IRRI Director General: Extending the scope of the one million hectares of high-quality rice project

During the meeting with Yvonne Pinto, Director General of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam stated that Vietnam is renowned one of the prominent rice raw material centers in the world. Namely, Vietnam produces over 43 million tons of rice per year, with the Mekong Delta region contributing approximately 24 million tons. This region boasts abundant raw materials that maintain national food security and facilitate Vietnam's participation in the international rice market.

Over the course of its development, the rice industry in Vietnam has received significant support from IRRI. At present, the majority of rice varieties in Vietnam are developed based on research results compiled by IRRI; notably, the Institute has transferred approximately 25 rice seed varieties carrying its brand to Vietnamese stakeholders.

This activity demonstrated the close partnership between IRRI and specialized agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. In addition to the transfer of rice varieties, the Institute supported training and various other activities within the rice industry.

The meeting between the Ministry and IRRI marks an important milestone, particularly as the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam collaborates with international organizations, including IRRI, to implement the "Sustainable Development Project for one million hectares of specialized, low-emission high-quality rice in association with green growth." This is the world's first comprehensive project directed by the Vietnamese Government.

With the aim of promoting the development of Vietnam's rice industry amidst the new global context, Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam proposed IRRI to continue supporting Vietnam in establishing high-quality rice standards in combination with building an emission reduction rice brand. Furthermore, Vietnam is seeking support in sharing research results on genetic sources to develop rice varieties capable of adapting to saline conditions and rice varieties with low glycemic index.

Additionally, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development requested IRRI's assistance in constructing circular economy models, thereby establishing a foundation for Vietnam to formulate mechanisms, policies, and develop the circular economic ecosystem within its rice industry.

On the other hand, following the implementation of the "Sustainable Development Project for one million hectares of specialized, low-emission high-quality rice in association with green growth," the Deputy Minister recommended IRRI to enhance cooperation in digital technology development for nutrient management, disease forecasting, farming management, and origin tracing. Moreover, the Deputy Minister encouraged both parties to strengthen the scope of their cooperative partnership, particularly with the Mekong Delta Rice Research Institute as a leading research organization under the Ministry.

With acknowledgement for the aforementioned proposals, Director General Yvonne Pinto commits to enhancing the cooperation between IRRI and Vietnam in the foreseeable future. She further emphasized that following the initation of Vietnam's "Sustainable Development Project for one million hectares of specialized, low-emission high-quality rice in association with green growth," the country has attracted considerable attention from numerous parties worldwide.

"The significance of the project has extended beyond the borders of a single nation to reach other parties worldwide. Vietnam has demonstrated a vision of global transformation and implemented this especially meaningful project. The project will provide a valuable opportunity for other nations to draw experiences from," Director General Yvonne Pinto remarked.

In response to the four proposals made by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Director General Yvonne Pinto highlighted that scientists at IRRI have conducted market research and examined consumer perspectives on sustainable development issues. IRRI is prepared to share these research findings with specialized agencies under the Ministry. At present, IRRI is developing various digital tools in preparation for its collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

On May 30, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development signed Decision No. 1492/QD-BNN-KH regarding the assignment of tasks to Steering Committee members for the implementation of the "Sustainable Development Project for one million hectares of specialized, low-emission high-quality rice in association with green growth."