Green and low-emission rice is Viet Nam's future

Pioneering the export of low-carbon rice

As of now, with the cooperation of the project "Transforming Rice Value Chain for Climate Resilient and Sustainable Development in the Mekong Delta," the Viet Nam Rice Industry Association (VIETRISA) granted the "Viet Nam Green and Low-Emission Rice" trademark for over 70,000 tons. This recognition has positioned Viet Nam as the first country in the world to produce low-carbon (low-emission) rice in large quantities and export low-carbon rice.

Although this volume is still modest compared with the tens of millions of tons of rice Viet Nam produces annually, it represents a promising beginning, creating momentum for farmers and businesses to more proactively participate in the project "Sustainable Development of One Million Hectares of High-Quality, Low-Emission Rice Associated with Green Growth in the Mekong Delta by 2030."

These initial results also highlight the pioneering efforts of enterprises in investing in technology, standardizing processes, and accompanying farmers to reduce emissions, including Vinarice, Chon Chinh, A An, Trung An, Agrimex-Kikoku (AKJ), and King Green. These leading companies are laying a crucial foundation to promote the rice industry's transition toward low carbon.

According to Mr. Truong Duy Hai, Deputy General Director of A An Food JSC, A An operates with the mission of becoming an agricultural corporation specializing in high-quality rice production and business, based on the philosophy of "Success through integrity and service to society."

The registration and certification of the "Viet Nam Green and Low-Emission Rice" trademark by VIETRISA marks an important milestone, affirming the right direction and long-term vision of the A An brand on its journey to bring Vietnamese rice to the global market.

At the same time, this step forward also helps farmers increase their income, improve their livelihoods, reduce greenhouse gas emissions to protect the environment, and provide consumers with clean, safe, and environmentally friendly rice products.

A right direction aligned with global trends

Mr. Truong Duy Hai shared that to be granted the "Viet Nam Green and Low-Emission Rice" trademark, A An's rice products must meet a series of stringent criteria. First, the raw material zone must be located within high-quality rice production areas under the One Million Hectares Project and fully comply with the Technical Procedures for High-Quality, Low-Emission Rice Production in the Mekong Delta, issued under Decision No. 145/QD-TT-CLT dated March 27, 2024, by the Plant Production and Protection Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment).

Additionally, greenhouse gas emissions from the raw material areas linked between A An Company and farmers/cooperatives must be inventoried and assessed by an independent verification organization.

Regarding the high-quality, low-emission rice production linkage model between A An and farmers/cooperatives, beyond the benefits such as reduced production costs and higher profits compared with traditional farming methods, farmers also receive additional financial support. Specifically, in raw material areas where farmers comply fully with the production process and meet the requirements on pesticide residue safety, A An offers an additional bonus of VND 300–500/kg on the paddy purchasing price.

"Viet Nam green and low-emission rice is the right direction for its agricultural sector, aligning with current market trends and demands. Therefore, A An plans to expand the certified area to 3,500 hectares in 2025 and aims to increase it to more than 5,000 hectares in the 2025–2026 winter–spring crop," Mr. Hai added.

However, Mr. Hai also noted that the biggest challenge A An faces during implementation is persuading farmers to reduce seeding density. Due to long-standing farming habits, farmers often use large quantities of seeds for fear that lower density will affect yields. For this reason, the company will continue to organize training classes and strengthen communication efforts to help farmers change their habits toward a more efficient, cost-saving, and sustainable production process.

Demand for clean, low-emission rice will continue to rise sharply

According to Mr. Le Anh Nam, Head of the Rice Export–Import Division at Tan Long Group JSC, in the context of the world moving toward the Net Zero goal, agriculture, especially the rice industry, is compelled to undergo strong transformation. Referring to A An’s model, he stated that developing green, low-emission rice-growing areas is not only an environmental responsibility but also a sustainable competitive advantage in the long term.

Mr. Nam added, "When farming areas meet low-emission standards, our rice products not only meet increasingly strict requirements from the EU, Japan, and other high-end markets but also help enhance export value and create opportunities to label products as 'Green Rice' or 'Low Carbon Rice,' which international importers are paying close attention to."

"From a business perspective, this is the foundation for A An to build a sustainable rice value chain that both increases farmers' incomes and elevates the Vietnamese rice brand in the global supply chain. In other words, green and low-emission rice is the future of the rice industry, and A An wishes to become a pioneering unit in that journey," Mr. Nam emphasized.

Clearly, reducing carbon emissions is no longer an option, but it is becoming a "passport" for Vietnamese rice to enter global markets. From today's low-emission rice fields will sprout a sustainable future for Vietnamese rice, a future in which value is measured not only in output but also in greening and responsibility for global sustainable development.

Mr. Le Anh Nam, Head of the Rice Export-Import Division at Tan Long Group JSC, noted, "Demand for clean rice and low-emission rice will continue to rise sharply. Consumers today are increasingly concerned about product origin, food safety, and environmental impact. At the same time, international standards and export requirements are driving farmers and businesses to shift toward low-emission cultivation practices, improve fertilizer and water-use efficiency, and apply field management technologies. This is not only a market trend but also a direction that helps the rice industry increase added value and reduce environmental risks in the long term."

* USD 1 = VND 26,142 (Source: Vietcombank)