Towards ‘One smartphone per household, one digital account per farm’

In the context of deep economic integration and the rapid unfolding of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Vietnam’s agriculture faces a ‘dual challenge.’ On one hand, it struggles with internal limitations such as small-scale, fragmented production and weak linkages; on the other, it must contend with external barriers including climate change, international competition, and stringent requirements on quality and traceability.

Amid these challenges, digital transformation and innovation are seen as the key to unlocking smart, efficient, and sustainable agriculture. As part of the 2025 Regional Agricultural and Specialty Market Fair on September 18, the Agricultural Trade Promotion Center, in collaboration with the National Authority for Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality, Processing, and Market Development (NAFIQPM), organized the Forum on “Digital transformation and innovation in agricultural development and environmental protection.”

The event brought together leading experts in digital transformation to shape strategic visions and breakthrough solutions, from policy directions to technology applications and the development of a digital trade ecosystem.

“The golden key” unlocking modern agriculture

At the Forum, Mr. Pham Duy Khanh from the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Agriculture and Environment highlighted that the Party and the State have identified agriculture as one of the top priorities in the National Digital Transformation Program. The goal is not only to digitize processes but also to comprehensively restructure the agricultural sector on a digital foundation, thereby driving sustainable development.

To realize this vision, smart rural development must be built on three pillars: Digital Government, Digital Economy, and Digital Society. Through close integration, digital transformation in agriculture will not only transform management and production methods but also improve the quality of life for local communities, laying the groundwork for a modern agricultural sector.

However, the path ahead is not without challenges. Mr. Khanh pointed out limitations such as the lack of a unified database, weak technological infrastructure, and a workforce with limited digital skills.

To overcome these barriers, he proposed building a “digital agriculture ecosystem” - a tightly connected environment where farmers, cooperatives, enterprises, scientists, and regulatory bodies collaborate, innovate, and drive change together.

This ecosystem would function like a self-operating machine, with the Government playing the role of enabler by providing a strong legal framework and supportive policies. Mr. Khanh particularly emphasized the importance of financial support, as lack of capital and limited access to credit remain the biggest barriers for small and medium-sized enterprises.

“Prioritizing credit for technology-driven projects and expanding modern lending mechanisms, such as mobile-based loans, will create a comprehensive momentum. The combination of a sustainable ecosystem and adequate financial support will spread digital transformation from the macro level to individual smallholder farmers, fueling a true revolution in agriculture,” Mr. Khanh noted.

“One smartphone per household, one digital account per farm"

In the context of economic integration and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, digital transformation has become the key to elevating Vietnam’s agriculture. Nguyen Kim Phuc, Deputy Director General of the Digital Transformation Department (under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), highlighted that technologies such as AI, Big Data, IoT, Blockchain, and satellite systems are driving revolutionary changes across agricultural value chains.

According to Mr. Phuc, these technologies have already been effectively applied in practice. For instance, in production, IoT and sensor systems enable precise monitoring of cultivation environments, thereby optimizing resource use, reducing costs, and increasing farmers' productivity. This represents a major step toward sustainable agricultural production.

Beyond production, digital transformation is also creating breakthroughs in supply chain management. Blockchain plays a pivotal role by ensuring absolute transparency. All information on product origin, production processes, and quality is recorded immutably, allowing consumers to easily trace sources and strengthening trust in Vietnamese agricultural products.

Alongside this, in distribution and market access, Big Data is applied to forecast demand, optimize pricing, and improve product quality. At the same time, e-commerce platforms allow farmers to connect directly with consumers, shortening intermediaries, increasing product value, and expanding market reach.

From this reality, Mr. Phuc emphasized that to achieve agriculture fully powered by AI and Big Data by 2030, Vietnam must aim for the goal of “One smartphone per household, one digital account per farm.” This is not merely a slogan but a strategic objective, equipping each producer with digital tools and knowledge so they can become active participants, confidently engaging in and mastering the era of Industry 4.0.

Digital trade ecosystem: Elevating Vietnamese agricultural products

Concluding his insights on technology, Mr. Nguyen Minh Tien, Director of the Agricultural Trade Promotion Center, emphasized another crucial dimension: building and developing a digital trade promotion ecosystem. He stressed that this is a decisive factor for Vietnamese agricultural products to expand globally and affirm their position in international markets.

Mr. Tien highlighted that digital trade is fundamentally transforming the way goods are exchanged, unlocking unprecedented opportunities. Citing WTO statistics, he noted that digital technologies could boost global trade growth by 31–34% by 2030, underscoring the immense potential this market holds for Vietnamese agriculture.

To seize these opportunities, Mr. Tien proposed three breakthrough solution groups. First, strengthen digital platforms by further developing specialized e-commerce marketplaces for agricultural products, while integrating logistics and digital payment services to create a seamless supply chain from farm to table.

Second, advanced technologies should be integrated into trade promotion, such as applying AI and Big Data to analyze consumer behavior and design more effective marketing campaigns. Blockchain, beyond ensuring traceability, also helps build customer trust. He cited the IPPC’s ePhyto solution as a concrete example, which digitizes phytosanitary certificates to simplify and accelerate international trade.

He particularly emphasized the need for coherent policies and stronger linkages among government agencies, businesses, cooperatives, and farmers. The Government must play a facilitating role by providing an enabling legal framework and robust policy support to drive large-scale digital transformation projects.

Mr. Tien affirmed that digital transformation in trade promotion not only enables Vietnamese agricultural products to meet international standards but also creates competitive advantages, helping national brands access and conquer even the most demanding markets.

“The path toward digital transformation is a long journey that requires the joint efforts of the entire political system, the business community, and every individual, to build a modern, sustainable, and globally competitive agriculture sector,” he concluded.