Vietstock 2024: Developing the livestock industry in '4 Better'

Supporting the recovery of livelihoods for small-scale livestock farmers

On the afternoon of September 11 in Ho Chi Minh City, the Livestock Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) collaborated with Informa Markets Group to organize a press conference on the International Exhibition of Livestock, Feed, Aquaculture, and Meat Processing in Vietnam (Vietstock 2024).

Mr. Pham Kim Dang, Deputy Director of the Department of Livestock Production (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), stated that in 2023, the livestock industry in Vietnam and globally faced numerous challenges, including complex disease outbreaks, climate change, scarce raw materials, and rising prices. Despite these difficulties, the livestock sector achieved a growth rate of 5.72%, with revenues exceeding $ 33 billion, contributing 26% to agricultural GDP and 5% to the national GDP.

Livestock products not only meet the food needs of over 100 million domestic residents and millions of tourists but also provide livelihoods for nearly 10 million farming households. Additionally, there is an increasing number of export products such as bird’s nest, milk, and dairy products to China; honey to the US and EU; processed chicken to Japan; and various livestock products gradually entering the Halal market...

Notably, the FAO has recognized a Vietnamese livestock product—honey—as an OCOP (One Commune One Product) of the world (one product per country). This recognition provides an advantage for developing the honey product in the future. Currently, Vietnam is one of the largest honey exporters globally. Participation in the global food chain confirms that the domestic livestock industry meets international standards.

Moreover, Vietnam's animal feed production technology has developed, aligning with the latest global standards and demonstrating its own technology suited to local weather conditions, climate, livestock development context, and economic characteristics.

However, the livestock sector still faces urgent challenges that need to be addressed, such as disease outbreaks, climate change, market fluctuations, dependency on feed raw materials, and antibiotic resistance, particularly environmental management issues.

Currently, the northern provinces are struggling to mitigate the damage caused by Typhoon No. 3. Flooding and storm damage have significantly impacted livestock farmers in these regions. According to local reports, while there are livestock losses due to storms and floods, they are relatively minor compared to other damages and do not pose a major concern for the overall herd.

Nevertheless, the Livestock Department has issued warnings to localities to guide farmers in maintaining good sanitation, disease prevention, ensuring biosecurity, water quality, feed, and environmental conditions, and not being complacent as diseases could break out anytime and affect the national food supply.

At the same time, the Livestock Department is calling on businesses to support the recovery of livelihoods for small-scale livestock farmers in the near future.

20 years accompanying the advancement of the livestock sector

"At this point, we can confirm that the livestock industry has a fairly complete institutional framework, aligning with regional and international standards; it has clear development strategies and directions; and has resources from various projects and policy decrees.

This is a golden opportunity for the livestock sector to transform towards more sustainable development. We particularly aim to develop according to the ‘4 Better’ principles set by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for agriculture in general and livestock in particular, including Vietnam," said Mr Pham Kim Dang.

According to Mr. Dang, with the 20-year milestone of Vietstock in Vietnam, this year's theme will focus on the ‘4 Better’ principles: enhancing productivity, improving nutrition, creating a greener and cleaner environment, and achieving a better quality of life. Vietstock 2024 will bring together numerous experts, investors, scientists, and producers from both domestic and international backgrounds to discuss and provide directions for the development of the livestock sector.

"This is a golden moment for transforming Vietnam’s livestock sector. Therefore, through Vietstock 2024, we need information from both domestic and international sources and diverse perspectives to select the best path and direction for the sustainable development of Vietnam’s livestock industry in the future", Mr Dang added.

30% discount on booths for small and medium enterprises

Ms. Rungphech (Rose) Chitanuwat, Project Chain Director - ASEAN at Informa Markets, stated that Vietstock aims to help farmers learn about and explore innovative technologies. To encourage participation from Vietnamese and international farmers, the organizers will provide shuttle services and lunch support for registered groups from different regions.

This year’s exhibition features a "New Business" area specifically designed for small and medium enterprises in Vietnam. Companies exhibiting in this area are exemplary businesses contributing to the livestock sector and will receive a 30% discount on booth fees compared to other businesses.

A key highlight of this year’s exhibition is the Biosecurity Asia Forum, which will bring together local and international experts to discuss biosecurity, particularly the experiences and approaches of various countries to African Swine Fever. This will allow for a reassessment of Vietnam's approach and provide direction for the future transformation of the livestock sector.

Additionally, two industry conferences will be held: one on animal feed production—opportunities and challenges for the global and Vietnamese markets—and another on livestock breeding technology.

During the exhibition, the Vietstock Awards 2024 will honour outstanding businesses and organizations that have made significant contributions to the livestock sector in Vietnam. The awards will cover eight categories, including outstanding livestock enterprises in waste management and treatment technology, closed value chain integration, circular economy development, biosecurity, waste treatment product production, livestock equipment manufacturing, compound feed or supplementary feed production, and livestock breeding production.

8 Categories of Livestock Industry Awards

As part of the exhibition, the Vietstock Awards 2024 will recognize exemplary businesses and organizations that have made significant and meaningful contributions to the livestock sector in Vietnam.

The awards will feature eight categories: Outstanding livestock enterprise in waste management and treatment technology; outstanding livestock enterprise in closed value chain integration; outstanding livestock enterprise in circular economy development in Vietnam; outstanding enterprise in biosecurity; outstanding enterprise in waste treatment product production; outstanding enterprise in livestock equipment manufacturing; outstanding enterprise in compound feed or supplementary feed production; and outstanding enterprise in livestock breeding production.

As the media sponsor for Vietstock, Mr. Nguyen Duc Cuong, Director of the Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper branch in Ho Chi Minh City, stated that the newspaper would use its media tools to best convey the themes of Vietstock and the latest information on the livestock industry to the public, farmers, scientists, investors, and stakeholders both domestically and internationally. This effort aims to contribute to the overall development of Vietnam's livestock sector, especially benefiting small-scale farmers.

Vietstock 2024, organized by Informa Markets, will be held from October 9 to 11 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC). The event will feature over 400 exhibitors and is expected to attract 13,000 visitors from 50 countries and regions. The event is media-sponsored by the Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper.