A new chapter in Viet Nam - Japan agricultural cooperation

On October 21, in Tokyo, Japan, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Viet Nam, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF) and the Embassy of Viet Nam in Japan, organized the Conference on “Promoting investment in High-quality, low-emission rice regions associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta, Viet Nam."

The conference was co-chaired by three leaders: Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam from Viet Nam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Deputy Minister Watanabe Yoichi from Japan’s MAFF, and Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu of Viet Nam to Japan. More than 120 delegates attended. They included representatives from ministries, associations, cooperatives, and enterprises of both countries. Over 70 Japanese companies interested in investing in Viet Nam’s green agriculture also participated.

The conference took place shortly after the two governments signed the “Medium- and long-term vision for Viet Nam - Japan agricultural cooperation for the 2025 - 2030 period”. The primary aim was toward comprehensive collaboration in green transformation, digital transformation, and sustainable agricultural development.

In this spirit, the conference became an international investment promotion forum connecting technology corporations, enterprises, research institutes, and development organizations from both nations, focusing on several key cooperation areas:

First, attracting investment in greenhouse gas reduction technologies for high-quality rice production; Second, applying digital technology and smart mechanization in management, cultivation, and processing; Third, developing processing technologies and utilizing post-harvest by-products to form circular value chain; Fourth, training high-quality human resources and promoting cooperation in research and knowledge transfer between universities, institutes, and enterprises of the two countries.

In his concluding remarks, Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam stated that the event marked a new step forward in Viet Nam-Japan agricultural cooperation, strengthening ties between policies, science, enterprises, cooperatives, and farmers of both nations.

“At the conference, we heard heartfelt and candid discussions from agencies, organizations, and businesses from both sides. All the contributions shared one common goal: to make Vietnamese rice not only more abundant and of higher quality but also greener, cleaner, and more responsible to the environment,” Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam said.

From the information of the leader of the Viet Nam Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the “Scheme on sustainable development of one million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta” is a national strategic initiative that demonstrates Viet Nam’s strong commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050. “And today, here in Tokyo, we can see more clearly than ever that this project is not solely Viet Nam’s effort - it is one being supported and shared by our Japanese partners,” he said.

Technological solutions such as Kubota’s “KSAS Simple Connect,” Nihon Nohyaku’s “AcroSeeker,” Sorimachi's digital platforms, and Green Carbon Japan’s green carbon initiatives all open great prospects for Viet Nam’s agriculture to enter a new phase of true digital and green transformation.

Therefore, today’s cooperation is not only about economics but also about life, the environment, and humanity. Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam said, “We are writing a new story for Asia’s rice industry - a story of cooperation, innovation, responsibility, and shared growth.”

According to the Deputy Minister, the conference concluded today, but it also marked the beginning of a new chapter in Viet Nam-Japan cooperation in agriculture and rural development. In the near future, both sides will continue to materialize the memoranda of understanding (MOUs) into practical projects with real products, tangible results, and measurable impacts in the fields, factories, and markets.

They will enhance exchanges of delegations, experts, and enterprises between the two countries, create opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises, cooperatives, and production groups to participate, and ensure that no one is left behind in the transformation process.

The two nations will also focus on building and expanding pilot models of green agriculture, low-carbon agriculture, and circular economy, particularly within the rice value chain, implementing a closed structure from production and processing to consumption and by-product regeneration.

“And more importantly, we aim to strengthen the trustful and sustainable partnership between Vietnam and Japan, moving toward the broader goals outlined in the ‘Medium- and long-term vision for Vietnam - Japan agricultural cooperation 2025 - 2030’ signed by the two ministers in early September 2025,” said Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Thanh Nam.