MRV process completed, ready to assess emission reductions

Finalizing the process

On October 24, the Plant Production and Protection Department, in coordination with the Institute of Agricultural Environment, organized a conference on measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) in high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation in the Mekong Delta. This is one of the key tasks within the "sustainable development of one million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta by 2030" Project (referred to as the Project).

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mai Van Trinh, Director of the Institute of Agricultural Environment, stated that from 2023 to the present, the Institute has worked with domestic and international experts to implement demonstration models and practice MRV measures such as mid-season drainage, reducing nitrogen fertilizer, and early-season water regulation. From this, the Institute has developed an effective MRV process that helps quantify greenhouse gas emission reductions for each cultivation method.

Simultaneously, the Institute of Agricultural Environment, along with experts from the World Bank (WB) and many international organizations, has built and finalized the "MRV process for high-quality, low-emission rice farming in the Mekong Delta." This process has been issued at the Institute level and is being submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment for feedback on further testing.

"When the one-million-hectare high-quality rice project is fully implemented, the MRV system will be ready to measure and assess greenhouse gas emission reductions accurately," Mr. Trinh said.

Beyond its environmental value, Mr. Trinh assessed that the MRV process also helps evaluate the carbon footprint and emission intensity per unit of product. This is a crucial foundation for Vietnam to build a low-emission rice brand, enhancing its reputation and export value in the international market. Because when the domestic carbon market is recognized, MRV data will also be the basis for calculating carbon credits, creating a new source of revenue for farmers and cooperatives.

To date, the Institute of Agricultural Environment has trained MRV staff from 11 cooperatives in the Mekong Delta on practicing zoning, mapping, setting water measurement points, measuring indicators, monitoring water, and entering data into KOBOToolbox. The majority of trainees have understood and proficiently practiced the MRV process, marking a positive start for implementing the greenhouse gas emission monitoring system at the grassroots level.

However, the implementation still faces several difficulties and limitations. Specifically, many cooperatives lack automatic water level monitoring systems (sensors) to record accurate data and do not have an online digital MRV platform, making image and data collection still a manual process.

Furthermore, grassroots MRV staff often hold multiple roles and lack sufficient time for specialized work; coordination between provincial and local staff is not regular. Some low-configuration mobile phones also cause difficulties when entering data on the application.

Regarding resources, funding for MRV activities remains limited, especially in provinces like Can Tho City and Ca Mau. Therefore, the Institute of Agricultural Environment recommends strengthening support and enhancing MRV capacity for provincial, communal, and cooperative agricultural extension staff to ensure professionalism and sustainability in the system's operation.

To further refine the MRV process, the research unit proposes updating emission factors for 10 ecological sub-regions and different soil types. It also suggests adding adjustment factors for various straw management methods, such as incorporating straw with microbial products, composting, or producing biochar.

The 6-step MRV implementation process

The Institute of Agricultural Environment recently issued the MRV process for high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation in the Mekong Delta, which consists of six steps.

The first step is MRV preparation. In this phase, localities and cooperatives will develop MRV tools, forms, and data systems. The Institute of Agricultural Environment has provided 15 related forms to help collect and store information uniformly. Concurrently, provinces and cities will create annual MRV plans, reviewing activities by season to ensure system continuity.

The second step is registration. Cooperatives and businesses participating in the Project will register their cultivation areas and operational information on the MRV data management system. The forms will be checked for validity, completed, and updated in the system. The objective is to confirm the unit's eligibility to participate in the carbon program, creating a foundation for unified management across the region.

The third step involves establishing a baseline for the registered area. This is a critical step to determine the baseline emission level. The Institute of Agricultural Environment will map the rice plots (SPOTs), determine the baseline year, and establish methods for collecting actual data. The data is layered by scale across sub-regions (upper, lower) and soil layers (alluvial, acid-sulfate), as well as combined layers (alluvial in upper region, alluvial in lower region, acid-sulfate in upper region, acid-sulfate in lower region). This ensures uniformity in measurement and calculation.

Step four is monitoring. This phase involves selecting SPOTs to set monitoring points for activities like water drainage, taking field photographs, and conducting end-of-season data collection surveys. Before each season, cooperatives and businesses must confirm whether they will continue to participate in the program to arrange appropriate monitoring. The collected data will be used to calculate methane emissions, with national-specific emission factors determined through direct field measurements.

The fifth step is reporting. Cooperatives and communal agricultural extension staff will submit monitoring data to the MRV system for compilation into seasonal and annual reports. The central MRV will synthesize, compile, and publish the monitoring report. This serves as the basis for evaluating each area's emission reduction effectiveness.

The sixth and final step is verification. In this stage, the domestic MRV will provide records to an independent third-party verifier for assessment, ensuring the reliability and transparency of the emission reduction results. After reviewing records, MRV data, and conducting field surveys, this third party will evaluate and issue a verification report—the basis for issuing carbon credits and for the national NDC report.

The development and implementation of the "MRV process for high-quality, low-emission rice farming" not only serves the technical requirements of the one-million-hectare project but also lays the foundation for a low-carbon agricultural sector in Vietnam.