By Nguyễn Thị Trang – PHANO
On November 20, 2024, in Hanoi, the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development (IPSARD), and CIRAD Vietnam organized a workshop titled “Advancing Agroecology for Transforming Sustainable Food Systems in Vietnam” under the framework of the ASSET project. The event welcomed 53 participants, including representatives by government organizations, research institutes, non-governmental organizations, and ALiSEA Vietnam.
Hoang Vu Quang, Deputy Director of IPSARD, emphasized the importance of agroecology (AE) as Vietnam transitions towards a sustainable agricultural model. He highlighted that AE is a core component of the national strategy to preserve natural resources, adapt to climate change, and enhance agricultural value chains.
A major milestone was presented by Dr. Nguyen Mai Huong, Deputy Director of the Center for Rural Development (RUDEC), IPSARD. She introduced the “Policy Guidelines on Agroecology Transitions in ASEAN and Developments in the Context of Vietnam,” recently endorsed by ASEAN ministers. These guidelines outline seven critical leverage points for agroecology transitions, including:
- Planning for Agroecology Transitions
- Working with Farmers
- Promoting Transitions Across the Agrifood Value Chains
- Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing
- Multistakeholder Engagement
- Developing a Research Agenda
- Financing Agroecology Transitions
Dr. Mai Huong stressed that these points are crucial for scaling agroecological practices in Vietnam and called for enhanced collaboration among ASEAN countries to maximize their impact.
Showcasing Agroecology Models:
- Pascal Lienhard (CIRAD) presented successful agroecological models that adapt to climate change, particularly in Vietnam’s northern mountainous regions, developed under the ASSET project.
- Nguyen Quang Tan (ICRAF Vietnam) introduced innovative approaches to reducing chemical use in agriculture. Through ICRAF’s “bottom-up” approach, farmers in Yen Bai have been empowered to co-design and lead agroecology models suited to their local conditions.
- Nguyen Viet Khoa, former senior advisor at the National Agricultural Extension Center, highlighted the role of extension services in promoting agroecological practices and enabling widespread adoption by farmers.
Pascal Lienhard (CIRAD) presented successful agroecological models that adapt to climate change, particularly in Vietnam’s northern mountainous regions, developed under the ASSET project.
Insights from Local Policies: Representatives from Son La and Dien Bien shared their experiences in developing policies that encourage farmers to adopt agroecological, circular, and organic farming models, providing valuable insights into localized policy implementation.
Dr. Dao The Anh, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS), emphasized the government’s proactive efforts in developing clear policies for agroecology. However, he noted the need for practical, localized guidelines to ensure effective implementation. Dr. Dao announced that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) is forming an Agroecology Expert Group to support this process and integrate the insights from this workshop into the national action plan.
The workshop reaffirmed agroecology as a vital pathway for achieving sustainable food systems in Vietnam. By leveraging ASEAN guidelines, international models, and local initiatives, Vietnam is poised to lead agroecology transitions in the region.
Learn more and access workshop materials here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1XcBLpBB4U4qm33qrssPHCUgwZjbNEivF