Strengthening partnerships to accelerate Viet Nam’s green, low-emission food systems transformation

Viet Nam’s food system transformation is entering a new phase that calls for closer coordination between national policies, international finance and scientific innovation. This message framed the ISG Plenary Meeting 2025, co-hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Hanoi on 9 January 2026, where government leaders, development partners, research institutions and the private sector came together to discuss a shared agenda for green, low-emission and sustainable agri-food systems.

Opening the high-level session, Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang said that Viet Nam’s agriculture sector has shown strong resilience and is ready for change. "Despite heavy impacts from natural disasters and epidemics, the sector recovered and exceeded all Government targets in 2025," he said. Agricultural exports reached a record USD 70.09 billion, while food security remained stable and overall sector growth continued.

He also stressed that future growth cannot rely on resource-intensive models. “Food system transformation is no longer a choice. It is a strategic priority to protect natural resources, improve farmers’ livelihoods and contribute to global climate goals,” he said.

Science and innovation were also highlighted during the plenary discussion, including CGIAR's role in supporting evidence-based food system transformation. Speaking at the plenary, Hung Nguyen, Regional Director for Asia of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), said that CGIAR is increasingly supporting national food system strategies. "CGIAR’s mission is to provide science that helps transform food, land, and water systems. In Viet Nam, this work closely supports national policy priorities to transform food systems. There are also great opportunities for CGIAR and partners to support the provincial food system transformation agenda, such as in Son La province.

Under the CGIAR research portfolio for 2025 - 2030, four CGIAR Science Programs are being proposed for collaboration in Viet Nam, from climate-smart agriculture, sustainable food systems and nutrition. Among these, the CGIAR Science Program on Animal and Aquatic Foods, led by ILRI in partnership with CGIAR, was highlighted as critical. “Livestock and aquatic foods are central to nutrition, livelihoods and the One Health agenda, yet they are often understated in food systems discussions,” Hung Nguyen noted. He emphasised that sustainable livestock and aquaculture systems are critical to addressing food safety risks, zoonotic diseases, and climate resilience, particularly for smallholder farmers.

He stressed that ILRI and CGIAR remain committed to working closely with state agencies, development partners, research academia, and the private sector to bridge research, policy, and investment to support food safety risk management, One Health operationalization, traceability systems, and low-emission livestock pathways in line with Viet Nam’s context.

Discussions at the plenary reflected how Viet Nam is positioning this transformation within the global climate agenda, particularly following COP30 in Brazil. The country’s participation in initiatives such as the Belém Declaration on Fertilizers, the Alliance of Champions for Food Systems Transformation (ACF) and the FAST Partnership signals a move toward integrated solutions to link climate finance, digital innovation and farmer-centred solutions. These commitments aim to improve fertilizer efficiency, restore soil health, utilize AI-enabled climate-smart tools, and enhance regional and South–South cooperation.

From a policy and strategic planning perspective, Tran Cong Thang, director of the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Agriculture and Environment (IPSAE), noted that Viet Nam’s transition is built on a strong socio-economic foundation. “Agriculture, forestry and fisheries have delivered steady growth while ensuring food security, reducing rural poverty and increasing high-quality exports,” he said. IPSAE identifies green restructuring, circular agriculture, digital transformation, and transparent value chains as key priorities, as well as regulatory reforms to meet international market requirements and sustainability standards.

International partners confirmed their role in supporting Viet Nam. Shantanu Chakraborty, country director of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Viet Nam, emphasised that transforming agri-food systems is a key in ADB’s development mandate. “ADB is on track to meet its commitment of USD 14 billion for food security by 2025,” he said. In Viet Nam, ADB’s support infrastructure, climate adaptation, value-chain modernisation, and institutional capacity-building help translate policy into implementable programmes.