Biological control at the threshold of industrialization and the challenge of scale

Scaling up and targeting key pests

At a technical consultation on September 15 on the development of biological control in Vietnam, Nguyen Van Liem, Director of the Plant Protection Research Institute (PPRI), stressed that biological solutions can only truly replace chemicals in the fields when they are produced on a large scale, priced affordably, and convenient for farmers.

According to Dr Liem, the demand for biological agents in Vietnam is immense. Many farmers are willing to adopt eco-friendly methods, provided the products meet strict criteria for quality, effectiveness, and usability. The biggest barrier is whether these agents can be mass-produced, remain affordable, and maintain good shelf life.

He suggested that instead of spreading resources too thinly across many pests, biological control should first target the rice leafroller and rice stem borer, two of the most common pests directly affecting Vietnam’s staple food crop. From there, solutions could be extended to other crops, building farmer confidence in biological control’s viability.

The PPRI has already tested biological agents in high-tech farming models such as greenhouses and net houses. Early results are positive, but scaling to thousands of hectares in open fields presents formidable challenges.

“Building a five- or ten-hectare model is easy, but when expanding to thousands of hectares, the key difficulty lies in ensuring product quality and consistency", Liem explained.

Citrus orchards also present significant opportunities. With many plantations deteriorating under pest pressure, industrial-scale biological agents could play a vital role, provided storage technology improves so products retain purity and shelf life, giving farmers easier access.

Biological control involves using beneficial organisms, such as natural predators, microorganisms, fungi, bacteria, nematodes, or biological preparations to suppress pests and diseases. These “natural enemies” help farmers reduce chemical spraying, safeguard crops, limit environmental pollution, and produce safer food.

Yet practical use of natural predators in Vietnam still faces obstacles. Nguyen Duc Tung of the Vietnam National University of Agriculture pointed out that regulatory overlaps sometimes impede progress. Some species authorized for import or release fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services rather than the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, complicating approval for scientists and businesses.

He also warned of gaps in readiness. For example, while the tomato fruit borer poses a looming threat, effective predators have not been licensed quickly enough, and costs remain high compared to rearing capacity. Large-scale application, Tung said, requires standardized processes to guarantee product uniformity, purity, and compatibility with farmers’ existing equipment. Without that, effectiveness drops and farmers’ trust wanes.

A national program and international partnerships

Nguyen Quy Duong, Deputy Director of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, emphasized that the shift toward environmentally friendly farming is irreversible. He expressed hope that, through a newly signed memorandum of understanding with CAB International (CABI), Vietnam will soon launch a national program on biological control.

Under this plan, the Plant Protection Institute would coordinate with the Department, the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS), and international partners like CABI to design a long-term framework. This would help mobilize resources and avoid fragmented, unsustainable projects.

CABI’s country director in Malaysia, Chin Sing Yun, said Vietnam must have a clear strategy, detailed information, and a specific roadmap to attract funding. She affirmed CABI’s readiness to share extensive global data and assist Vietnam in developing “plant clinics", where farmers could receive advice and training on identifying and managing pests with biological methods.

“The crucial point is to clearly define Vietnam’s needs and build the program accordingly”, she said.

CABI expert Muhammad Faheem added that Vietnam’s microbial models remain largely experimental and need to scale to industrial levels. He cited China’s advances in large-scale rearing of natural enemies as an example. With international cooperation and technology transfer, Vietnam could shorten the time needed to bring biological products to market.

Echoing this, Liem reiterated that biological control is not a new idea but is now at a pivotal moment.

“The task is to identify methods that can be mass-produced at low cost and suited to farmers’ practices. Without that, biological products will remain confined to laboratories,” he said.

He argued that biological solutions are strategic tools for boosting Vietnam’s competitiveness beyond reducing chemical reliance. Markets such as the EU, Japan, and the US enforce strict limits on pesticide residues, while biological products naturally meet high standards for safety and low emissions.

“Biological control will become the backbone of many major crops. But to succeed, we must meet two conditions simultaneously: industrial scale and policy support. If we achieve that, farmers will embrace change, and Vietnamese produce will secure a stronger foothold in global markets,” Liem affirmed.

Biological control is one of the key areas of cooperation under the agreement between the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection and CABI. The partnership also covers capacity-building for technical staff through training and standardizing pest monitoring and diagnostic protocols, as well as developing international cooperation proposals to mobilize financial and technical resources.

For biological control specifically, stakeholders agreed to revive and expand local biological control centers while increasing the use of nature-based solutions in crop protection.