Minister Tran Duc Thang: The sector's scientific resources are invaluable assets

On the afternoon of November 14, speaking at the conference titled "Promoting Breakthroughs in Scientific Research, Technology, and Innovation in Association with Training at Institutes and Universities under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment," Minister Tran Duc Thang stressed that this is a particularly meaningful event, taking place as the entire sector looks toward its 80^th anniversary and in the spirit of gratitude for Vietnamese Teachers' Day, November 20.

The Minister extended heartfelt congratulations and deep gratitude to teachers and scientists across the sector who are directly contributing to the development of Viet Nam's agriculture and environmental sector.

Education and science have never received as much attention as they do today

The Minister affirmed that there has never been a period in which education, science, and technology have received as much attention from the Party and the State as they do today. The Politburo’s consecutive issuance of Resolution 57 on science, technology, and innovation and Resolution 71 on education and training development is clear evidence of this commitment. Once resolutions are issued, corresponding policies must follow, and these will continue to be adjusted to align with practical conditions.

Minister Tran Duc Thang noted that the proposals made by scientists at the conference, from ordering mechanisms and acceptance procedures to the organization and implementation of research tasks, will all be reviewed and amended by the Ministry in the direction of becoming "simpler, more convenient, and more proactive." Resources for science and technology will also be allocated much more, delivering practical benefits to universities and research institutes, both materially and in terms of recognition.

According to the Minister, "recognition is entirely justified," as scientists must be acknowledged when their research projects create applicable products and deliver tangible benefits. The Party and State leaders all wish to honor intellectuals, but to be honored, research outcomes must be achieved.

The sector's scientific resources are invaluable assets

Reports presented at the conference show that the agriculture and environment sector currently has 11,427 officials at universities and research institutes, 21 science and technology organizations, and 34 training units and manages 163,000 ha of land, equivalent to 0.5% of the nation's area. According to the Minister, these are the country’s extremely enormous assets, serving as the foundation for developing new varieties, new procedures, and new technologies to serve the people and the economy.

For many years, the Ministry’s research budget has remained among the highest, averaging VND 1,000 billion per year. This funding has enabled the sector to develop thousands of new crop and livestock varieties, procedures, and biological products, and to advance irrigation and fertilization technologies. These achievements have helped Vietnam transition from food shortages to food security, producing high-quality, safe food for more than 100 million people and contributing to an expected agricultural export turnover of USD 70 billion in 2025 (up from USD 62.5 billion in 2024). Agriculture continues to maintain a trade surplus of around USD 20 billion.

Beyond agriculture, fields such as geology–mineral resources, remote sensing, and cartography have also recorded significant achievements. Recently, at the ceremony to honor outstanding farmers, six scientists from the Ministry were commended, including Prof. Dr. Pham Xuan Hoi and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mai Van Trich.

Alongside the sector's proud achievements, the Minister frankly acknowledged the limitations raised by delegates, including slow ordering mechanisms; complex financial procedures; complicated administrative processes; many research topics not linked to practical application; and numerous research results that "remaining on paper" and are not implemented. For example, ordering only once a year causes delays of 6–10 months; actual research funding is low because a large portion is spent on routine activities; and many projects only expand on a part of existing content.

At the conference, the Minister shared that, during the 80th anniversary ceremony, General Secretary To Lam highlighted existing shortcomings, outlined future development directions, and emphasized that science, technology, and innovation must become key driving forces for the sector. Minister Tran Duc Thang stated that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will concretize these directives in its upcoming implementation plans.

Increasing productivity and value – the only path to breakthroughs

Regarding the sector’s 4% growth target for 2025, amid decreasing land area and strong impacts from climate change, Minister Tran Duc Thang noted that this represents a significant effort. To achieve such growth, there are only two directions: increasing productivity by at least twofold and increasing product value.

For example, Japanese grapes can reach prices of several dozen up to nearly USD 100 per kilogram, whereas Vietnamese grapes are priced at only around USD 5 per kilogram; one hectare of rice generates just around VND 100 million per year, while other high-quality crops can yield up to VND 20 billion per hectare per year.

In addition, the fisheries sector has been identified as a new development space, with a focus on shifting exploitation to large-scale industrial marine farming. Forestry also faces the problem that “people living based on the forest must live better,” as one hectare of planted forest currently generates only about VND 17 million per year.

In response to these issues, the Minister requested that training and research institutions submit specific proposals on the equipment needed to support significant research directions by November. The Ministry will review these for inclusion in the 2026–2030 Plan, with implementation starting in early 2026.

At the same time, boldly propose deep processing of mineral resources, especially rare earths, to produce permanent magnets and materials for solar batteries or UAVs. This is a "major but feasible research topic," and the Ministry hopes that a university or research institute will take the lead in registering to implement it. Additionally, proactively implement the spirit of Resolutions 57 and 71, and participate in contributing to the amendment of 17 laws that the Ministry will submit to the National Assembly in the coming period.

Minister Tran Duc Thang outlined four major directions for the sector's institutes, universities, scientists, and educators to focus on. Specifically, institutes and universities must become knowledge hubs and strategic research nuclei, generating new crop and livestock varieties and conducting research on the circular economy, green transition, and resource management in the context of climate change.

Strengthen linkages among the State, institutes, universities, and enterprises, including piloting the model of "schools within enterprises – enterprises within schools and institutes." Immediately revise the circular on bringing research results into practice and complete the ordering mechanism for 2026, with a total value exceeding VND 1,000 billion.

Restructure the organizational apparatus of institutes and universities, maintaining stability in strong-performing units and reorganizing weaker units without reducing their functions or mandates. Only institutions that are excessively weak and have low enrollment will be considered.

Strengthen international cooperation by capitalizing on partnership proposals from countries such as Bulgaria, and promote the model of exporting agricultural production technologies that Vietnam has successfully implemented in Cuba.

The Minister affirmed that the development of science, technology, and innovation is the sector’s political mission to implement Resolutions 57 and 71 in the new period. With an 80-year tradition, he expressed confidence that the Ministry's lecturers and scientists will continue to generate breakthroughs.

On the occasion of National Teacher's Day, the Minister sent his best greetings to teachers and scientists, wishing them good health, happiness, and success.

*USD 1 = VND 26,128 (Source: Vietcombank)