Promoting Viet Nam-Australia cooperation in climate-smart agriculture

On November 4, the University of Sydney, in collaboration with the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Environment (ISPAE) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, hosted the forum “Sustainable agricultural development, in association with environmental protection and climate change adaptation” in Hanoi. The event brought together policymakers, scientists, and business representatives in agriculture, environment, energy, and innovation.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Thanh Nam emphasized that cooperation with Australia serves as a key driver, creating significant opportunities for research and applying advanced technologies.

Speaking at the forum, Deputy Minister Nam noted that amid climate change, resource depletion, and economic growth pressures, sustainable development and the circular economy have become the inevitable paths for Viet Nam and other nations to move forward. The event served as a platform for parties to share research results, best practices, and innovative solutions to accelerate the green transition.

Viet Nam is implementing key national strategies, including the Circular Economy Strategy, the National Climate Change Strategy, and the roadmap to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Therefore, cooperation with Australia - a country experienced in high-tech agriculture, renewable energy, and resource management - is of strategic importance, opening up great opportunities for research and technology application.

Professor Nguyen Thu Anh, Director of the University of Sydney Viet Nam Institute, stated that the circular economy goes beyond waste reduction and involves reshaping the entire production and consumption system. Through the forum, the two countries can share experiences in developing eco-industrial parks, recycling infrastructure, and applying technologies such as AI and IoT to optimize supply chains, reduce emissions, and build capacity for Viet Nam’s young generation.

Representing the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Ms. Hoang Thi Dieu Linh presented the model “Fishing vessels bringing onboard plastic waste back to shore” currently being implemented in Binh Dinh Province. The initiative collects marine plastic waste through fishermen’s commitments and a reward-based exchange system. Since early 2024, about 3 tons of waste have been collected, and the program is expanding to other fishing ports. UNDP is also developing a secondary materials trading platform and a responsible purchasing framework for plastic scrap, aiming to build a fair and efficient circular plastic supply chain.

From the Australian perspective, Professor Ali Abbas (the University of Sydney) shared Australia’s experience in advancing the circular economy. He emphasized the importance of product design throughout the entire life cycle, avoiding single-use items, and promoting chemical recycling to convert hard-to-recycle plastics into new materials. These efforts support Australia’s goal of achieving 100% recyclable or reusable packaging and eliminating single-use plastics by 2025.

At the forum, Vietnamese scientists introduced new research directions on climate change adaptation in the Mekong Delta, circular bio-economy development, silica production from rice husk ash, and agricultural by-product utilization in An Giang Province.

Concluding the forum, Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam highly appreciated the presentations and discussions, noting that they provided valuable insights for long-term cooperation between Viet Nam and Australia in agriculture, environment, and resource technologies, contributing to sustainable development in the new era.

Earlier on the morning of November 3, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien held a working meeting with a delegation from Queensland (Australia) led by Ms. Ros Bates MP, Queensland’s Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment, and Training.

During the meeting, the two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in four key areas: promoting two-way trade in agricultural products; expanding research, training, and technology transfer in modern agriculture; fostering public-private investment in large-scale value chains; and enhancing trade promotion and branding for agricultural products between the two countries.

Deputy Minister Tien emphasized that Australia is one of Viet Nam’s leading agricultural trade partners, with bilateral trade reaching approximately AUD 4.2 billion in 2024. He affirmed that, under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership upgraded in 2024, agricultural cooperation between Viet Nam and Queensland will continue to thrive, helping to build sustainable supply chains and advance the region’s green transition.