Green development breakthrough for agriculture and environment in the 2026-2030 period

The cradle of the green economy

Nearly four decades of reform have yielded tremendous achievements, with agriculture consistently serving as the backbone of the economy, ensuring food security, reducing poverty, and maintaining social stability. With an average growth rate exceeding 3% per year, Vietnam has risen to become one of the world's leading agricultural exporters.

However, current growth is not yet fully sustainable; production remains resource-intensive and is heavily impacted by climate change. In the context of industrialization and green transformation, achieving an annual growth rate of 4% for the agriculture and environment sector poses a significant challenge, demanding comprehensive innovation in both mindset and action.

According to the Institute of Strategy and Policy for Agriculture and Environment, the primary catalyst for achieving growth targets is to elevate awareness and strengthen political resolve across the entire system. Each sector and locality must have a specific action plan, clearly defining its focus, resources, and implementation responsibilities.

Directives, supervision, and evaluations must be linked to clear reward and penalty mechanisms. Forums and conferences must become venues for disseminating best practices and good experiences, igniting the spirit of innovation within every group and individual.

The core solution is to restructure agriculture to enhance productivity, quality, land use efficiency, and added value. This involves concentrating on developing large-scale commodity production areas, particularly the 1-million-hectare high-quality, low-emission rice zone in the Mekong Delta; accelerating high-tech livestock farming; developing large-timber forests; growing the under-forest economy and marine aquaculture; and restoring ecosystems.

All production activities must be linked to production unit code and traceability systems, striving for a green, safe, and sustainable food system.

To increase the value of agricultural products, it is necessary to promote deep processing and build national brands, forming supply chains that link raw material areas, processing, and markets. New-style cooperatives, high-tech enterprises, and agricultural startup models are to become the core forces of the modern production chain.

Concurrently, the domestic market must be more effectively utilized, integrating with e-commerce and professional distribution systems. In the international market, Vietnam must capitalize on opportunities arising from Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), broadening its commercial footprint and reducing dependence on a few traditional markets.

Furthermore, developing modern infrastructure is a prerequisite. Transportation, irrigation systems, fishing ports, logistics, and digital infrastructure must be synchronized to ensure a seamless supply chain from production to consumption.

Crucially, science and technology and digital transformation must be the central drivers of growth. The establishment of the National Agricultural Data Center (AgriData) will aid in managing growing regions and seasons, issuing disaster warnings, supporting decision-making, and fostering smart and digital agriculture.

Mechanization, automation, seed selection, biotechnology, and organic farming are inevitable pathways to increase productivity, reduce emissions, and adapt to climate change.

Responding to natural disasters, diseases, and climate change is also identified as a regular duty. Agricultural insurance must be expanded and linked to credit to mitigate production risks, while early warning systems are enhanced, disaster prevention skills are trained, and adaptive farming models are applied.

Sustainable forest development, water resource protection, pollution control, and the circular economy must become the pillars of the agriculture and environment sector in the new era.

Institutions, human resources, and international cooperation are three pillars of sustainability

According to the Institute of Strategy and Policy for Agriculture and Environment, green growth requires flexible, transparent, and synchronized institutions. The implementation of the 2024 Land Law, procedural reforms, new credit policies, and attracting private investment will open up new development space.

Developing a professional, technology-savvy agricultural workforce is the "soft key" for transformation. Educational institutions, research institutes, and enterprises must collaborate to provide training in digital skills, supply chain management, green standards, and market thinking.

Additionally, expanding international cooperation in science and technology, climate change, and green investment will help Vietnam effectively mobilize Official Development Assistance (ODA), green credit capital, and global knowledge to realize its sustainable development goals.

The 2026-2030 period will be a pivotal time, transitioning Vietnamese agriculture from extensive to intensive growth, making it greener, smarter, and more sustainable. With high political determination, science and technology as the driving force, and people as the core focus, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is poised to achieve a breakthrough, becoming a key ecological economic sector and contributing to Vietnam's commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.