ILRI proposes cooperation with Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper and Department of Animal Health

On August 8, the Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper, Department of Animal Health, and International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) discussed communication cooperation in the fields of livestock health, food safety, One Health, and a series of events celebrating the 50th anniversary of the ILRI foundation in Hanoi in October.

Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper’s Editor-in-Chief Nguyen Ngoc Thach, Deputy Editor-in-Chief Le Trong Dam, Director of Department of Animal Health, Dr. Fred Unger, Regional Representative of ILRI Asia, as well as reporters and staff of the three parties attended the meeting at the newspaper’s headquarters in Hanoi.

Editor-in-Chief Nguyen Ngoc Thach provided a brief description of the activities of Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper at the outset of the meeting, highlighting the publication's capabilities and experience in the organization of local and international events, taking the Vietnam-Hau Giang International Rice Festival and the 4th Global Conference of the One Planet Network's Sustainable Food Systems (SFS) Program as examples.

Mr. Fred Unger has stated that the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) selected Vietnam as the location for its representative office in the East and Southeast Asia region. This office is responsible for conducting research and investment activities in the region. The Mekong River area is the focus of numerous research projects currently being conducted by ILRI. Consequently, Vietnam was chosen as the location for the regional representative office.

Furthermore, Vietnam's status as a key nation is further bolstered by ILRI's constant commitment and strategy to sustainably preserve its accomplishments by forging partnerships with stakeholders. In 1999, ILRI launched collaborations with Vietnamese partners. ILRI had established a presence in Vietnam on the campus of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) by 2006. In 2007, ILRI established an independent office in Vietnam, thereby increasing its research activities and personnel.

ILRI is part of the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centres (CGIAR), a global research partnership aimed at ensuring food security for the future. Currently, ILRI in Vietnam is implementing research topics including animal health and food safety, climate change adaptation, emerging infectious diseases, livestock feed, animal genetics, and value chains.

ILRI Vietnam prioritizes two research areas: (1) improving the sustainability of livestock systems and (2) mitigating the risks associated with changes in agricultural systems.

For the 50th anniversary of ILRI in 2024, numerous events are scheduled in Vietnam and other countries worldwide. Mr. Fred Unger discussed the collaboration with the Department of Animal Health and the Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper to set up and execute these events, including anniversary celebrations, workshops on One Health, veterinary, and food safety.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thach stated that the Department of Animal Health and Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper has been in a long-term partnership for the organization of a series of forums and conferences that involve hundreds or thousands of locations to disseminate safe livestock farming solutions.

Director Nguyen Van Long elaborated on the significance of communication in professional work, stating that the agricultural sector is currently being substantially impacted by the growth of livestock and aquaculture, which are closely associated with veterinary services.

"The Government, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), local authorities, the community, and international partners are all demonstrating interest and engagement in these fields, which have significant potential for collaboration. This reflects Vietnam's profound involvement in these disciplines," stated Nguyen Van Long.

The Director also mentioned that Vietnam places a high value on the One Health approach and has implemented a One Health Partnership Framework, in which ILRI is also involved. Communication plays a critical role in the refinement of mechanisms and policies, in addition to exchanging and disseminating information, to achieve such results.

The Department of Animal Health and Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper have collaborated extensively in recent years to address antibiotic resistance issues, ensure food hygiene, create disease-free production zones, and engage in disease prevention communication.

As two units under MARD, Director Nguyen Van Long expressed his readiness to cooperate with Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper and international organizations, including ILRI, to bring the sector's achievements into practice.

The leadership of the Department of Animal Health expressed his support and commitment to collaborating with Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper and ILRI to develop proposals, agree on methods, and implement the programs and events specified for October.

Editor-in-Chief Nguyen Ngoc Thach and Director Nguyen Van Long expressed their desire to expand further cooperation with ILRI, not only for the upcoming specific events but also for the longer-term future.