Intl’ partners call for mechanisms to mobilize resources for green standards in crop production

Green transition resonates with digital transformation

Mr. Nguyen Song Ha, Assistant FAO Representative in Viet Nam, shared: "The Low-Emission Crop Production Program is the result of a long process, during which Viet Nam has gradually implemented many sustainable production models over the years. It is also evidence of the trend of digital transformation and the application of science and technology, going hand in hand with the green transformation of agriculture."

Mr. Dang Van Bao, Chairman of CropLife Viet Nam Association, shared three key technology groups that can directly contribute to emission reduction goals. He proposed integrating advanced plant protection solutions, including biological plant protection products, precision spraying drones, and integrated pest management (IPM) methods.

In addition, biotech crops, especially genetically modified varieties, have shown clear effectiveness in reducing input materials such as pesticides, fertilizers, and labor, minimizing energy consumption, and thereby encouraging no-tillage cultivation, which helps increase soil carbon absorption. “Moreover, gene-edited crops represent a promising direction, allowing the creation of varieties highly adaptive to climate change, drought- and salt-tolerant, pest-resistant, and capable of enhancing biological carbon absorption efficiency,” Mr. Bao shared.

Mr. Vu Ngoc Chau, Senior Project Officer for Agriculture and Natural Resources - Asian Development Bank (ADB), said that carbon credits is a new “commodity” that can be generated from emission reduction in agricultural production. ADB is ready to participate in purchasing carbon credits if Viet Nam establishes a transparent, feasible, and sustainable trading mechanism.

ADB will soon approve a technical assistance project on rice production in the region, in which Viet Nam is regarded as a key focus due to its cultivation advantages and commitment to net-zero emissions. “The potential for cooperation between ADB and the Low-Emission Crop Production Program is very large,” Mr. Chau said.

However, the ADB representative also noted that to attract international financial institutions, Viet Nam needs to soon complete its legal foundation for the carbon market. Once there is a clear legal framework, partners like ADB can participate more deeply, not only in crop production but also in forestry, which holds great potential for carbon absorption. From practical cooperation with the agricultural sector, Mr. Chau also suggested that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment continue to improve financial approval procedures, helping ADB engage more actively in the program.

To establish a Steering Committee

Giving directional remarks at the conference, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Hoang Trung affirmed that the feedback and recommendations would be incorporated and adjusted so that the program can be effectively implemented in practice, bringing economic benefits to the agricultural sector and farmers. The contributions and commitments of international organizations such as FAO, the World Bank, IRRI, GIZ, and UNDP play an important role in Viet Nam’s green agricultural transformation process.

Regarding resource mobilization, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will organize a meeting with the participation of state agencies and international partners with approved and upcoming projects, especially focusing on socialized resources from enterprises and associations contributing sustainably.

According to the Deputy Minister, the process of developing the measurement-monitoring system for emission reduction during the program’s formulation is assigned to leading institutions, mainly research institutes under the Ministry. Once the monitoring-measurement process is completed, it will lead to the establishment of credit exchange models and participation in the carbon market.

The Ministry has directed the Department of Climate Change to pilot domestic carbon trading before 2028, thereby enabling participation in international carbon exchanges. “We must be able to sell, to open the market for low-emission agricultural products for farmers,” the Deputy Minister said.

In addition, the crop groups under the program will be prioritized based on criteria such as cultivated area and emission reduction potential, but not limited to these. The focus will be on existing advantages, based on results from the five crop groups proposed in the program.

Deputy Minister Hoang Trung reaffirmed the implementation principle of the Program: "Clear people, clear tasks, clear timelines, clear products, clear implementation areas." Accordingly, the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection must update the reporting and guidance regime into the updated NDC 3.0. The unit will also be responsible for working with localities to select crop transformation models. Notably, an early-established Steering Committee will oversee the process comprehensively, organize periodic reviews and evaluations, and remove bottlenecks during implementation.

Reaffirming the ambition of the Program, Deputy Minister Hoang Trung shared: The "Low-Emission Crop Production Program for the period 2025-2035, with a vision to 2050” is not merely a ministry-level initiative but a national action plan that proves to Viet Nam’s agricultural sector before the world, demonstrating responsibility toward climate change and the path to green development.