 Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan addresses the conference. (photo: tapchimoitruong.vn) |
Agriculture plays an important role in national social and economic stability and contributed 12% of Vietnam's GDP last year. Although transforming Vietnam's agricultural system faces problems such as small-scale production, climate change, and market instability, Vietnam's food exports, especially rice exports, always rank high. The growth of Vietnam's food industry has contributed to meeting the global food demand.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan told a conference to launch the National Action Plan: “Vietnam aims to develop a transparent, responsible, and sustainable food supply system, ensure national food security, and contribute to global food security. Vietnam is moving toward adapting to climate change, protecting resources, ecosystems, and biodiversity, providing sustainable livelihoods, and ensuring social security, especially for poor and vulnerable groups.”
To effectively implement its plan, Vietnam will strengthen cooperation with foreign partners to make its food system "green", low-emission, and sustainable, focus on eco-agricultural production and rural economic development, protect the environment, use resources wisely, and preserve biodiversity.
Minister Le Minh Hoan said Vietnam is striving to become a Food Innovation Center in Asia with smart agricultural value chains. “The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will ask the Prime Minister to allow the establishment of a “Food System Transformation Partnership”. It will organize technical working groups to collaborate with Ministries, sectors, specialized agencies, and localities, and mobilize technical and financial support from partners,” said Hoan.
At the conference, Rémi Nono Womdim, Chief Representative of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Vietnam, said international cooperation will help Vietnam achieve the goals of the National Action Plan and its Sustainable Development Goals. FAO and other UN agencies will cooperate with Vietnam to help its food system ensure national and global food security.