Promoting innovation to elevate agricultural products.

The application of science, technology, and innovation in processing and preservation is considered the 'key' to enhancing the value of Quang Ngai's agricultural products and reducing post-harvest losses.

Báo Nông nghiệp Việt Nam•22/05/2026

Quang Ngai has many advantages for agricultural development with a range of distinctive products such as Tra Bong cinnamon, Ngoc Linh ginseng, cold-climate coffee, various medicinal herbs, and many high-value aquatic and seafood products. However, post-harvest processing and preservation have not yet fully exploited the available potential.

Currently, advanced processing technology in the area is developing slowly, post-harvest losses remain high, while the added value of many agricultural products is low. Many key products are mainly consumed as raw materials, resulting in weak competitiveness in the market.

According to Nguyen Quang Trung, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Quang Ngai province , the process of innovation in agricultural product processing still faces many "bottlenecks." These include, most notably, limited capacity for deep processing; a lack of synchronized logistics infrastructure; unsustainable linkages among the "four stakeholders" (farmers, businesses, scientists, and the government); and the high cost of investing in technology exceeding the capabilities of many farmers and cooperatives.

Deep processing is opening up more opportunities to increase the value of many distinctive agricultural products of Quang Ngai. Photo: V.H.

Deep processing is opening up more opportunities to increase the value of many distinctive agricultural products of Quang Ngai. Photo: VH

According to Mr. Trung, to overcome these bottlenecks, the province needs to prioritize resources for the transfer of post-harvest preservation technology and advanced medicinal plant extraction technology; at the same time, it should have preferential tax and fee policies to attract businesses to invest in high-tech agriculture, organic agriculture, and deep processing. Along with that, it should support the development of planting area codes, packaging facility codes, and collective trademarks for key products.

Based on practical experience in production, Mr. Nguyen Trung Hieu, representative of Dong Truong Son Clean Tea Cooperative (Kon Plong commune), said that the cooperative has developed 120 hectares of high-quality tea in the period 2020 - 2025 and is gradually applying advanced processing technologies such as freeze-drying and sublimation drying.

Thanks to the application of technology, the product retains its flavor and nutrients better, while integrating QR codes and blockchain to trace the entire production process. According to Mr. Hieu, the economic efficiency of the model increases by about 30% compared to traditional processing methods.

From an expert's perspective, Dr. Nguyen Thi Van Anh noted that Quang Ngai possesses many branded agricultural products such as Ly Son garlic and Tra Bong cinnamon, but most are still consumed in their raw form, thus not generating high value. Specifically for Tra Bong cinnamon, there are still relatively few deeply processed products.

According to Ms. Van Anh, the locality needs to focus on investing in value-added products from its characteristic agricultural produce. Specifically, cinnamon could be further developed into essential oils and extracted products; garlic and shallots could be processed into essential oils, freeze-dried spice powders, or fermented black shallots.

Most of the cinnamon from Tra Bong is still consumed as raw material, so its added value is not high. Photo: V.H.

Most of the cinnamon from Tra Bong is still consumed in its raw form, so its added value is not high. Photo: VH .

Regarding medicinal herbs from mountainous regions such as Ngoc Linh ginseng, Codonopsis pilosula, or Amomum xanthioides, she believes it is necessary to support local people in accessing freeze-drying, spray-drying, or sublimation drying technologies to preserve their color and valuable active ingredients. As for macadamia nuts, she suggests developing cold-pressing oil extraction to preserve nutritional value instead of the current heat drying method.

According to Phan Van Hieu, Director of the Department of Science and Technology of Quang Ngai province, post-harvest processing and preservation are key to increasing the value of agricultural products. However, the application of scientific research results and innovations in practice still faces many limitations and is not commensurate with the local potential. Mr. Hieu believes that Quang Ngai needs new technological solutions with high applicability to create breakthroughs for the agricultural sector in the coming years.

Applying science, technology, and innovation to post-harvest processing and preservation not only helps reduce losses but also opens up opportunities to enhance the value of Quang Ngai's agricultural products. Limitations in technology, logistics, and production linkages need to be addressed so that Quang Ngai's distinctive products can have more opportunities to participate more deeply in the value chain, increase competitiveness, and create momentum for agricultural development towards a modern and sustainable direction.

Source: https://nongsanviet.nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/thuc-day-doi-moi-sang-tao-nang-tam-nong-san-d812104.html