Bio-secure livestock farming paves the way for food system transformation

For many years, antibiotics were viewed as the "master key" in livestock farming, helping animals grow faster, reducing disease, and increasing profits. However, that model is now becoming obsolete.

Viet Nam, like many developing countries, is entering a transition phase, seeking to replace antibiotics with biotechnology and advanced nutrition solutions. One of the pioneering international companies supporting this shift is Auranta (Ireland).

Mr. John Cullen, CEO of Auranta, stated that the company originated from a group of Irish scientists specializing in the study of microorganisms and natural active ingredients in animal nutrition. “We seek ways to help animals stay healthy from within, rather than relying solely on medicine,” he said during his presentation at the Vietnam-Ireland Bilateral Cooperation Conference on Agri-Food System Transformation on the morning of November 4.

Auranta develops various biological product lines based on natural compounds extracted from plants, which can activate the immune system, improve gut health, and reduce disease incidence. These products have been applied in over 20 countries, particularly in Europe and South America, successfully reducing antibiotic usage in poultry and pig farming by 40 - 60% while maintaining growth performance.

“We are not simply producing medicine, but developing biological nutrition technologies that fundamentally change farming practices. The critical goal is to create an agricultural ecosystem independent of antibiotics,” he emphasized.

Auranta is currently collaborating with several Vietnamese enterprises and research institutes to pilot this technology on poultry and pig herds in Northern provinces. Initial experiments show positive results: animals have higher survival rates, fewer intestinal diseases, and stable weight gain, while antibiotic use has been clearly reduced.

Mr. Cullen believes Viet Nam has favorable conditions for the rapid deployment of biological technologies because small and medium-sized farms constitute the majority, allowing for easier direct access and field monitoring. “We didn't come here just to sell products; we came to co-research and transfer technology,” he stated.

Another area of cooperation proposed by Auranta is the establishment of “antibiotic-growth-promoter-free” farming models, in partnership with the Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA), aiming to develop safe and traceable food chains.

Institutional frameworks and international standards

Supporting the idea of developing chain-based livestock farming, Associate Professor Dr. Pham Kim Dang, Deputy Director General of the Department of Animal Production and Health, stressed that Viet Nam now has a fairly comprehensive institutional system, including the Law on Livestock Production, the Law on Veterinary Medicine, a development strategy for the sector, and five specialized projects supporting areas like breeding and animal feed.

Significantly, the amended Land Law’s inclusion of “concentrated livestock land” in the land classification group is a major step forward, providing a solid legal foundation for the sector to transition toward a modern, sustainable, and deeply internationally integrated phase.

Dr. Dang affirmed that Viet Nam seeks to learn from Ireland’s sustainable livestock models, especially concerning animal welfare, food safety, and environmental management on farms. Viet Nam incorporated animal welfare content into the Law on Livestock Production in 2018, but implementation still faces challenges due to differences in awareness and production scale among households.

Viet Nam hopes Ireland will support digital transformation in livestock management, promoting the application of technology and innovation to secure farmers' livelihoods while adhering to international standards.

Furthermore, Viet Nam encourages Irish enterprises not only to engage in commercial cooperation but also to invest directly in livestock farming and processing to increase value across the product chain. “Our goal is not to increase the herd size, but to enhance product value and develop the livestock sector in a more modern, efficient, and sustainable direction,” the Department leader asserted.

Associate Professor Dr. Ngo Thi Kim Cuc, Deputy Director of the National Institute of Animal Sciences, argued that sustainable livestock transformation cannot be separated from scientific research. The Institute is currently implementing projects on ecological agriculture and system health, linking the health of soil - crops - animals - humans, following the One Health framework that Viet Nam is promoting.

She pointed out that Viet Nam currently lacks comprehensive scientific data on the relationship between soil quality, animal health, and ecosystem impact. “We wish to collaborate with Ireland on measuring, evaluating, and building a set of indicators for soil and livestock ecosystem health, serving policy planning and technical transfer to farmers,” she said.

As Viet Nam sets a goal to reduce antibiotics in livestock by 30% before 2030, collaborations like that between Auranta and Vietnamese partners are opening a new path, where science, policy, and the market move in parallel, toward a healthier and more sustainable food system.

As Dr. John Rae, Director of Sustainable Food Systems Ireland (SFSI), who coordinates the IVAP program, observed, if food system transformation is a journey, then businesses are the main gear connecting research, policy, and the market.

Viet Nam holds an advantage by simultaneously boosting food safety policy improvements and opening up cooperation with green business models. “We believe these biological initiatives will not only help reduce antibiotics but also contribute to the goal of low emissions in agriculture,” he affirmed.