Promoting innovation, digital transformation and breakthrough research in agriculture

The meeting aimed to implement Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo on strategic breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation; identify challenges, orient fundamental solutions in science and technology development, innovation to solve major problems of agriculture and the environment. At the same time, discuss mechanisms and policies to create breakthroughs in science and technology development in these fields.

Informing the delegation of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment about the scientific research and innovation activities of the academy, Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan, Director of the Vietnam Academy of Agriculture, said that the academy currently has 14 faculties; 16 functional units; 23 central institutes, 1 veterinary hospital, 1 plant hospital and 2 companies, 48 strong research groups. Currently, the academy has nearly 1,300 staff, with 90 professors, associate professors, 379 doctors and over 100 people's teachers and excellent teachers.

The Academy is training 29,000 undergraduate students; 800 graduate students, 100 doctoral students; with 43 undergraduate training majors, 16 master's training majors, and 16 doctoral training majors.

During the period 2015-2025, the academy has carried out 1,187 scientific and technological activities; there are 102 outstanding scientific and technological products, including: 25 exclusive patents/utility solutions, 28 technical advances, 3 livestock breeds, 46 plant varieties recognized for circulation. In 2025, Vietnam Academy of Agriculture was honored to be ranked 5th among scientific research institutions in Vietnam by SCImago Institutions Rankings.

The Academy always attaches importance to the golden triangle: Scientists, research institutes, universities-enterprises-State throughout the process of directing research and training activities. The Academy connects and signs cooperation agreements with more than 200 enterprises in the fields of agriculture, processing, and export to support the output of the Academy; has close cooperative relationships with more than 200 international organizations.

Director Nguyen Thi Lan also shared that the academy has mastered many processes, technologies, and scientific products. Transferable technologies: selecting and creating plant and animal breeds using molecular biology, tissue culture, aeroponics-hydroponics, technology for producing functional foods from microalgae, fresh embryo transfer technology; sex separation of sperm; production of vaccines, disease diagnostic kits... Potential products: purebred rice varieties, hybrid rice, ELISA kits, yellow cattle breeds for meat using Crispr/Cas9 gene editing technology, diagnostic kits for African swine fever, antibodies to support immunity for chickens, ducks, and pigs...

Currently, Vietnam Academy of Agriculture has built 52 laboratories (including 6 laboratories meeting ISO standards), 82 science and technology models... In particular, the academy established the Center for Excellent Research and Innovation with 20 modern, specialized research rooms, which is where the Elite Research, Excellent Research, and Strong Research groups operate with the goal of creating breakthrough products for the agricultural and environmental sectors...

Implementing Resolution 57, the Academy has developed projects on science and technology, including 2 projects with more than 60 tasks, including 11 application projects and 13 basic research tasks, targeting key products and issues of the agricultural sector. The topics are all oriented towards final products, which can be transferred to businesses or commercialized, taking into account economic efficiency.

At the meeting, scientists and lecturers of the Vietnam Academy of Agriculture had the opportunity to directly dialogue with Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung, Deputy Minister Hoang Minh, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Hoang Trung, and representatives of departments, offices, and specialized institutes of the two ministries.

In an open and frank atmosphere, Minister Nguyen Manh Hung directly listened to and answered many questions related to mechanisms, policies, as well as orientations for science and technology development, innovation and digital transformation in the agricultural sector.

Minister Nguyen Manh Hung said that scientists do not become rich through academic titles and degrees, but through the economic and social value created by their own research results. If scientists only rely on research fees, they cannot become rich but must commercialize their research results.

According to Minister Nguyen Manh Hung, when businesses use the research results of the academy to generate revenue and added value 5-10 times higher than the research costs, the academy will create value that impacts economic growth. The ultimate goal of the academy's scientific and technological research is to create economic growth, contributing to the implementation of the national strategic goal of double-digit GDP growth, making Vietnam a high-income country.

Minister Nguyen Manh Hung said that the State will base on the impact of research results on socio-economic development to provide research funding, and the Ministry of Science and Technology will monitor the entire project life cycle from the beginning of research to application in production. Scientific research results must be commercialized, bringing profits to the academy and tax revenue to the State.

The State has a policy of building universities into centers for scientific research, technology and innovation; in which the Vietnam Academy of Agriculture will be a key national center for science, technology and innovation in agriculture and the Ministry of Science and Technology will help the academy fulfill this mission. The academy needs to have a new development strategy, in line with the times and the orientation of the Party and State, linking research with digital transformation and mastering technology.

The Ministry of Science and Technology will accompany and coordinate with the Vietnam Academy of Agriculture to specify the research tasks for 2025. Research results must measure the added value created for the economy, for the agricultural sector and environment, and for farmers.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Hoang Trung assessed: Vietnam Academy of Agriculture is one of the prestigious training and scientific research units in the industry. With the support of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment hopes that the academy will maximize its advantages to successfully implement its tasks, especially the tasks of research, transfer of science and technology, training and development of high-quality human resources.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will support, review, allocate resources and create all conditions for the Vietnam Academy of Agriculture to participate in implementing breakthrough tasks in science, technology development, innovation and national digital transformation.

Deputy Minister Hoang Trung also hopes that the Ministry of Science and Technology will consider and support the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment as well as the Vietnam Academy of Agriculture to perfect policies and regulations on science and technology management, innovation and digital transformation; plan a network of streamlined, effective and efficient science and technology organizations; invest in infrastructure, equipment, and national key laboratories to ensure synchronization and modernity to meet the requirements for creating breakthrough products.

At the same time, create a unified foundation in science and technology management, innovation and national digital transformation; evaluate the effectiveness of science and technology contributions to ensure connectivity in effective management of investment in research, transfer and product trade. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment wishes to be prioritized and supported with resources to implement major, strategic problems of the agricultural and environmental sectors.

MINH AN

Source: https://nhandan.vn/thuc-day-doi-moi-sang-tao-chuyen-doi-so-va-nghien-cuu-dot-pha-trong-linh-vuc-nong-nghiep-post888678.html