Green transition cannot rely solely on isolated efforts

According to the latest greenhouse gas inventory report, Viet Nam's agricultural sector emits nearly 90 million tons of CO₂e, of which 50% comes from rice cultivation activities. Notably, the draft Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), which is currently under development, is expected to target a reduction of around 17.5 million tons of CO₂e in the agricultural sector by 2030. With additional  support from the international community, emission reductions could exceed 60 million tons, compared with the 50.9 million-ton target set in NDC 2022.

This information was shared by Mr. Ly Viet Hung, Head of the Carbon Neutral Economy Division, Center for Climate Change Adaptation and Carbon Neutrality, Department of Climate Change (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), at the workshop "Green Transformation in Agriculture: From Technology to Market," co-organized by Tuoi Tre Newspaper, the Can Tho City People’s Committee, and Can Tho University on the afternoon of May 29.

According to Mr. Hung, setting a higher emission reduction target in this updated version will create significant room to convert emission reduction activities into carbon credits. In recent times, the Mekong Delta has recorded "bright spots" in greenhouse gas emission reduction work, gradually moving toward the green transition. In particular, many enterprises have proactively taken the lead in this process.

Thanh Thanh Cong-Bien Hoa Joint Stock Company (AgriS) has exported approximately 180,000 tons of low-emission rice after only one year of participating in the rice sector. The company aims to reach 280,000 tons by the end of 2026 and 580,000 tons by 2030.

Mr. Tran Tan Viet, Member of the Board of Directors of AgriS, said that to ensure proactive supply, the company has been investing in processing plants and storage warehouse systems in An Giang and Dong Thap. Notably, the enterprise is approaching the green transition trend by "going from the market back to the growing area." The unit first develops export markets, then builds raw material zones to meet traceability requirements and green standards.

At a pilot low-emission rice farming model in Tay Ninh, AgriS has simultaneously implemented a range of solutions, including land leveling, subsurface seeding, and alternate wetting and drying (AWD) irrigation. In particular, the company has used  chitosan-coated nanofertilizers, reducing chemical fertilizer use by about 30%, while replacing chemical pesticides with natural enemies such as Trichogramma.

This biological approach helps protect indigenous natural enemies and promotes a balanced ecosystem in rice fields. Initial results indicate that no chemical pesticides were required across the entire pilot area. "Although production costs have declined, the actual yield in the first crop fell short of expectations. This is a valuable lesson that will help us further optimize the model in the coming period," Mr. Viet shared.

However, the Mekong Delta’s green transition journey continues to face numerous challenges related to investment costs, financing, supply chains, market access, and farmers’ awareness. According to Mr. Tran Ho Van Khoa, Director of Techpal Soc Trang Co., Ltd., the biggest challenges at present are fragmented production, high investment costs, underdeveloped logistics, and limited access to technology among farmers.

Mr. Khoa noted that most cooperatives currently operate on only a few dozen hectares, making it difficult to implement automation on a large scale or effectively manage quality across growing areas. Meanwhile, the region’s processing, storage, and logistics systems have yet to meet the requirements of large-scale green transformation.

This highlights the fact that the green transition cannot rely solely on the isolated efforts of enterprises or farmers. Instead, it requires the development of a "4-party" linkage ecosystem, including the State, scientists, businesses, and farmers.

According to Mr. Khoa, it is necessary to establish a more focused linkage, leveraging the core strengths of each stakeholder. Specifically, seed centers should be responsible for supplying high-quality seed varieties. Local authorities and cooperatives should focus on farmer training, as well as the management and support of growing areas. Enterprises should take charge of drying, milling, and deep processing technologies, while distribution networks should accompany consumption and prioritize green, clean products.

Such a linkage model would help ease the capital burden on any single enterprise while maximizing the mobilization of social resources. The ultimate goal is to develop an interconnected network of multiple green value chains, thereby accelerating the pace of green transition.