Vietnam and the United States share advanced agricultural technology

The workshop “Promote food safety and innovation for a green and sustainable Vietnam agriculture” on August 16 was co-organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC). The workshop invites leaders, representatives of international organizations, experts and scientists in agriculture.

Officials say that Vietnam’s agriculture is facing many challenges, from both internal problems and objective factors: depleted resources, climate change, market fluctuations and shifting consumer trends worldwide.

Vietnam is one of the world’s leading exporters of agricultural, forestry and fishery products, with a total turnover of over 53 billion USD in 2022, reaching 196 countries and territories. Therefore, the workshop helps to strengthen multilateral cooperation, exchange experiences, policies, and knowledge, striving to turn Vietnam into a ‘powerhouse’ in agriculture.

Mr. Ralph Bean, Agricultural Counselor, US Embassy in Vietnam, emphasizes that Vietnamese agricultural products are making steady progress, gradually increasing their global influence.

“Vietnam ranks 8th among the export markets of agricultural, forestry and fishery products to the United States, and the United States has been Vietnam’s largest import market. MARD’s positive approach in promoting food safety is crucial to maintaining global food security,” shares the Counselor.

Through the workshop, MARD and USABC once again affirm the effectiveness of public-private partnership in policy-making, technology transformation, and building a transparent, responsible and sustainable agriculture.

At the workshop, MARD leaders and USABC representatives exchange and discuss two main groups of issues, including the applications of the One Health policy to food safety and advanced agricultural technology to promote sustainable agriculture.

Mr. Pham Hoang Duc, Department for Agricultural Products Processing and Market Development (MARD), states that Vietnam’s current system of institutions, policies and regulations on food safety for agricultural, forestry and fishery products are thorough and refined. In the future, the Department will focus on completing the project “Ensuring food safety, improving the quality of agriculture, forestry and fishery in the 2021-2030 period” per MARD’s strategy.

In addition, the Food Innovation Hub Vietnam (FIHV) activities are presented in the presentation of Mr. Nguyen Anh Phong, Deputy Director of the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development.

FIHV is built upon the foundation of the Partnership Program for Sustainable Agriculture in Vietnam (PSAV). Through a network connecting the Government, the private sector, cooperatives and scientists, FIHV has achieved remarkable achievements regarding integrated value chains, technological solutions, institutional solutions, and mobilization in the food sector, among others.

Advanced agricultural technology is presented by USABC representatives at the workshop. Mr. Dang Ngoc Hoang, MSD Animal Health Vietnam Company, introduces individual tracking technology in pig farm management and traceability (LeeO). By registering individual pigs from birth to consumption, LeeO maps out a pig's entire life cycle: from birth to slaughter and processing of the meat. It collects, analyzes and reports data based on the farm's requirements other stakeholders.

This solution establishes an electronic health passport for each individual pig. As a result, it improves the quality of pigs, production, disease management, in-depth analysis, and pork product quality.

Mr. Rishikant Moudgal, Asia Pacific Regional Commercialization Leader and Portfolio Manager, introduces the agricultural solutions the company is applying in Vietnam. With the experience of the leading US investor in agriculture, Corteva positions farmers at the center of their solutions. They deploy appropriate solutions, improve the agricultural industry, advise people to participate in environmental protection and enhance their response to climate change.

Corteva works with farmers to understand how to transform science into actionable solutions that work for Vietnam while protecting the natural resources that agriculture and society rely on. The company thereby enables farmers to adopt new regenerative and climate-positive farming practices to establish a more food- and fuel-secure world.

Also at the workshop, experts and scientists share practical lessons and recommendations on advanced agricultural technology, providing multi-dimensional perspectives for future public-private partnerships. The participation of actants in the agricultural sector is the key to agricultural policy formulation, ensuring sustainable development so that no one is left behind.