Making the most of international experience in establishing agroecology

According to Assoc.Prof, Dr. Dao The Anh, establishing an agroecological network in Viet Nam is inevitable to develop agroecological models.

Agroecology in Viet Nam and its issues

In order to learn from experiences in building and developing sustainable agroecology, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development organized the forum "Ecological agriculture: Experiences from international partners and implementation in Viet Nam” in the afternoon of December 10.

Assoc.Prof, Dr. Dao The Anh, Deputy Director of the Viet Nam Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Vice President of the Viet Nam Association of Rural Development Sciences, said that Viet Nam's agriculture is currently facing many serious challenges, especially climate change and natural disasters. Cultivated land resources are decreasing by 0.2% per year, while water pollution affects production.

Agriculture is one of the major sources of greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for about 30% of total CO2. In addition, emerging diseases, such as African swine fever (ASF), and changing consumer demands for food safety and the environment are also concerns.

“The establishment of an agroecological network in Viet Nam is necessary to develop agroecological models, including circular agriculture, climate-resilient agriculture and agroforestry,” said Assoc.Prof, Dr. Dao The Anh.

According to Assoc. Prof., Dr. Truong Tuyet Mai, Deputy Director of the National Institute of Nutrition, nutrition can play role both as an outcome of agroecological transformation and as a driving factor of agroecological practices, and can generate transformation in the entire food system. However, according to research conducted by the National Institute of Nutrition, more than 51% of urban Vietnamese people do not consume enough fruits and vegetables, compared to 60.2% in rural areas.

Consuming healthy, using organic foods helps protect the land and reduce environmental pollution. Organic farming methods maintain ecological balance, increase soil fertility and reduce CO2 emissions into the air. In addition, a healthy diet, with a high proportion of plant-based foods, can reduce the need for livestock farming - one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions, thereby contributing to reducing total global emissions.

“The National Institute of Nutrition is focusing on developing scenarios to have specific plans for growing and supplying food groups by region. In addition to investing in increasing sustainable production, I propose improving the supply part of the food system and the food environment with aim to link production and consumption so that people can access food for a healthy, sustainable diet at reasonable prices, achieving nutrition and health goals - the core of agroecological development”, said the Deputy Director.

Dr. Nguyen Quang Tan, Senior Scientist, ICRAF’s Country Coordinator in Viet Nam, shared about the challenges in the transition to agroecology in the Northwest of the country. He pointed out one of the major difficulties is the level of people's ability to effectively apply agroecological techniques. On the other hand, people's long-standing farming habits make them hesitant to change their farming practices. People only really change when they see clearly successful and effective models. Dr. Tan added that the initial investment capital for agroecology requires large resources, in addition, the capacity of local officials in guiding and monitoring the transition process has been still limited. The market for agroecological products is currently not clearly differentiated from conventional products, making it difficult to consume the products.

International experience in developing and applying agroecological models

At the forum, the representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) introduced the Tool for Agroecology Performance Evaluation (TAPE). This tool provides evidence to policy makers and other stakeholders on how agroecology can contribute to sustainable agriculture and food systems.

In this way, the tool enables to provide evidence to policy makers and other stakeholders on how agroecology can contribute to sustainable food and agricultural systems. By providing data and analysis on different development objectives, TAPE can enable inter-sectorial and inter-ministerial cooperation. It can also contribute to empower producers through a self-diagnosis and assessment of their system’s level of transition and performances.

In addition, it provides a framework for governments and public actors for the adaptation and re-design of research and development programmes, as well as rural advisory services and extension programmes to properly address sustainable agriculture in the context of the SDGs,” said the FAO representative.

Meanwhile, Dr. Nguyen Quang Tan, with ICRAF’s experience in implementing the project Agroecology for Resilient Landscapes for the Poor in the Northern Uplands of Viet Nam (or A4P Project), proposed that agroecology should be strongly developed, especially on slopes.

“Establishing an agroecological model requires large investments, so financial and technical support are needed for farmers. Starting with easy-to-apply models will help people easily access and expand. I suggest that learning and experience exchange among farmers should be promoted and a roadmap for gradually reducing the use of chemicals should be developed to raise awareness and change behaviour. In addition, the policy framework needs to have specific guidance on the transition to agroecology, while supporting the market and value chain for ecological products," said Dr. Tan.

Ms. Le Thi Hoai Thuong, Senior External Relations Manager, Nestlé Vietnam Co., Ltd., shared about the regenerative models built on the principles and practices of agronomy: “In Viet Nam, regenerative agriculture is integrated and implemented within the framework of the NESCAFÉ Plan. The NESCAFÉ Plan project has closely connected with farmers in the Central Highlands, improving the quality of coffee beans, improving cultivation methods and replanting old coffee trees. In addition, we maintain training programs to update the latest knowledge on advanced coffee cultivation methods in Viet Nam and around the globe. Particularly, the company prioritizes the management of regenerative agriculture using digital tools such as FARMS and Digital Farmer Diary to provide knowledge about starting a business for farmers. Thanks to that, farmers can be proactive in managing household economy while Nestlé will have quick data in microeconomic management”.

Currently, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is actively researching rice varieties and production methods in the direction of ecological agriculture. In particular, building technical packages for sustainable cultivation, adapting to climate change, and meeting the requirements for developing agroecology. Dr. Cao Duc Phat, IRRI’s Chairman of Board of Trustees, affirmed that the Institute actively coordinates with international organizations and accompanies the government of Viet Nam to develop a specific plan for establishing agroecology. At the same time, actively implementing the Project of 1 million hectares of high-quality rice to be effective and successful, marking a strong transformation of Vietnamese agriculture.