The inaugural CGIAR Science Day in Việt Nam was organised in Hà Nội on Tuesday, November 21. VNS Photo Tố Như

HÀ NỘI – The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) on Tuesday (November 21) co-organised the inaugural CGIAR Science Day in Việt Nam with the theme of Advancing Science for Food Security through Collaborative Initiatives.

The event was a venue for Vietnamese and CGIAR scientists, researchers, policymakers and stakeholders to promote science for agri-food systems through collaborative research.

The inaugural CGIAR Science Day in Việt Nam, part of the commitment of MARD and CGIAR to collaborate and advance science for food security agenda, aimed to be a catalyst for significant advancements in agricultural research and promoting sustainable practices to ensure food security for Vietnam and beyond.

The event provided a platform for in-depth discussions and presentations on the latest research findings and innovations from the CGIAR Initiatives in Việt Nam.

Key highlights of the CGIAR Science Day were the presentations from the CGIAR Initiatives focusing on four impact areas: climate adaptation and mitigation; environmental health and biodiversity; nutrition, health and food security; and poverty reduction, livelihoods and jobs.

Some of the Initiatives presented studies aimed at fostering sustainable agricultural practices and addressing pressing challenges in Việt Nam’s diverse landscapes.

Focusing on the Northwest Highlands and the Mekong River Delta (MRD), scientists from CGIAR Initiatives such as Sustainable Animal Productivity (SAPLING), Sustainable Healthy Diets (SHiFT), Nature-Positive Solutions (Nature+) and Asian Mega-Deltas (AMD) shared their research on environmental trade-offs of livestock intensification, food environment policy landscape, agrobiodiversity assessment, and climate adaptation in rice-shrimp systems, respectively.

With research locations from Sơn La and Lào Cai provinces to Cần Thơ city, these studies are crucial in shaping resilient and sustainable agrifood systems in Việt Nam.

Cutting-edge technologies and innovative platforms were also showcased by CGIAR Initiatives to improve farming in Việt Nam.

Significant developments included a monitoring system for rice emissions in the MRD. This collaborative effort, which is under the CGIAR Initiative on Low Emission Food Systems (Mitigate+), aims to standardise and record rice production activities to reduce emissions.

Dr. Robert Caudwell, the CGIAR country convener in Việt Nam, said the event served as an opportunity for national and CGIAR scientists, researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders to convene, exchange knowledge, and explore the cutting-edge research findings and innovations from the nine CGIAR Initiatives in Việt Nam.

He said that CGIAR experts presented ground-breaking scientific research and the latest innovations developed under their respective Initiatives, showcasing methodologies and results that can inform and impact decision-making in the country.

Another advancement under the CGIAR Initiative in Excellence in Agronomy (EiA) was precision direct seeding, which promises more accurate planting and higher yields in the MRD.

Additionally, the introduction of PathoTracer, under the CGIAR Initiative on Plant Health, was a vital step in reducing rice diseases and enhancing food security in the region.

CGIAR is a global research partnership for a food-secure future dedicated to reducing rural poverty, increasing food security, improving human health and nutrition, and ensuring more sustainable management of natural resources. VNS