Dong Thap develops intellectual property - Leverage to enhance special agricultural products

Updated date: 05/13/2025 10:53:21

DTO - Intellectual property protection is not only a legal tool to protect products, but also a strategic lever for Dong Thap agricultural products and specialties to affirm their position in the market, increase value and move towards sustainable development.

Effective use of the "Cao Lanh Lemon" certification mark helps My Long Agricultural Service Cooperative's lemon products have more opportunities to be favored by many demanding markets.

Certification marks and geographical indications: “Passports” to enhance the value of specialties

Dong Thap - a fertile land located in the center of the Mekong Delta is famous for many typical agricultural products. For example, Thap Muoi lotus, mango, Cao Lanh lemon, Lai Vung pink grapefruit, Lai Vung spring rolls, Phu Tho dried snakehead fish... each product has high economic value and contains profound cultural and historical values ​​of the people here.

In the context of increasingly deep economic integration, protecting and developing the value of these special agricultural products has become more urgent than ever. Recognizing this importance, Dong Thap province has proactively and actively implemented activities to build, register and manage certification labels for key local agricultural products.

By early 2025, the province had established industrial property rights for 31 specific agricultural products, including 26 certified trademarks, 4 collective trademarks and 1 geographical indication. This is evidence of a strong shift in the province's thinking and actions in exploiting the potential of intellectual property to promote sustainable agricultural development.

In fact, being granted a certified trademark has brought about positive changes in terms of trade and market recognition for many Dong Thap products. Typically, Lai Vung spring rolls, after being supported in brand management and development, have created conditions for production facilities to expand their markets and increase income for local people.

The certified trademark "Nem Lai Vung" contributes to enhancing the reputation of traditional craft villages.

Ms. Dang Thi Ngoc Thuy - owner of Nem Hoang Khanh (Tan Thanh commune, Lai Vung district), excitedly said: “Since being transferred the “Nem Lai Vung” certification mark, our facility’s products have been known and trusted by many customers, especially tourists and wholesale partners in many provinces and cities. The certification mark is a prestigious guarantee of origin, helping customers feel more secure when choosing products. Many customers from far away also contact to order directly; they share that seeing the “Nem Lai Vung” label makes them completely confident when buying as gifts. Thanks to that, the facility’s monthly revenue has increased significantly compared to before.”

The certified trademark "Nem Lai Vung" helps many nem production facilities affirm their position in the market.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Hoang - Head of the Department of Culture, Science and Information of Lai Vung district, said: “In the process of building and developing the certification mark “Nem Lai Vung”, up to now, Lai Vung district has officially transferred the right to use it to 11 reputable nem production facilities in the area, including: Hoang Khanh, Ut Thang, Thanh Son and many other facilities. After more than 2 years of implementation, these facilities have recorded a revenue growth of 15% - 20% thanks to enhancing brand recognition and expanding distribution channels nationwide. The application of standard labels not only protects the legitimate rights and interests of producers but also builds strong trust among consumers about the quality and origin of products...”.

Effective exploitation of intellectual property - The foundation for sustainable development

Recognizing the importance of intellectual property protection for specific agricultural products, many localities in Dong Thap province, especially Cao Lanh district, have focused on registering and exploiting intellectual property rights. Typically, “Cao Lanh Mango” and “Cao Lanh Lemon” have been granted trademarks and transferred to many units, contributing to enhancing the value and position of local agricultural products in domestic and foreign markets.

Being granted the right to use the trademark "Cao Lanh Lemon" and achieving the 4-star OCOP product certification helps the concentrated honey lemon juice product create trust with consumers.

My Long Agricultural Service Cooperative (HTX DVNN) is one of the typical units that have effectively exploited the advantages of the "Cao Lanh Lemon" certification mark after being transferred the right to use it by the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Cao Lanh district since the beginning of 2024. Mr. Le Van Nam - member of the Board of Directors of My Long Agricultural Service Cooperative, shared about the advantages that the Cooperative has achieved when being transferred the right to use the "Cao Lanh Lemon" trademark: "The fact that the Cooperative was transferred and used the "Cao Lanh Lemon" certification mark for fresh lemon products and groups of products processed from lemons has made an important contribution to enhancing the value and reputation of the Cooperative's products in the domestic and export markets. The certification mark is a confirmation of the origin and quality of lemon ingredients, creating a solid belief for consumers in the safety and reliability of the product".

Despite initial encouraging results, the development of Dong Thap agricultural intellectual property still faces many challenges. The rate of post-grant trademark usage is still low due to uneven product quality, small-scale production, and lack of value chain linkage. State agencies managing trademarks lack expertise and depend on external consultants. In addition, many people and production households are not fully aware of the benefits of intellectual property protection, leading to low registration initiative and limited brand dissemination effectiveness.

Using the "Nem Lai Vung" certification label helps local people have jobs and increase their income.

Faced with these realities, the Department of Science and Technology of Dong Thap province has proactively proposed many synchronous solutions to effectively exploit intellectual property for the province's special agricultural products. Mr. Phan Trong Tuong - Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology of Dong Thap, emphasized: "Dong Thap clearly identifies the need to synchronously deploy solutions to maximize the value of intellectual property for the province's special agricultural products. We have been actively integrating brand development activities with the One Commune One Product (OCOP) Program, supporting cooperatives and cooperative groups to improve production processes, design packaging, labels and build traceability systems. At the same time, special attention is paid to training and coaching to raise awareness and capacity for intellectual property enforcement for management staff at all levels, businesses and people directly involved in production...".

Intellectual property protection is not simply about protecting a name or a product identification mark, but more deeply, it is about protecting the reputation, quality and consumer trust in Dong Thap agricultural products. This is also an effective way for the locality to affirm its unique identity, creating a sustainable competitive advantage for Dong Thap province's special agricultural products in the global agricultural value chain.

My Ly

Source: https://baodongthap.vn/kinh-te/dong-thap-phat-trien-tai-san-tri-tue-don-bay-nang-tam-nong-san-dac-thu-131413.aspx