Compete with new varieties and expand links with people

ThaiBinh Seed CEO Tran Manh Bao had this thought when asked about his actions in response to the Patriotic Emulation Congress launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

In the exhibition space of the 80th Anniversary of Agriculture and Environment, ThaiBinh Seed's booth attracted a large number of visitors. Seed bags, organic rice products, and circular production models were arranged to tell the story of more than half a century of development of the enterprise, from a pure Vietnamese seed research unit to a pioneer brand in the journey of greening agriculture.

“We are entering the green era. For the agricultural sector, this is a turning point where the entire system, from farmers, businesses, scientists to management agencies, must transform together,” said Mr. Tran Manh Bao, Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Director of ThaiBinh Seed.

ThaiBinh Seed booth was honored to welcome Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Le Minh Hoan on the morning of November 12. Photo: Bao Thang.

From seed research to green production processes

Before the concept of “green economy” or “low emission agriculture” became popular, ThaiBinh Seed had already started to build a transformation strategy. More than 10 years ago, this enterprise tested the process of cultivating rice to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, aiming to use land, water and fertilizer resources more economically.

As a result, in 2021, ThaiBinh Seed won first prize in the project “Sustainable rice production and greenhouse gas emission reduction AgResults” awarded by the Netherlands Development Organization SNV, worth 750,000 USD. The achievement shows the long-term vision of Vietnamese enterprises in the field of green agriculture.

According to Mr. Bao, the core element of green production lies in the process. ThaiBinh Seed has applied a closed production model, from selecting, breeding, cultivating, to processing and commercializing products. In which, each stage is designed to minimize emissions. By-products such as straw, rice husks, and bran are reused as input materials for the next crop, forming a circular cycle right from the beginning of sowing rice seeds in the field.

Not only stopping at the process, ThaiBinh Seed also focuses on breeding new plant varieties that are resistant to climate change, drought-resistant, and reduce the need for fertilizers and pesticides. Rice varieties such as TBR225, TBR39 or TBR97 are proof of that direction. They both give high yields and save irrigation water, helping to significantly reduce CO₂ emissions in each crop.

Famous rice varieties of ThaiBinh Seed such as BC15, A Sao sticky rice, TBR225... were displayed at the Exhibition within the framework of the 80th Anniversary of the Agriculture and Environment Industry on the morning of November 12. Photo: Bao Thang.

Thai Binh Seed’s booth at the celebration, therefore, not only displayed seed products, but also organic rice and deep-processed product lines produced using low-emission processes. “We want to send the message to the public that green production is not simply a slogan, but requires concrete action,” Mr. Bao shared.

According to him, “green seeds” are the beginning of a green value chain. Since planting, the company has guided farmers to apply environmentally friendly farming techniques, save water, reduce chemical use, while maintaining productivity and profits. The finished rice is then processed in factories that meet organic standards, using renewable energy and emission control technology.

This chain creates higher economic value for farmers, while meeting the increasingly strict environmental standards applied by export markets. The head of ThaiBinh Seed believes that each seed today will be a "passport" for Vietnamese agricultural products to enter the international market in the future.

Mr. Tran Manh Bao talks with Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Tram, a famous scientist in the field of rice research and breeding. Photo: Bao Thang.

Towards circular and low-emission agriculture

Entering a new phase, ThaiBinh Seed is continuing to perfect circular agriculture models. In particular, by-products from cultivation are utilized as organic fertilizers or biological materials; waste from processing is treated to produce bioenergy; and wastewater is reused for irrigation. “We aim to not let any resources go to waste,” said Mr. Bao.

Along with that, the company invests heavily in research and technology application. Smart monitoring systems are installed in many production areas to monitor temperature, humidity, water content and emissions in real time. These data are analyzed to optimize the cultivation process, both reducing production costs and meeting traceability requirements set by import partners.

According to Mr. Bao, the process of greening agriculture cannot rely solely on the efforts of individual enterprises but requires the accompaniment of the entire ecosystem, from policy mechanisms, scientific research to technology transfer.

He said that ThaiBinh Seed will respond to the patriotic emulation movement in the agriculture and environment sector recently launched by Minister Tran Duc Thang with specific actions such as researching new climate-adaptive varieties, reducing input material consumption, expanding linkage models with farmers, and sharing emission data to work with the industry to achieve the Net Zero target.

ThaiBinh Seed has many hybrid corn varieties, of which the most prominent are TBM18 and TBM189. Photo: Bao Thang.

From a small local enterprise in the Northern Delta, today ThaiBinh Seed has become a national brand, with a research - production - distribution system spread across the country and exported to many countries. Each seed of the enterprise not only has economic value, but also symbolizes the aspiration to advance Vietnamese agriculture with technology and environmental responsibility.

Looking back on his 80-year journey with the agriculture and environment industry, Mr. Tran Manh Bao always believes that a brand cannot be built solely by advertising or packaging, but must originate from the true value of the product and the way businesses and farmers create it.

“To have a strong brand, first of all, you must have clean products and transparent processes,” he said. Therefore, ThaiBinh Seed has persistently brought new techniques, green farming standards and traceability methods to the fields. That is how Mr. Bao defines the transformation, not just changing technology, but changing thinking, so that every rice grower understands that they are sowing not only seeds, but also the reputation and future of Vietnamese agriculture.

“We must enter the green era through concrete actions by each business and each farmer. Each seed sown today not only feeds people, but also nurtures the green future of the country,” Mr. Bao confided.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/thi-dua-bang-giong-moi-va-mo-rong-lien-ket-voi-nguoi-dan-d783847.html