Nguyễn Thị Trà My, CEO of PAN Group, and Takaya Nakamichi, CEO of Japan’s Agri Smile, exchange the five-year strategic cooperation agreement. — Photo courtesy of PAN Group

TOKYO — Vietnamese agribusiness group PAN Group, through its subsidiary PAN Farm, on November 9 signed a five-year strategic cooperation agreement with Japan’s Agri Smile to develop integrated farming solutions and promote the application of biological technologies in Việt Nam.

The agreement builds on a memorandum of understanding reached in 2025 and was exchanged at the Việt Nam-Japan Public-Private Forum on Economic and Science-Technology Cooperation in Tokyo, witnessed by Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm and senior officials and business representatives from both countries.

Under the agreement, PAN Farm, through its subsidiaries Vinaseed and VFC, and Agri Smile will work together to develop the Vietnamese market for biostimulant products, while gradually expanding cooperation in technology transfer, production and distribution to meet the needs of the country's agricultural sector.

Biostimulants are products that stimulate natural plant processes, helping crops use nutrients more efficiently and better withstand adverse environmental conditions. Their application can contribute to improving crop productivity and quality while supporting more efficient and sustainable farming practices.

During 2025-26, PAN Farm and Agri Smile conducted research and field trials on various crops, including rice, maize and vegetables. The cooperation combines Agri Smile's research and technology development capabilities with the production expertise, technical networks and market reach of PAN Group's subsidiaries Vinaseed and VFC.

Building on the results, the partners plan to move from research and trials towards commercial applications in Việt Nam. VFC and Agri Smile are preparing to launch VBS-1, marking the first step in their plan to commercialise biostimulant products.

The partnership also builds on PAN Group's longstanding cooperation with Japanese partners in trade, investment, research, technology transfer and product development.

Japan is a key export market for PAN Group, accounting for approximately 25 per cent of its export revenue. Its main products, including tra fish and shrimp, are distributed through restaurant chains and premium supermarket networks, reflecting the group's ability to meet stringent requirements on quality, food safety and traceability.

Beyond trade, PAN Group is seeking to strengthen its research capabilities, access advanced technologies and increase value across the agriculture and food value chain through international partnerships.

The cooperation with Agri Smile, with the participation of the Mitsubishi Research Institute (MRI) in research and field trials, is expected to expand the group's product portfolio and combine expertise in research, technology, production and market development to deliver commercially viable solutions.

PAN Group also plans to deepen cooperation with MRI in climate-resilient crop varieties, biotechnology transfer, production automation, and technologies for farming, aquaculture, processing and preservation.

The group is also exploring technological solutions to treat and recycle production by-products and waste, with a view to improving resource efficiency and reducing environmental impacts. — VNS