Investing boldly in technology to elevate plant seedling production

Businesses make significant investments

As agriculture shifts from a production-driven model to one focused on higher value, planting material is increasingly recognized as the foundation of the entire production chain. Beyond determining crop yield and product quality, high-quality planting material is also considered essential for improving climate resilience and enhancing the competitiveness of the agricultural sector.

In Vinh Long Province, the production of planting material and ornamental plants has long been a traditional livelihood, concentrated in key production areas such as Cho Lach, Vinh Thanh, Hung Khanh Trung, Phu Phung, and Long Duc Ward. According to 2025 statistics, the province has approximately 3,497 hectares dedicated to nurseries and ornamental plant cultivation, involving around 8,155 farming households.

Cho Lach continues to be designated as the province's principal production area for planting material and ornamental plants, with a long-term vision of becoming Viet Nam's national center for nursery stock and ornamental horticulture. Under the 2026-2030 development plan, with a vision toward 2035, the locality aims to establish a professional, high-quality nursery industry driven by advanced technologies and expanded market access.

According to Tran Huu Nghi, Vice Chairman of the Cho Lach Commune People's Committee, the locality currently has more than 1,000 hectares devoted to nursery production and ornamental plants, supplying around 7 million seedlings and approximately 5 million ornamental plant products to markets both within and beyond the province each year.

Against this backdrop of transformation, ViGen Biotechnology Co., Ltd., based in Cho Lach Commune, Vinh Long Province, has chosen to focus on the research, propagation, and commercialization of planting material produced using in vitro tissue culture technology.

Nguyen Van Sinh, Chief Executive Officer of ViGen Biotechnology Co., Ltd., said the company adopted tissue culture technology to address several limitations of conventional propagation methods, including inconsistent plant quality, the risk of transmitting pathogens, and the gradual decline in genetic quality over successive generations of propagation.

According to Mr. Sinh, the company's production process is designed to ensure strict quality control from the cell multiplication stage through to plant development and nursery release. This approach helps preserve the genetic characteristics of elite mother plants while improving the reliability and stability of planting material supply.

To realize this vision, ViGen Biotechnology Co., Ltd. has allocated approximately 7 hectares in Vinh Long Province for research and high-tech nursery production. In the initial phase, the company has commissioned a 10,800-square-meter production facility equipped with laboratories, sterile growth rooms, and greenhouses for acclimatizing plantlets after tissue culture.

According to the company, the facility is designed to accommodate up to 12 million tissue culture vessels simultaneously, with a target annual production capacity of more than 20 million seedlings once the entire system is fully operational.

The company's current product portfolio focuses primarily on coconut varieties, including tissue-cultured Makapuno (wax) coconuts, coconuts for fresh consumption, and varieties for industrial processing. In the ornamental horticulture segment, ViGen has commercialized more than 20 tissue-cultured apricot (mai) cultivars and has also produced orchid and chrysanthemum varieties for the specialized growing areas of Cho Lach. The company views this as an opportunity to expand the value of the local nursery industry in response to rising demand for high-quality planting material.

Foundation for the agricultural sector's development strategy

Alongside its research activities, the company is gradually adopting digital traceability systems and data management technologies to improve product transparency while expanding market access through digital platforms.

The company's investment in advanced propagation technology is widely seen as a positive step toward improving the quality of planting material, a critical input for agricultural production.

Recently, Lam Van Tan, Director of the Vinh Long Department of Agriculture and Environment, led a delegation to visit ViGen Biotechnology Co., Ltd.'s high-tech tissue culture nursery production facility.

According to Mr. Tan, as agriculture faces increasing challenges from climate change, saltwater intrusion, and more demanding market requirements, the development of high-quality planting material must stay ahead of the curve. He emphasized that businesses should continue investing in the research and development of resilient plant varieties that can adapt to changing growing conditions, while strengthening quality control, building strong brands, and further improving product traceability systems.

Following the site visit, Tran Van Lau, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Vinh Long Provincial Party Committee, and Head of the province's National Assembly Delegation, acknowledged the company's commitment to technological investment and emphasized that the development of the planting material industry should be regarded as a cornerstone of Vietnam's long-term agricultural development strategy.

According to Tran Van Lau, as agricultural competitiveness increasingly depends on quality standards and product traceability, securing a reliable supply of high-quality planting material will be essential for developing high-value production areas, strengthening competitiveness, and accelerating the transition toward a modern, green agricultural sector.