'Female General' of Modern Agriculture: Women Don't Need to Prove Their Strength Because They Show It Every Day

(Chinhphu.vn) - On the occasion of Vietnamese Women's Day October 20, a reporter from the Government E-newspaper had an interview with businesswoman Dang Huynh Uc My, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of AgriS, about the journey of inheriting, innovating and developing Vietnamese brands as well as the role and value of women in today's society.

Businesswoman Dang Huynh Uc My, Chairman of the Board of Directors of AgriS, has always aspired to modernize agriculture and enhance the value for farmers in order to develop a sustainable agricultural sector - Photo: VGP

In the development journey of many Vietnamese brands, there are female entrepreneurs who choose less-traveled paths with all their passion and aspirations. For businesswoman Dang Huynh Uc My, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Thanh Thanh Cong - Bien Hoa Joint Stock Company (AgriS), agriculture is not simply about fields and production, but also about responsibility and belief in the sustainable value of the land, the farmers, and Vietnamese agricultural products.

Having studied abroad, Ms. Dang Huynh Uc My returned to Vietnam with the aspiration to bring knowledge, technology, and modern management models to build AgriS into a pioneering enterprise in high-tech agriculture, sustainable development, and international integration.

Vietnam has many inherent advantages for developing high-tech agriculture and modern production.

Madam, looking back on your time with AgriS, what makes you most proud? Could you share your aspirations and vision from your time studying abroad, as well as your efforts to make AgriS a leading high-tech agricultural enterprise today?

Entrepreneur Dang Huynh Uc My : I studied in New Zealand, a small country in the Southeast Pacific , but with a comprehensive agricultural sector, where agricultural products account for more than half of the country's exports. Agriculture contributes over $8 billion to the national GDP – a significant figure for a country with just over 5 million people. New Zealand farmers are supported by technology and knowledge, and their agricultural products reach the world market. At that time, I thought: "How far can Vietnamese farmers, who are already very skilled and hardworking, go if they are supported by technology and knowledge?"

Vietnam has a long history in agriculture, along with favorable soil and climate conditions, hardworking farmers, and a skilled and innovative engineering workforce. These are the advantages for developing high-tech agriculture. - Photo: VGP

That concern kept nagging at me and led to my decision to return to my country. The early years weren't easy, but one question always lingered in my mind: Vietnam has a long history in agriculture, favorable soil and climate conditions, hardworking farmers, and a skilled and innovative engineering workforce, so why can't we get rich, increase farmers' incomes, and develop the country's economy through agriculture? Looking back at countries with developed agriculture, I always believed that if we remained steadfast in our goal of "modernizing agriculture and enhancing the value of farmers," then the path, however bumpy, would still lead to our destination.

The deeper I delved into the practical realities, the more I realized that, in order to increase farmers' income, we must focus on developing high-tech agriculture and modern production methods.

It was those heartfelt concerns that gave me the motivation and belief that today, what makes me proud is not the awards or revenue figures, but the fact that AgriS has truly changed the way agriculture is done – applying technology, building sustainable raw material areas, developing a circular value chain, and bringing Vietnamese products to the world.

AgriS invests heavily in high-tech agriculture, engages in international cooperation, promotes technology transfer from partners such as Australia and Singapore, and applies the Oracle ERP system – a digital enterprise management platform – to optimize operations. - Photo: VGP/HP

Vietnamese agriculture is fully capable of competing globally if done correctly.

Her family background is strong in real estate and finance – two pillars that provide stable profits. But she chose the challenging path of agriculture. Why did she decide to take this "thorny" road, and how did she initially envision the high-tech agricultural model at AgriS?

Entrepreneur Dang Huynh Uc My : When I started, many people advised me to choose a more profitable field, because agriculture is a difficult industry, requiring significant investment, with a long payback period, low profits, and high risks. But my passion for agriculture since my student days, the images of vast, lush green sugarcane and coconut fields, and the desire to create not only traditional products but also high-quality, value-added products, "guided" and motivated me to choose a path that seemed "bumpy" but was ultimately very meaningful and valuable for me and everyone else.

Looking back now, although my achievements aren't as great as I dreamed or hoped, I still feel that my decision is like the lyrics of a song: "Everyone chooses the easy path, who will take on the hardships?"

I started in agriculture, beginning with the sugarcane industry, not only because it's a family tradition, but also because it's connected to tens of thousands of Vietnamese farmers. I want to work with them to change their methods, apply technology to production, so that sugarcane truly becomes "sweet"—sweet from efficiency, from belief, and from the happiness of the sugarcane growers.

AgriS applies technology to production, so that sugarcane is truly "sweet" - sweet from efficiency, from confidence, and from the happiness of sugarcane growers - Photo: VGP/HP

We invest heavily in high-tech agriculture, engage in international cooperation, promote technology transfer from partners such as Australia and Singapore, apply the Oracle ERP system – a digital enterprise management platform – to optimize operations, build raw material areas that meet international standards, and integrate ESG practices into every stage of the operation… And more importantly, we create a new mindset: Vietnamese agriculture can absolutely compete globally if done correctly.

From sugarcane, we produce sugar, fertilizer, ethanol, electricity, and even food-grade CO₂. From coconuts, we fully utilize their value – water, flesh, fiber, shell, and biomass energy. From data, we create knowledge; from knowledge, we create sustainable value by leveraging this precious resource.

The success of businesses is the pride of Vietnamese brands.

With a background as a multi-generational family business, how do you assess the role of family tradition in shaping the corporate culture and brand identity of AgriS today?

Entrepreneur Dang Huynh Uc My : My parents always taught us that business is not just about getting rich, but also about benefiting the many people working for our company, the farmers who work alongside us, and even more importantly, creating value for the community. That spirit permeates every step of AgriS.

I learned from my parents the virtues of perseverance, integrity in business, and compassion in interpersonal relationships. When developing my business, I always maintain the principle that "sustainability begins with people," from employees and partners to the local community. All stakeholders involved in the ecosystem participate, contribute, and receive a fair share of the benefits.

It is this tradition that shapes AgriS's identity: a business that not only produces and trades but also contributes to the development of agriculture and the country, thereby creating humane and sustainable values ​​for society.

AgriS fully exploits the value of the coconut tree – water, flesh, fiber, shell, and biomass energy - Photo: VGP/HP

As a new-generation female entrepreneur, highly regarded for her strategic thinking, innovative spirit, and strong commitment to sustainable development, she has led and forged a new direction for AgriS. In her opinion, what factors enable AgriS to inherit and leverage the strengths of tradition to continuously innovate and expand into the global market?

Businesswoman Dang Huynh Uc My : I think the secret lies in striking a balance between "maintaining" and "changing." Maintaining core values ​​like integrity, compassion, and social responsibility; but innovating in management thinking, technology application, and market approach.

We have transformed from a traditional manufacturing business into a platform providing smart agricultural solutions, building a high-tech circular agricultural ecosystem based on three strategic pillars: AgTech, FoodTech, and FinTech.

AgriS is now present in over 80 countries, exporting products to the most demanding markets such as Europe, Japan, and South Korea. Every time I see my brand appear abroad, I feel not only the success of the business, but also the pride of a Vietnamese brand – the culmination of my family's entrepreneurial spirit and the aspirations of the younger generation.

Having inherited AgriS from her mother's generation, what did she do to ensure the preservation of core values ​​while also providing the creative space for the breakthroughs AgriS has achieved and will continue to achieve in the future?

Businesswoman Dang Huynh Uc My: I am fortunate to have inherited a very open-minded spirit from my parents. My family has always believed that inheritance does not mean copying, but rather continuing and developing.

We build a transparent governance mechanism, empower the younger generation, respect differences in thinking, and encourage innovation. I believe that only when generations look in the same direction and respect each other can a business achieve sustainable growth over time. AgriS today is not only a legacy of tradition, but also a playground for the future.

Businesswoman Dang Huynh Uc My believes that women don't need to prove their strength because they are demonstrating it every day, in the fields, in the factory, in the marketplace, or in the family. - Photo: VGP/HP

Recently, Fortune magazine announced its list of the Top 100 Most Influential Women in Asia 2025, in which she is one of four representatives from Vietnam. What values ​​does she hope to spread from her journey of bringing Vietnamese agriculture to the world to the farming community and to women who are venturing into business and agriculture in Vietnam?

Businesswoman Dang Huynh Uc My : I believe that women, regardless of their role, can spread positive energy, perseverance, and kindness. Women don't need to prove their capabilities because they are demonstrating them every day. In the fields, in the factory, in the marketplace, or in the family, they are all creating value for society.

I want AgriS to become a model of green, circular, and people-oriented agricultural businesses. You can learn about the AgriS model through the book "Right to Win – The 'Winning Door' for Vietnamese Agriculture," which I edited.

This book encapsulates the valuable lessons and experiences that AgriS has gained throughout its journey of transforming from a traditional production enterprise into a comprehensive agricultural solutions provider through the integration of technology, digitalization, and commitment to ESG values. I believe this book will offer valuable insights for anyone – from farmers to managers, women or men – who will find inspiration within it.

And most importantly, I hope that my journey – from a young woman choosing a difficult path to building a strong brand with my team – can inspire other women: Believe in yourself, dare to do what you believe is right, and don't be afraid to start with the smallest things. Because sometimes, from those humble sugarcane stalks, we can create the sweetness of an entire industry, and moreover, the sweetness of Vietnamese faith.

Minh Thi (performed)

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/nu-tuong-nong-nghiep-hien-dai-phu-nu-khong-can-chung-minh-ban-linh-vi-ho-dang-the-hien-no-moi-ngay-102251019185352453.htm