Minister Do Duc Duy: Do not let policies slow down innovation

Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy emphasized that the development of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation has become an inevitable trend, especially urgent for the agricultural and environmental sectors. This is also the driving force for Vietnam to soon become a developed, rich and powerful country in the New Era - the Era of national development.

However, Mr. Duy also expressed concern that many research topics related to industries, including agriculture and the environment, are not linked to development requirements; once research is completed, it is very difficult to commercialize or there is no possibility of commercializing them into real life.

Therefore, Minister Do Duc Duy said that it is necessary to remove obstacles, innovate ways of doing things, and not let policies slow down the progress of innovation.

Many research topics are at a standstill

Speaking at the Conference on the implementation plan of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo on the development of science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation, of the agricultural and environmental sectors, which took place on the morning of May 10, Minister Do Duc Duy emphasized that Resolution No. 57 was issued at a very special time - when digital transformation is no longer a new concept, but has become an inevitable trend.

The Resolution identifies the development of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation as decisive factors for the development of nations; as a prerequisite and the best opportunity for our country to develop rapidly and sustainably and become a developed, rich and powerful nation in the New Era - the Era of national growth.

Regarding the agricultural and environmental sectors, Mr. Duy said that Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW is especially meaningful when the country is facing a series of major challenges, such as: more severe climate change, faster resource depletion, higher pressure on green growth - low emissions. Traditional agricultural production models - which rely on manual labor and large material inputs - are no longer suitable in the current context.

“To change the situation, to improve productivity, quality, and added value of products, to protect the living environment for today and future generations - we must innovate our thinking and ways of doing things, and must take science, technology, and digital transformation as the foundation for development,” Mr. Duy stated his opinion.

With that urgency, in recent times, the agricultural and environmental sectors have made many efforts and initiatives to apply technology - from high-tech agricultural models, smart livestock farming, to environmental monitoring using sensors, building digital maps, land, forest and meteorological databases. “These are positive changes in the sector, but to determine 'breakthrough, development' as required by Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW - we still have a lot of work to do,” Minister Do Duc Duy emphasized.

However, the head of the agriculture and environment sector also frankly admitted that, over time, there is a reality that proposals for scientific and technological tasks mainly come from public scientific and technological establishments, with few practical proposals from businesses, even from farmers.

Therefore, according to Minister Do Duc Duy, many research topics are not linked to development requirements; once research is completed, it is very difficult to commercialize or there is no possibility of commercializing them into life.

Delegates attending the conference. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

“Therefore, we also hope that from 2026 onwards, science and technology tasks must be ordered from practice, from businesses, and from specialized state management agencies for more effective implementation,” Mr. Duy shared.

Mobilizing initiatives from businesses and people

Faced with the above situation, Minister Do Duc Duy raised a number of suggestive issues that need to be prioritized. The first is the issue of perfecting institutions, policies, and reforming administrative procedures to remove bottlenecks; promoting the development of science and technology, innovation, and transferring some not only in the public sector but also in the private sector to mobilize and effectively use all domestic and foreign resources for the development of science and technology to serve the development of the industry.

“Don't let policy slow down innovation,” said Mr. Duy.

In fact, Mr. Duy said that the recent past has also shown that the private sector and private enterprises have invested heavily in scientific and technological research, innovation and digital transformation in the agricultural sector; many industries and enterprises have pioneered in this field and created huge added value.

“Therefore, one of the issues that we are interested in and hope that experts and scientists will discuss to clarify, as well as give advice on how to change institutions and policies to mobilize the participation and strong involvement of the private sector in the development of science and technology and innovation,” Mr. Duy shared.

Next, Mr. Duy said that it is necessary to arrange the organizational system, including public service units and scientific organizations of ministries and branches, to ensure "refinement, compactness, strength, efficiency, effectiveness and efficiency" towards comprehensive autonomy in scientific research so that research units can truly become centers of innovation, competitiveness and knowledge dissemination to production and the market.

The third solution, according to Mr. Duy, is to comprehensively change the way of ordering and assigning annual science and technology tasks. In particular, the entire agricultural and environmental sector needs to focus on scientific research that must originate from practical production requirements, providing science and technology solutions, products serving production, commercializing products, improving the quality, safety and value of products.

Along with that, the industry needs to identify areas with strong development potential such as biotechnology and gene technology to create breakthroughs in agricultural production seed sources, taking advantage of technologies and good, rare seed sources to improve and serve production.

In particular, Mr. Duy emphasized the need to ensure a quality human resource with solid skills, expertise and experience; in which, proposing mechanisms and policies to attract domestic experts, Vietnamese experts abroad and especially from the private sector to join hands and unite with the Ministry and branches to successfully implement the issued resolutions and plans.

The final solution suggested by Mr. Duy is to promote comprehensive digital transformation throughout the industry and ministry; digitize right from document drafting to practical production, ensuring that all activities are digitized and fully traceable.

“We have had a correct - clear - strong Resolution from the Politburo, a detailed action plan from the Ministry, and the support of localities, businesses and experts. What remains is the will to act, the determination and determination to innovate in implementation,” said Mr. Duy, expressing his belief that the conference will be a positive start, creating new momentum for scientific and technological research, innovation and digital transformation activities in the agricultural and environmental sectors to truly make a breakthrough in productivity, quality, efficiency and sustainable development./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/bo-truong-do-duc-duy-khong-de-chinh-sach-lam-cham-buoc-tien-doi-moi-sang-tao-post1037699.vnp