Thanks to the application of technical advances, Vietnamese agriculture not only ensures national food security but also affirms its position in the global food supply chain.
To learn more information, the reporter had an interview with Mr. Phung Duc Tien, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment .
- Mr. Deputy Minister, in the context of digital transformation and the 4.0 industrial revolution, biotechnology is considered the "key" to modern agriculture. What key orientations or programs is the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment implementing to promote research and application of biotechnology in production?
- The spirit of science and technology development has been clearly affirmed in Resolution No. 19 on agricultural, farmer and rural development, especially the orientation of organic agricultural development and circular economy. Recently, Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo issued on December 22, 2024 continues to emphasize that science and technology and innovation are the main driving forces to modernize the productive forces, bringing the Vietnamese economy towards higher added value.
In the fields of technology, biotechnology is considered a spearhead with breakthrough potential. Vietnam is applying many research directions such as gene transfer technology, molecular markers, tissue, embryo and cell culture to select and create crop and livestock varieties that adapt to climate change, increase productivity and product value.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien speaks at the Forum on Gene Editing in Agriculture
Up to now, our country has exported more than 7 million tons of rice, contributing to affirming Vietnam's role in the global food supply chain and the expectation that in 2025, it is entirely possible to reach a record export of about 67 - 70 billion USD. Not only stopping at the export figure, the industry structure has also clearly shifted. The proportion of processing is increasing, gradually replacing raw production, while green, circular agriculture and digital transformation are beginning to take shape clearly in many localities. In particular, preservation and processing technology has helped reduce post-harvest losses by 5 - 10%, while extending the preservation period, improving product quality and meeting the strict standards of the international market.
Agricultural mechanization has made great strides.
At the same time, the mechanization of agriculture has also made great strides. Currently, the rate of mechanization in land preparation has reached over 95%; models using drones, IoT sensors, artificial intelligence and agricultural robots are gradually being deployed in large commodity production areas. Thanks to that, labor productivity is improved, production costs are reduced and farmers' incomes are gradually increased.
Implementing Resolution 57-NQ/TW, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has been assigned 188 tasks. To date, 55 tasks have been completed and 125 are being implemented. In the coming time, the Ministry will continue to promote the application of biotechnology in breeding, animal husbandry, cultivation and agricultural processing. The Government's issuance of the Decision on the development of biotechnology is a strategic step, opening up new development space for Vietnam. Along with that, policy mechanisms are being perfected to create a more favorable environment for scientists and businesses to invest.
- One of the major challenges is the lack of incentive mechanisms and high-quality human resources in the field of agricultural biotechnology. What solutions does the Ministry have to overcome and attract these resources, Deputy Minister?
- The Agriculture and Environment sector currently has a force of more than 11,400 scientists, along with a network of 21 scientific research organizations and more than 16,000 hectares of land, but exploitation efficiency is still very modest.
Although digital transformation is taking place strongly, a series of shortcomings and bottlenecks in institutions, financial mechanisms, organizations, and management thinking are hindering the effective promotion of available potential. One of the core problems is the delay in institutional innovation, especially regulations related to the mechanism of talent recruitment. Currently, there is no legal corridor flexible enough to attract and retain a team of highly qualified scientists, as well as build strong research groups, which are the foundation for any breakthrough development.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is coordinating with relevant ministries and sectors to draft amendments to the Law on Biodiversity, which will clarify the concept of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and develop regulations and management standards in line with international practices. This is not only to ensure biosafety and comply with international commitments, but also to create a clear legal corridor for research, testing and application of new scientific advances.
Although resources and policies are available, the completion of the legal framework is still a prerequisite for effective development of science and technology. Therefore, it is necessary to create an environment and motivation for scientists to confidently devote themselves, avoiding the situation where they are concerned about research but still worry about their lives. This will contribute to creating a "new Contract 10 in science and technology, helping to "untie" researchers, encourage creativity and arouse the spirit of dedication in the scientific community".
- In the near future, how will the industry be positioned if it makes good use of breakthroughs in biotechnology, artificial intelligence or digital transformation, Deputy Minister?
- Science and technology and production reorganization are considered by the Ministry to be two important pillars in the project to restructure the agricultural sector towards modernization. Both of the above aspects are closely related to digital transformation.
In terms of vision, by 2030, digital transformation will contribute to creating an environment and digital agricultural ecosystem as a foundation, creating institutions, promoting the transformation from "agricultural production" to "agricultural economy"; developing high-tech agriculture in the direction of focusing on smart agriculture, precision agriculture, increasing the proportion of digital agriculture in the economy.
Science and technology are not only the driving force but also the key to sustainable agricultural development. The Ministry has also identified strategic directions to focus on in the coming time. First of all, the Ministry will continue to improve institutions and policies to encourage investment in research and technology transfer. Develop regional agricultural innovation centers, closely linking institutes, schools and enterprises. International cooperation will be expanded, especially in the fields of deep processing, logistics and smart mechanization.
At the same time, we should focus on promoting the socialization of scientific research and mobilizing resources from outside the state budget to create more motivation for innovation. Building agricultural value chain models applying high technology and with transparent traceability will be the foundation to meet the increasingly stringent requirements of domestic and international markets.
Thank you very much, Deputy Minister!
Source: https://mst.gov.vn/khoa-hoc-cong-nghe-dong-luc-phat-trien-nen-nong-nghiep-hien-dai-19725120621500253.htm
![[Video] The craft of making Dong Ho folk paintings has been inscribed by UNESCO on the List of Crafts in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/402x226/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2025/12/10/1765350246533_tranh-dong-ho-734-jpg.webp)
Comment (0)