press conference on February 14th, Ms. Sonja highlighted the key aspects of cooperation, environmental-friendly solutions, and adapting to climate change, all of which are vital in tackling the ongoing agricultural challenges.

“The agricultural sector in Vietnam is currently facing a number of significant challenges, such as the impact of climate change, resource shortages, and water scarcity”, she said. “We also want to move towards a low-emission agricultural production system. AGRITECHNICA ASIA Vietnam 2025 will act as a platform, like a grand banquet, where various partners can bring their knowledge, technologies and innovative solutions to work together toward building a more sustainable and valuable agricultural sector in Vietnam".

Mr. Peter Grothues, a member of the Market Council of the German Agricultural Association (DLG), explained that the three core pillars of the agricultural trade fair are: promoting knowledge, fostering exchange among participants in the supply chain, and focusing on innovation that is not only environmentally friendly but also user-centric.

Mr. Grothues went on to highlight that AGRITECHNICA, which originated in Germany, quickly gained a strong reputation and became highly influential in the agricultural sector. When the event expanded to Asia, it was enthusiastically embraced by farmers, businesses and organizations.

On the topic of machinery costs and the price of agricultural products, Mr. Grothues emphasized that the exhibition would provide valuable lessons on transformative solutions for the agricultural industry. The fair will feature advanced machinery that incorporates global positioning systems, drones and fertilizers specifically designed for ecological environments. These technological innovations could come not only from Germany but also from a wide range of countries around the world.

In terms of livestock management and crop cultivation management, representatives from DLG mentioned that these topics would be explored in greater depth at future events. If possible, DLG is eager to establish a partnership with Vietnam to share knowledge and solutions in these areas.

"When it comes to reducing post-harvest losses, soil preparation and other related agricultural processes, we’ve already showcased in our press conference video how machinery is being used for precision seeding and other advanced methods. New technologies are also being introduced in key agricultural areas such as cassava cultivation, coffee farming and other vital crops that are central to Vietnam's agricultural sector".

"As for agricultural product costs, I sincerely hope that the media, businesses and farmers will participate in the exhibition, so that we can all calculate the costs together and see how the prices work out", said Mr. Grothues.

Mr. Tran Van Cao, the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper, highlighted the importance of mechanization being adapted to suit each specific type of crop. He provided examples, such as machines for precision sowing that also incorporate fertilizer application, drones designed for spraying plant protection products while simultaneously measuring rainfall in smaller regions, and even equipment that can monitor the health of crops.

Mr. Cao also shared that several Vietnamese companies, including Dai Thanh and Sai Gon Kim Hong, would be participating in the exhibition to showcase their machinery. Furthermore, he pointed out that for particular sub-regions or crops, such as cassava in the mountainous areas, research will be conducted to develop integrated mechanization solutions.

“The best machinery will be featured at the exhibition", Mr. Cao affirmed. He further mentioned that the organizing committee is currently researching policies to assist farmers from the Mekong Delta and Central Highlands so they can attend and participate in the event.

In his general evaluation of the exhibition and the press conference, Nguyen Ngoc Thach, the Editor-in-Chief of the Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper, pointed out that based on the questions raised during the press conference, it is clear that the demand for agricultural machinery and mechanization in Vietnam, including the northern regions, is extremely significant.

Mr. Thach emphasized that the preferences of Vietnamese consumers are not only for machinery that is of high quality, but also for equipment that is economically reasonable and provides long-term value. Additionally, due to Vietnam's diverse climate, which includes several distinct microclimates, certain regions of the country require specialized machinery to address the specific needs of those areas.

Expressing his gratitude to DLG for their trust in selecting Vietnam to host AGRITECHNICA ASIA Vietnam 2025, Editor-in-Chief Nguyen Ngoc Thach hopes that the event would facilitate a better mutual understanding among the various stakeholders. He believes that the exhibition will help participants better understand each other's needs and identify machinery and solutions that align with the capabilities, preferences and requirements of the market.

AGRITECHNICA ASIA is the world’s leading agricultural trade fair organized by DLG, building on the legacy of AGRITECHNICA in Hannover, Germany, which has been showcasing agricultural technologies since 1985.

This will be the first time that Vietnam has the honor of hosting AGRITECHNICA ASIA. The event will be held alongside HortEx Vietnam, a premier exhibition dedicated to the horticulture and floriculture industries in Southeast Asia. The event is organized with the collaboration of Minh Vi Exhibition & Advertisement Services Co., Ltd. (VEAS) and Nova Exhibitions BV.

This series of events is highly anticipated, as it promises to provide valuable solutions for producers, suppliers, and farmers to explore the latest advancements in agricultural technology. It will serve as a platform for innovation and knowledge exchange, fostering growth and encouraging the adoption of modern agricultural practices across the region.