The event, held on October 9th, attracted approximately 150 participants, both in person and online, including students from the Foreign Trade University, the Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry, representatives from the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Environment , Food Bank Vietnam, and youth organizations such as Empower Youth4Food and the Youth Climate Action Network.
According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), more than 931 million tons of food are wasted worldwide each year, while one-seventh of the global population still suffers from food insecurity. In Vietnam, food loss and waste is a serious challenge throughout the entire supply chain, from production and processing to household consumption, with losses in some agricultural sectors potentially reaching 20-25%.
Reducing food waste plays a crucial role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting resources, and enhancing food security, in line with the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
The highlight of the event was the debate between student teams, in which teams developed awareness campaigns on reducing food loss and waste based on real-life scenarios. The judging panel included representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Food Bank Vietnam, and the Danish Embassy.
As a result, the GREENIES team, consisting of Hoang Nhat Linh, Le Thi Minh Anh, and Nguyen Thanh Thao (Foreign Trade University), won with their persuasive arguments and creative approach.
At the event, Mr. Nicolai Prytz, the Danish Ambassador to Vietnam, emphasized: “Young people are not only the consumers of tomorrow but also the decision-makers of the future. We are proud to host this debate and give Vietnamese youth the opportunity to speak. I hope that the competition will inspire more dialogues with young people in the future, for a sustainable food system.”
Ms. Nguyen Giang Thu, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), also stated: “Addressing food loss and waste is one of the top priorities, directly linked to food security and Vietnam’s sustainable development goals. We believe that young people will bring fresh, creative, and practical perspectives to help build actionable solutions to create a more efficient and sustainable food system for Vietnam.”
Representing the participating universities, Mr. Nguyen Huyen Minh from the Foreign Trade University commented that student participation in the competition is an important step forward, helping to inspire and empower young people to unleash their creativity in finding solutions to reduce food loss and waste.
Sharing the same view, Mr. Kha Chan Tuyen from Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry believes that encouraging student participation not only helps to form a team of young leaders capable of solving food-related problems but also contributes to strengthening cooperation between Vietnam and Denmark in the fields of agriculture and food.
The event is part of the Sectoral Strategic Cooperation Program (SSC) on agriculture and food between Vietnam and Denmark – a component of the Green Strategic Partnership (GSP) announced by the two Prime Ministers in November 2023. The program aims to raise awareness and capacity to minimize food loss and waste throughout the value chain, contributing to the realization of the goal of a circular, low-carbon, and sustainable economy.
The debate also marked an effort to engage young people in initiatives for climate change and sustainable food systems. The Danish Embassy hopes the event will become an annual platform, encouraging innovation and concrete action from young people for the benefit of the community.
Source: https://baotintuc.vn/xa-hoi/sinh-vien-tranh-bien-ve-giam-lang-phi-thuc-pham-20251009184119041.htm
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