APRC 38: Viet Nam reaffirms role in global agrifood systems transformation

Advancing the dual transition for food security

At the opening session of the 38th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (APRC 38), the Vietnamese delegation stressed that innovation and the dual transition encompassing digitalization and green transformation are essential to safeguarding food security in an increasingly volatile world.

Speaking at the APRC 38 plenary session, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Vo Van Hung praised the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for its leading role in helping member states adapt to an increasingly complex global environment. He also reaffirmed Viet Nam’s strong commitment to the FAO Strategic Framework and its “Four Betters” vision: better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life.

According to the deputy minister, Viet Nam agrees with the FAO’s view that innovation is the “key” to transforming agrifood systems toward greater efficiency, inclusiveness, resilience, and sustainability. The Vietnamese government considers innovation both a primary driver and a strategic pillar for ensuring food security amid mounting global instability.

As one of the world’s leading exporters of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products, Viet Nam said it stands ready to share its experience with countries across the region.

Viet Nam emphasized that it is not only focused on safeguarding national food security but is also committed to contributing responsibly to stable food supplies for the region and the world, particularly as climate change, geopolitical conflicts, and supply chain disruptions continue to affect agricultural production.

Viet Nam said experience has shown that innovation must go hand in hand with the dual transition of digitalization and green development. Technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and remote sensing are increasingly being applied in disease surveillance, farm management, traceability systems, and food safety monitoring.

At the same time, Viet Nam is promoting public-private partnership initiatives to establish a regional Food Innovation Hub, with participation from businesses and international organizations.

The country is also implementing several flagship programs, including the project to sustainably develop one million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation in the Mekong Delta by 2030; a low-emission crop production development program; and a sustainable marine aquaculture initiative. These programs are designed to reduce costs, improve productivity, and meet increasingly stringent market standards.

Vo Van Hung also stressed that the transformation process must place people at its center and serve as a driver of development. In that context, reform and sustainable development policies should protect farmers’ livelihoods while strengthening value-chain linkages through rural economic development, food processing industries, and agricultural support services.

“The development of cooperatives, value-chain linkages, and public-private partnerships serves as ‘soft infrastructure’ to bring new technologies and international standards directly to farmers,” he said.

The Vietnamese representative also argued that strengthening resilience to climate and market shocks must be institutionalized through long-term policy and investment strategies, rather than relying solely on emergency response measures.

On international cooperation, Viet Nam highlighted the importance of strategic partnerships to build more transparent and resilient value chains, attract private-sector investment, and support countries in meeting international standards for sustainability, traceability, and market access.

Viet Nam also called on the FAO and international partners to collaborate in developing pilot models in Viet Nam that could serve as foundations for South-South cooperation and help promote innovation and agrifood systems transformation toward greater transparency, accountability, and sustainability.

New approaches to agrifood systems transformation

Speaking at a special ministerial event on the sidelines of the conference, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu said that Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) continue to face “persistent and unique structural vulnerabilities” in agricultural development and food security.

According to Qu, these countries are under increasing pressure as climate change intensifies, supply chains remain disrupted, and global trade dynamics evolve. Geographic isolation, high transportation costs, climate vulnerability, limited fiscal space, and heavy dependence on food imports make these economies especially susceptible to global shocks.

However, he stressed that there are still “strong grounds for optimism,” noting that many countries in the region are adopting innovative approaches to transform agrifood systems. Across Asia and the Pacific, countries are accelerating the use of digital technologies, improving climate resilience, promoting inclusive rural development, and mobilizing investment through new partnership models.

The FAO chief said that national-level initiatives could generate greater regional impact when combined with collective action and knowledge sharing. Discussions at the conference are also intended to provide strategic guidance for the FAO in priority areas including data analysis, capacity development, investment planning, and partnership building.

During two ministerial discussion sessions, representatives from Bhutan, Laos, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga shared experiences related to sustainable development, policy governance, livestock sector development, and responses to climate and economic shocks. Meanwhile, Cambodia, Mongolia, and Tuvalu focused on financing solutions and strategic partnerships to strengthen agricultural value chains, improve access to investment, and build climate resilience.

The FAO said that several initiatives are being actively implemented across Asia and the Pacific, including the “Hand-in-Hand” Initiative, the “One Country One Priority Product” initiative, the “Blue Transformation” program, and the “Digital Villages” model. In parallel, the “Pacific Islands Investment Proposal” initiative is being promoted to translate national development priorities into bankable investment projects.

According to Qu Dongyu, the views and experiences shared at the conference will help the FAO develop its next five-year Multi-Country Programming Framework for the Pacific Islands region, covering 14 countries. Ministers also discussed a proposal to establish an informal ministerial network for the region’s landlocked countries, including Afghanistan, Bhutan, Laos, Mongolia, and Nepal.

APRC 38 held in Brunei

The 38th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific is being held from April 20-24, 2026, in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, in a hybrid format combining in-person and virtual participation.

The opening ceremony took place on April 23, 2026. Senior officials met from April 20-22, while ministerial sessions are being held on April 23-24.

APRC is one of the FAO’s key regional forums for discussing policy priorities and cooperation in agriculture, food security, and rural development across Asia and the Pacific.