AI and IoT accelerate the transition to green agriculture

On June 4, the third National Scientific Conference, themed “Agricultural and Rural Environment and Sustainable Development,” was held at the Vietnam National University of Agriculture, attracting scientists, policymakers, business representatives, and experts from the agriculture and environmental sectors.

The conference focused on three major topics: rural environmental management, environmental technologies and solutions, and ecological agriculture and green rural development.

In his opening speech, Dr. Nguyen Cong Tiep, Vice President of the Vietnam National University of Agriculture, said that agriculture and rural areas not only ensure food security but also serve as a critical pillar of the national economy. However, Vietnam is now facing a range of challenges, including climate change, resource degradation, environmental pollution, urbanization pressures, and land-use conversion.

In this new context, digital transformation, the green transition, and the application of science and technology will be essential for reshaping agricultural growth models while protecting the environment and strengthening resilience to increasingly severe natural disasters.

This message resonated with many participants at the conference. The role of digital technologies in advancing green agriculture was particularly emphasized.

Nguyen Bach Tung, Deputy Director of the Center for Environmental Fluid Dynamics under the HUS Company Limited at the University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, argued that smart agriculture is not simply about installing modern equipment. Instead, it involves creating a closed-loop data ecosystem in which Internet of Things (IoT) sensors collect field data, while artificial intelligence (AI) analyzes the information and provides recommendations to help producers make more accurate and efficient decisions.

According to Deputy Director Tung, applying AI and IoT makes it possible to monitor soil moisture levels, crop nutrient status, and identify pests and diseases through drone or camera imagery. These technologies enable early risk detection, reduce chemical use, and thereby improve resource efficiency.

Practical implementation in several localities, including the Central Highlands, Ninh Binh, and Nghe An, has demonstrated positive results. These technologies can support real-time production management and conserve inputs, resulting in better yields and output quality.

From an environmental management perspective, Dr. Cao Truong Son from the Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment at the Vietnam National University of Agriculture said that green transformation is a matter of great urgency for Vietnamese agriculture in the new period.

Although the sector has achieved significant success in exports and food security, it continues to struggle with soil degradation, increasing waste generation, environmental pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. One thing to note is that agriculture currently accounts for approximately 27.5% of Vietnam’s total greenhouse gas emissions.

According to Dr. Son, achieving the goal of ecological, modern, and environmentally friendly agriculture will require accelerating digital transformation in agricultural management. This includes developing digitized databases on soils, environmental conditions, and emissions while applying IoT, AI, sensors, satellites, and unmanned aerial vehicles in production systems. These technologies can support precision irrigation, smart fertilization, reduced resource waste, lower emissions, and higher productivity.

Science and technology, particularly AI and IoT, are creating new opportunities to build a smarter, more efficient, and more sustainable agricultural sector. These innovations are expected to play a vital role in realizing Vietnam’s goals of ecological agriculture, modern rural development, and a prosperous farming community in the country’s next stage of development.

Despite its great potential, the application of IoT in Vietnamese agriculture still faces many difficulties. Weak rural network infrastructure results in unstable internet connectivity. Furthermore, the fragmented scale of farming is also a barrier, hindering the effective and synchronized deployment of technology.

To maximize the effectiveness of digital technology in agriculture, a coordinated effort is needed between the government, businesses, and farmers. First, investment in developing digital infrastructure in rural areas is necessary, ensuring stable internet connectivity and building technology platforms suitable for local farming conditions. Training programs on digital skills for farmers need to be widely implemented, helping them grasp and effectively apply technology to production.