PHANO, Rikolto join Viet Nam Food Systems Transformation Partnership

On January 9, Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang attended and chaired the ISG Plenary Meeting Advancing food systems transformation towards green, low-emission, and sustainablity: Partnership and Innovation. Mr. Shantanu Chakraborty, ADB Director in Viet Nam, and Vinod Ahuja, FAO Representative in Viet Nam, co-chaired this important event.

Leaders of the agriculture and environment sector affirmed: "With only about 10.3 million hectares of agricultural land and increasing pressures from climate change, resource degradation, and environmental challenges, Viet Nam is fully aware that a prosperous agriculture cannot exist without protecting nature. Therefore, transforming the food system toward a green, low-emission, and sustainable pathway is not a choice, but an inevitable path."

Looking ahead, the Minister proposed that international organizations continue to support Viet Nam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in the following areas:

First, improving institutions and establishing a modern, unified governance model for land, water, forests, environment, climate, and agriculture, ensuring coherence and transparency.

Second, transforming food systems and developing ecological agriculture, as well as green and circular economy models.

Third, managing and using national resources effectively and sustainably.

Fourth, promoting science, technology, and digital transformation; advancing research on climate-resilient plant and animal varieties; and supporting rural startups and innovation ecosystems.

Fifth, strengthening governance effectiveness and mobilizing resources for the green transition, unlocking both domestic and international financing, especially climate finance, next-generation ODA, and private capital for green investment.

According to Vinod Ahuja, FAO Representative in Viet Nam, as Viet Nam moves from ambition to implementation, one lesson is clear:transformation will succeed only when systems are credible, coherent,and inclusive. When policies are aligned. When progress can bemeasured and trusted.

"We see the Partnership as an anchor. An anchor that keepsinitiatives aligned. An anchor that helps ensure investments reinforce, rather than fragment, national priorities. And in our own work we approach this through an integrated systems perspective that closely mirrors FAO’s Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, betterenvironment, and ultimately, a better life", he stated.

Looking ahead, FAO’s priorities in Viet Nam will focus on supporting thistransition in a practical and country-led manner. This includes flagshipinitiatives such as the One Million Hectares of High-Quality, LowEmission Rice programme; stronger natural resource management andresults-based approaches; a One Health perspective linking agrifoodsystems and health security; and efforts to reduce food loss and wastewhile creating decent opportunities for young people.

For the Asian Development Bank (ADB), finance is a key lever for environmentally friendly agricultural development. Through partnerships with BIDV and domestic partners, ADB has supported credit packages for the private sector, expanding financial access for agricultural production, small and medium-sized enterprises, and rural businesses under preferential conditions.

Building on this foundation, Shantanu Chakraborty, ADB Director in Viet Nam, pledged strategic cooperation to support Viet Nam’s climate action priorities. ADB’s focus includes modernizing irrigation systems, developing sustainable rice production, protecting water security, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing resilience, conserving resources, and mitigating risks ultimately enabling the agricultural sector to access markets more effectively.

Within the framework of the event, the Cooperation Agreement under the "Food Systems Transformation Partnership," initially signed in October 2024 with 47 partners, was extended to include two new partners, Rikolto and the Viet Nam Rural Development Science Association (PHANO), marking a renewed commitment to support national priorities for a transparent, accountable, and sustainable food system transformation.

ISG has long served as an important platformfor dialogue and coordination, helping align international support with Viet Nam’s priorities in agriculture and the environment. This year's Plenary Meeting reaffirmed the strong commitment of the international partner community to Viet Nam’s agri-food systems, while identifying opportunities for technical collaboration and financial support. The outcomes of the conference discussions will help guide joint efforts to advance Viet Nam’s food system transformation during the 2026 - 2030 period.