Businesses and localities join forces on low-emission crop production scheme

On May 18, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment held a Steering Committee Conference to implement the Scheme on “Low-emission crop production for 2025-2035, vision to 2050.” At the conference, industry associations, businesses, and leaders from the agriculture and environment sectors expressed their commitment to implementing the Scheme.

The Scheme carries major significance for the agriculture and environment sector

Implementing the Scheme on “Low-emission crop production for 2025-2035, vision to 2050” is a timely and appropriate move by the MAE. It further affirms agriculture’s role in the economy. Even during the most difficult times, agriculture has remained a source of national pride while also bearing substantial responsibility.

For the Scheme to succeed, collective strength across the entire system is required, not only within crop production, as this field contributes significantly to agriculture and national exports.

To enhance coordination effectiveness, the Fertilizer Association, the Seed Association, and the Pesticide Association signed cooperation agreements with the Plant Production and Protection Department. This demonstrates a commitment to working alongside the Ministry in achieving emission reduction targets.

However, we hope the Ministry will continue to decentralize authority and assign more specific tasks to associations and social organizations, enabling them to participate in the implementation of major sectoral programs.

Following government directives and new regulations, such as Decree 22/2026/ND-CP detailing the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations, the development and refinement of technical standards have expanded to allow associations and organizations to participate in research, helping establish standards aligned with practical needs and international integration.

Therefore, we recommend that the MAE assign additional responsibilities to associations to enable closer collaboration with state management agencies.

We have also proactively worked with the People’s Committee of Son La province, proposing the inclusion of coffee cultivation in rice-based systems into emission reduction and quality improvement programs, with Son La - Vietnam’s Arabica coffee hub - serving as a pilot location. We commit to working with Son La to implement greenhouse gas emission reduction models, increase productivity and quality, and develop value chains from cultivation and procurement to processing and consumption.

Following approval and implementation of the high-quality rice scheme, we propose establishing a dedicated steering committee or national program for emission reduction in coffee production. Coffee exports are now worth nearly USD 9 billion and still hold substantial growth potential.

As for the low-emission rice production scheme, positive results have emerged but remain concentrated in southern regions. We propose expanding implementation to northern provinces and nationwide.

Through our role as social organizations, we have connected input suppliers and output markets. Based on cooperation with the Plant Production and Protection Department, we propose replicating pilot models in northern provinces, including Ninh Binh and Hai Phong.

We believe the Scheme on “Low-emission crop production for 2025-2035, vision to 2050” has profound significance for agriculture in general and crop production in particular. If implemented comprehensively and decisively, not only major crops but many others will benefit. Each locality has unique strengths and should prioritize crops suited to its conditions. A broad implementation would generate strong momentum for nationwide transformation.

Scaling up remains the greatest challenge

“After more than two years implementing the scheme on planting 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice linked to green growth in the Mekong Delta, many models have shown positive outcomes but still face challenges in scaling up, particularly when it comes to implementation, financing, and credit,” said Le Thanh Tung, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Rice Sector Association.

According to him, experience from this scheme could become a foundation for implementing low-emission crop production nationwide.

The Vietnam Rice Industry Association is developing linked raw material zones and applying digital tools to assess compliance with low-emission rice production processes under Ministry guidelines. Some localities have integrated this data with growing area codes to support traceability and provide a basis for procurement and export.

Vice Chairman Tung argued that although carbon credits cannot yet be quantified, demonstrating compliance with low-emission production processes already meets part of the international market requirements.

The association plans to continue coordinating with businesses, cooperatives, and other industry associations to develop integrated production models and large-scale plantations. It also aims to register a “Vietnam green low-emission rice” trademark to create commercial products from the low-emission rice scheme.

He proposed allowing associations deeper involvement in nationwide implementation and supporting digital applications for managing low-emission rice production.

Building a low-emission standards framework

We propose that the MAE and the Ministry of Science and Technology incorporate this into implementation programs to develop a low-emission standards framework this year and next, creating a basis for compliance with Decree 22/2026. The Vietnam Green Transformation Association plays an important role in this effort and hopes to receive support from other associations.

Currently, we are piloting organic, low-emission farming processes for five major crops, especially in Hanoi and Son La. We recently evaluated a 130-hectare organic low-emission rice model in Son La. The province now proposes expanding to 600 hectares, using on-site microbial technology combined with drones to maximize emission-reduction efficiency.

Next are coffee and tea. According to reports, two entities, Bich Thao Son La Cooperative and Phuc Sinh Joint Stock Company, have participated in exports, with coffee achieving high prices. Consumers responded positively to low-emission labels on packaging. Initial results have been implemented in Phu Tho and continue in Long Coc.

The association sees this as a long-term foundation extending over 10 years. To complete the ecosystem, support from relevant sectors is needed. We request that the Divisions, Departments, and Institutes under the MAE continue to support the inclusion of this content in the Ministry's scheme implementation programs.

We will continue refining organic and low-emission processes at reasonable costs while applying AI tools and autonomous drones developed by Dai Thanh Company. Large-scale implementation will begin this year, with results evaluated during 2026–2027; these results will serve as the basis for future actions.

A “grand blueprint” is needed to integrate modern technologies

Through practical observations at cooperatives and localities, many standalone technologies exist, such as traceability, irrigation management, carbon measurement, and mechanization, but they remain fragmented and disconnected.

If integrated into one system, emission reduction targets could be achieved faster and more effectively. We are ready to serve as a “meastro” to integrate existing technologies, including traceability, carbon accounting, mechanization, organic fertilizers, biological products, circular economy models, biochar, and other emission reduction solutions. Solutions related to carbon credits, in particular, need standardization and market linkage to ensure stable returns for producers.

At the same time, we are promoting digital transformation in cooperative management. Standardization and digitalization are essential to bring technology into production. We also recommend including industry associations and green transformation organizations in the Steering Committee to enhance social participation and multi-stakeholder connections.

Furthermore, forums are needed for technology companies to exchange ideas, evaluate, and select suitable solutions while avoiding duplication or ineffective competition between technologies. Most importantly, quantitative data on emission reductions, fertilizer savings, pesticide reductions, and irrigation efficiency are needed to convince producers through evidence rather than theory.

Finally, I emphasize the role of cooperatives. Without them, bringing technology to farmers will be difficult.

Early labeling for low-emission rice and coffee

“Emission reduction in crop production is not merely about reducing inputs but also linked to soil health, farming efficiency, and market value,” said Phan Van Tam, Deputy General Director of Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint Stock Company.

From climate-smart farming models in the Central Highlands and Mekong Delta, Binh Dien found that efficient fertilizer use, alternate wetting and drying irrigation, straw treatment, and indigenous microorganisms can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining yields and improving soil fertility.

The company surveyed around 500 households and analyzed over 1,500 soil indicators. Initial results suggest some models reduced emissions by approximately 45% compared with traditional farming.

From his perspective, specific, easily applicable technical procedures need to be developed to replicate emission-reduction models, with direct participation from businesses, scientists, regulatory agencies, and export units to link production to market demand.

Tam proposed establishing labels for low-emission agricultural products, starting with rice and coffee, while building a unified information platform on processes, criteria, and techniques so that communities, businesses, and farmers can access the resources.

AWD delivers clear results

Green Carbon Company Limited is cooperating with localities, cooperatives, and research institutes under the MAE to implement low-emission rice farming projects using alternate wetting and drying, digital transformation, and MRV systems. To date, Green Carbon has implemented 15 projects in 15 provinces, mainly in the Mekong Delta.

Besides emission reduction, we are developing rice procurement chains, managing pesticide residues, and improving traceability to meet export standards. Our goal is not only to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also to build a high-quality, low-emission rice production area capable of participating in high-value export markets in the future.

The alternate wetting and drying technique has shown clear effectiveness in saving water, reducing input costs, optimizing fertilizer use, and increasing farmers’ incomes.

More importantly, farmers are gradually changing their production mindset after seeing tangible benefits. Following the signing of the JCM mechanism between Vietnam and Japan on May 2, 2026, we believe this presents a major opportunity for cooperation on agricultural emissions reduction, particularly in rice production.

Green Carbon is also collaborating with partners to develop an AWD methodology based on the DGM mechanism for early approval. We expect this methodology to harmonize with the national MRV process while adhering to the technical criteria of the 1-million-hectare high-quality, low-emission rice scheme, ensuring consistency in practical implementation.

From the perspective of an enterprise implementing the scheme, we believe that close coordination between state management agencies, localities, businesses, and farmers is a key factor in developing Vietnam's low-emission rice industry. We are committed to continuing our long-term partnership with Vietnam in developing the low-emission rice value chain.

Farmers will follow when they see tangible benefits

According to Tran Thanh Hiep, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of An Giang province, production linked to growing-area codes and traceability is essential to implementing the 1-million-hectare low-emission rice scheme. However, markets have yet to establish clear distinctions between low-emission and conventional rice, resulting in similar purchase prices and limited motivation among farmers.

Although low-emission production reduces input costs, low-emission rice labeling should be introduced soon to create market advantages. If farmers see benefits, they will support adoption.

To effectively implement the scheme, a comprehensive set of solutions is needed, ranging from improving production infrastructure and innovating farming methods to reducing input costs, promoting mechanization, and developing the collective economy through an approach of "walk together, purchase together, sell together." This is considered a necessary direction to enhance the competitiveness of the rice industry.

An Giang has registered 183,000 hectares for the project in 2026 and achieved encouraging initial results during the winter-spring crop season.

Meanwhile, Duong Son Ha, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Thai Nguyen province, said the locality broadly supports the implementation of four major crop groups. However, rice areas are shrinking due to industrial and infrastructure development.

Nevertheless, Thai Nguyen has developed a plan to implement the scheme, assigning specific tasks to relevant departments and localities. Thai Nguyen allocates around 30% of revenue from rice land conversion to support rice production, including low-emission models, while 70% funds are used for irrigation infrastructure upgrades.

The immediate goal is to facilitate product labeling and meet environmental criteria, with participation in the carbon market as the next step. Besides rice, Thai Nguyen also expects tea, with an area of ​​over 22,000 hectares, to become an advantage if a production process that reduces emissions, linked to deep processing and export, is developed.

As for Phu Tho, this province has issued an action plan shortly after the central government launched the scheme. Following administrative restructuring, it now has around 100,000 hectares of rice land.

According to Nguyen Van Quan, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Phu Tho, the province began low-emission rice production models in 2024 with just 6 hectares and has expanded to around 2,000 hectares.

Initial results indicate increased productivity, reduced pest pressure, lower environmental pollution, and economic gains of 12-15% compared with conventional farming.

Deputy Director Nguyen Van Quan said that the scheme’s core objective is to improve production efficiency and environmental protection, while carbon markets remain a long-term issue. Therefore, the locality requested the Ministry to soon finalize the technical procedures for each crop, and at the same time, build a suitable emission measurement and assessment system so that localities can easily implement it.

Other than rice, Phu Tho also proposed researching the expansion of the emission reduction model to other key crops, such as tea and some potential fruit trees.