Learn, connect, and collaborate towards a future where women in agriculture thrive

Ms. Courtney Beale, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, expressed his excitement for the upcoming Forum for the Advancement of Women in Agriculture. He emphasized the event's purpose of promoting, inspiring, and empowering woman farmers.

"I am especially excited to join this event today because I come from one of the biggest farming states in the United States - the great state of Missouri. If you ever have the chance to drive through Missouri, you’ll see hundreds of miles of beautiful soybean and corn fields!  With almost 100,000 farms covering 63% of the state’s land, I grew up seeing firsthand how important agriculture is to everything from feeding our families to our state’s economic growth," the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi expressed.

The United Nations has officially declared 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, signifying a momentous occasion. This statement emphasizes the crucial significance of women's involvement in agriculture on a global scale. It acknowledges their efforts and aims to tackle the obstacles they encounter.

Today, the event features two outstanding female farmers from the United States: Ms. Jennifer Schmidt, who specializes in crop production in Maryland, and Ms. Jaclyn Wilson, who focuses on livestock farming in Nebraska. Their presence serves as evidence of the significance of cross-border knowledge and experience sharing in empowering women in agriculture.

The U.S. Mission to ASEAN and the United States Department of Agriculture have collaborated to organize the International Year of the Woman Farmer Road Show, which has facilitated the visit of these skilled farmers to Vietnam. The objective of this program is to motivate and enable women farmers, agricultural students, and extension workers in Vietnam, while promoting increased cooperation and educational prospects.

In the course of today's event, Ms. Jennifer and Ms. Jaclyn will impart knowledge acquired from their vast agricultural expertise. In addition, they will promote conversation and initiatives aimed at improving the participation of women in agriculture on a global scale.

"Our venue today, Vietnam National University of Agriculture, holds a special place as a leading institute in training agriculture, forestry, and fishery experts in Vietnam, it is the perfect setting to host such an important exchange of ideas and experiences,"  said Ms. Courtney Beale.

The US side anticipates capitalizing on this chance to acquire knowledge, establish connections, and engage in collaborative efforts to foster a future in which women in agriculture thrive.

US remains one of Vietnam's top two largest export markets. The bilateral export turnover between the two countries has consistently grown in recent years. Seafood, timber and wood products, and cashews are among the products that generate the biggest export turnover to the US.

Based on that premise, Vietnam and the US have conducted numerous collaborations in the sphere of agriculture. One major achievement is the successful development of a vaccine for African Swine Fever. Similarly, the United States has conducted fruitful research on a strain of African Swine Fever virus that is non-toxic, achieved by eliminating the ASF-G-Delta I177L gene sequence.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) sent a delegation to receive the virus. Furthermore, local firms persist in conducting research and effectively manufacturing a vaccine with a high efficacy rate.

In June 2022, Vietnam held a ceremony to celebrate the debut of a vaccine product, approximately 3 years after the US provided the virus.In addition to the backing of the US government, organizations like the US Grains Council and the US Wheat Associates also demonstrated interest in and provided support to Vietnam's agriculture.

The United States is now evaluating and potentially participating in various initiatives in the Mekong Delta region. The aim is to enhance the region's growth by establishing it as a logistics hub and fostering production links. Additionally, the focus is on promoting processing activities and increasing the consumption of agricultural products and services.