Multi-dimensional cooperation is essential for sustainable development

On July 10, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development organizes a forum to connect agricultural science and technology products with businesses, cooperatives, and the public. Vietnam Agriculture News kindly introduces our readers to insightful conversations in the forum.

Hero of Labor Tran Manh Bao, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ThaibinhSeed Group, shares his perspective as someone with 45 years of experience in agriculture.

The ThaibinhSeed Research Institute was established methodically and remains a leading entity in molecular marker and gene editing technologies. To date, Mr. Bao is the author of 20 plant varieties and has collaborated not only with business partners but also with domestic and international institutes and schools.

Mr. Bao believes that multi-dimensional cooperation is essential for sustainable and effective development. “For example, developing blast-resistant varieties internationally can cost up to 3 million USD, but when ThaibinhSeed collaborated with the Institute of Food Crops and Food Plants, we successfully produced high-quality varieties,” Mr. Bao said.

This demonstrates that multi-dimensional cooperation is necessary for sustainable and effective development.

To promote cooperation between businesses and stakeholders in the rice value chain, Mr. Bao offers three proposals.

First, there needs to be a clear mechanism for the transfer of scientific products from the state to enterprises. A specific and transparent mechanism is needed to accelerate this transfer process, enabling businesses to access and apply research results quickly and efficiently.

Additionally, the current financial system has many shortcomings, making it difficult for businesses to invest in research and the application of new technologies. Mr. Bao suggests reforms and adjustments to the financial mechanism to help businesses access funding more easily.

Finally, one of the key factors for developing science and technology is the transfer of products from research to practical production. Facilitating training programs and technology transfer will help improve the professional skills of workers and enhance the application of research results in practical production.

“San Ha wants to place orders with scientists, but we do not know which institute or which scientist. We truly do not have the spare time to break away from our enormous daily workload. Therefore, San Ha Company greatly desires scientists to spare some time to help,” said Pham Thi Ngoc Ha, General Director of San Ha Company.

This company specializes in the production and business of fresh and frozen poultry, waterfowl, and processed food products. San Hà is known to consumers by the familiar brand "Ngoc Ha."

"Instead of having to purchase 70,000 breeding stock or livestock and poultry from abroad, San Ha truly desires that Vietnamese scientists produce these domestically," a representative of San Ha Company said. "Buying foreign products depends on the distributor, which is inconvenient."

Ms. Pham Thi Ngoc Ha believes that with the current production capabilities of Vietnamese farmers, if they have the breeding stock and processes, they are fully capable of producing to high standards. According to the leadership of San Ha Company, the business genuinely hopes that scientists and research institutes will focus more on communication to spread information to businesses and the public.

Mr. Le Hoang The, Director of The VOS Ecosystem Co., Ltd., affirmed that the business is ready to share experiences about Lingzhi mushroom strains with agencies and businesses that need to develop this field. The forest planted with Lingzhi mushrooms, researched and developed by Mr. Le Hoang The, meets 100% USDA Organic Reishi Mushroom standards of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is recognized worldwide.

Director Le Hoang The asserted that not many institutes or schools, even in the United States, have achieved this accomplishment. The VOS has done it, which means many businesses and agencies in Vietnam also can do it.

In the process of connecting scientific and technological products with businesses, cooperatives, and the public, Mr. La Hoang The thanked the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for creating conditions and supporting businesses to bring quality products to the market.

For Vietnam's Lingzhi mushroom medicinal products to reach international standards, there needs to be connection and support from various parties, especially from management agencies and related ministries. Therefore, Mr. The hopes that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will continue to support the market for medicinal products and connect with the Ministry of Health, specifically in the field of preventive medicine. "The company's product has certification for liver disease treatment, and the company wants to find customers for the medicinal products through these connection channels," Mr. The said.

To ensure the quality and reliability of medicinal products, Mr. The believes that establishing standard testing centers is very important. These centers will help test and certify product quality, thereby creating trust for consumers and international partners.