Viet Nam vision for climate-smart agriculture

The environment is the aggregate of natural and human-made factors surrounding human life, closely interconnected and directly affecting the survival and development of society. The environment not only plays a vital role in providing resources and food to ensure human survival but also receives and treats waste generated by human activities, regulates the climate, and protects people from natural disasters and diseases.

However, human activities in the course of survival and development also exert impacts on the living environment. In particular, the burning of fossil fuels for energy, industrial, and transport activities, along with waste from agricultural production, has contributed to global warming, causing extreme weather phenomena such as storms, floods, droughts, and sea-level rise, which have affected ecosystems and human habitats.

Therefore, environmental protection, climate change adaptation, and sustainable agricultural development are intrinsically interrelated, serving both as objectives and as a foundation for the country's sustainable development.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), sustainable agriculture is the process of managing and efficiently using natural resources, technologies, and agricultural production inputs to meet human needs for food and services while ensuring the capacity to sustain resources and ecosystems for future generations.

Agricultural production generates food and maintains ecological balance, yet it is also a fundamental production sector that depends on land, water, climate, and functions derived from interactions among natural components.

Accordingly, sustainable agriculture is a balanced production approach that integrates multiple values, creating new products and services, new added value, new jobs, and export opportunities for the economy while ensuring profits for producers. This agriculture uses natural resources (land, water, and biodiversity) wisely, minimizes negative impacts on the environment, enhances ecosystem resilience, ensures equity, improves livelihoods and quality of life, and safeguards the health and rights of producers.

Environmental protection and climate change adaptation are of great significance to agricultural production, helping to mitigate the adverse impacts of natural disasters and diseases on agricultural sectors and to enhance the resilience and recovery capacity of agricultural systems in the context of climate change.

Therefore, the interaction and balance among sustainable agricultural development, environmental protection, and climate change adaptation is an approach to strengthening agriculture’s role as a pillar of the economy and a cornerstone of sustainable development amid increasingly severe climate change.

Viet Nam's Party and State have affirmed agriculture as a pillar of the economy, firmly ensuring national food security. The agricultural sector contributes nearly 12% of GDP and employs about 25% of the national workforce, serving as a key economic sector for job creation in rural areas. Agriculture is a crucial pillar in ensuring food security for more than 100 million people in Viet Nam.

Agricultural development over recent decades has significantly increased per capita food, elevating Viet Nam to one of the world’s leading countries in terms of food security indices, from a food-deficit nation to one that meets domestic demand and exports. Agriculture is a major production and export sector, serving as a national competitive advantage.

To date, Viet Nam has become one of the world’s leading agricultural exporters on the global trade map, with key commodities such as rice, coffee, cashew nuts, pepper, rubber, and seafood. The export value of agro-forestry-fishery products has continued to rise. In 2025, total export turnover of agro-forestry-fishery products reached USD 70.09 billion, of which agricultural products accounted for USD 37.25 billion, forestry products for USD 18.5 billion, and seafood for USD 11.32 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of USD 20.7 billion.

Agriculture also plays a role in social stability and poverty reduction, ensuring livelihoods in rural areas as the main source of income for more than 60% of the rural population, thereby contributing significantly to poverty reduction, social security, and livelihood stability.

Policies on agricultural, rural, and farmer development have markedly improved infrastructure systems, raised living standards, and reduced multidimensional poverty rates, particularly through the National Target Programs on New Rural Development, Sustainable Poverty Reduction, and Socio-economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas.

Viet Nam's agricultural sector not only serves as a pillar of the economy but has also proactively restructured and transformed agricultural production and business models toward higher added value, greater efficiency, and sustainable development.

Agricultural production and business activities have expanded strongly in the direction of restructuring crops and livestock, applying science and technology, improving quality and added value, leveraging regional and local advantages, protecting the environment, and adapting to climate change.

The Prime Minister issued Decision No. 150/QD-TTg dated January 28, 2022, approving the Strategy for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development for the 2021–2030 period, with a vision to 2050. The strategy aims to develop ecological agriculture through the application of sustainable farming standards, circular and smart agriculture, climate change adaptation, and greenhouse gas emission reduction. On this basis, Viet Nam’s agriculture has undergone a positive transformation toward sustainable development, environmental protection, and climate change adaptation.

In crop production, crop structures have been restructured more effectively, with a focus on developing large-scale production zones that meet standards and cultivation procedures; promoting intensive farming, application of science and technology, and organizing production along value chains for key commodities; developing clean and organic agriculture, local specialty products; shifting toward multi-layered, multi-value exploitation on a single land area; and expanding the use of high-quality seeds. As a result, total grain output in 2024 was estimated at 48.1 million tons, up 0.4%; the value generated per hectare of cultivated land in 2024 was estimated at VND 127 million, up 7.4% compared to 2023.

The organic farming area expanded from 53,000 hectares in 2016 to approximately 500,000 hectares in 2023, ranking Viet Nam fifth among Asian countries in terms of organic agricultural area. High-quality, safe, and organic rice production processes, such as "three reductions, three gains," "one must, five reductions," "one must, six reductions," synchronized planting to avoid brown planthopper outbreaks, reduced seeding rates, site-specific fertilization, and water-saving irrigation, have been developed and widely replicated.

Plant protection and fertilizer management have been strengthened toward improving quality and minimizing adverse environmental impacts; increasing the proportion of biological and environmentally friendly pesticides while reducing chemical products; expanding the use of organic fertilizers and reducing inorganic fertilizers; and promoting economical, balanced, and efficient fertilizer use.

Additionally, high technologies have been widely applied in seed production and greenhouse and net-house cultivation with the use of automated irrigation systems as well as harvesting and post-harvest preservation technologies. Especially, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 1490/QD-TTg dated November 27, 2023, approving the Project on the Development of One Million Hectares of High-Quality, Low-Emission Specialized Rice Associated with Green Growth in the Mekong Delta by 2030. The project aims to establish one million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation areas associated with the reorganization of production systems along value chains and the application of sustainable farming practices, thereby increasing added value, promoting the sustainable development of the rice sector, improving production efficiency, improving incomes and livelihoods of rice farmers, protecting the environment, adapting to climate change, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and contributing to the fulfillment of Viet Nam's international commitments.

After two years of implementation, the project has delivered many promising initial results. More than 200,000 hectares of high-quality, low-emission specialized rice areas have been established, concentrated in key rice-producing provinces of the Mekong Delta. The synchronous application of sustainable cultivation practices has helped reduce seeds by 30–40%, chemical fertilizers by 15–30%, and pesticides by 20–30%, thereby lowering average production costs by VND 1.7–3.0 million/hectare/crop. Rice yields increased by 0.2–0.5 tons/hectare, while farmers’ profits rose by 15–25% compared to traditional cultivation. At the same time, greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane, were reduced by approximately 20–30%, contributing to increasing rice value, improving farmers’ incomes, and promoting environmentally friendly and sustainable rice production.  

In the livestock sector, there has been a strong transition from small-scale household farming to concentrated, farm-scale production, with the application of advanced scientific and technical solutions and high technologies. Livestock models applying good agricultural practices, as well as ecological, green and organic linkage models, have delivered high economic efficiency. Organic livestock farming and traditional livestock production oriented toward high-quality, safe commodity production, especially among farmer households, are gradually being disseminated and scaled up in line with sustainable agricultural development orientations.

In the forestry sector, total national forest stock has shown an upward trend, with an average annual increase of approximately 2.4%. In 2024, the proportion of planted forest area using controlled and certified seed sources reached 90%, while forest coverage was maintained at 42.03%.

In the fisheries sector, restructuring efforts have also been accelerated toward sustainable development in both aquaculture and exploitation, with adjustments to farming structures and the development of farming areas and models applying high technology, biosecurity measures, and environmentally friendly technologies. Total seafood output recorded good growth, with an average annual growth rate of 3% during the 2021–2025 period, reaching nearly 37 million tons.

Accordingly, across the agricultural, forestry, and fisheries sectors, production activities are being shifted toward standards and good agricultural practice processes to minimize adverse environmental impacts, improve natural ecosystems, protect land resources, and enhance water resources and climate conditions, while still ensuring product quality and production productivity. Nutrient cycles and biodiversity are among the fundamental conditions for maintaining productivity, quality, and climate change adaptability of sustainable agricultural production systems.

With regard to promoting the development of a circular economy in agriculture, production models are being transformed toward sustainability, efficiency, and environmental friendliness. National policies such as the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 and the Green Growth Strategy for the 2021–2030 period have established a legal foundation and clear orientation for circular economy development. The Prime Minister issued Decision No. 687/QD-TTg approving the Scheme for Circular Economy Development in Viet Nam, aiming to drive innovation and improve labor productivity, thereby promoting green growth toward a green, carbon-neutral economy and contributing to the goal of limiting global temperature rise.

One outstanding result has been a shift in awareness, viewing waste and by-products in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries as renewable resources. Currently, nearly 160 million tons of agricultural by-products are generated nationwide each year and are collected and reused, while 48.2% of households and 96.1% of farms treat livestock waste. These rates continue to rise, reflecting a positive shift in producers’ awareness and actions.

In agricultural production, numerous circular economy models have been implemented and have demonstrated clear economic and environmental benefits. Four main types of models include (i) models for generating and using biogas from livestock waste and crop residues; (ii) integrated production models such as VAC, rice–shrimp, rice–fish, and garden–forest models; (iii) by-product reuse models, most typically the use of rice straw for mushroom growing, organic fertilizer production, or conversion into bio-oil; and (iv) models that restrain chemical inputs by reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides through biological solutions and high technologies. These models have been deployed in many localities. Initial results show that the circular economy not only helps reduce input costs, increase output value, and generate new income sources and market access opportunities but also makes an important contribution to environmental protection and emission reduction.

The implementation of modern farming measures, synchronous mechanization, digital transformation, and the application of Industry 4.0 technologies in agricultural production and environmental protection has strengthened effective linkages between the development of sustainable agricultural models and the protection of agricultural and rural environments in adaptation to climate change.

Mechanization in agricultural production has been increasingly and widely applied. Mechanized equipment is commonly used in land preparation, care, and harvesting. In rice production, the mechanization rate across stages exceeds 75% and surpasses 95% in specialized farming areas.

Technologies such as IoT, Big Data, AI, and GIS are being increasingly applied in monitoring weather conditions, soils, crops, and livestock, helping to improve productivity and quality, reduce costs, and control risks. Smart agriculture software enables farmers to manage crops, apply precision farming techniques, and save input resources.

In livestock production, blockchain technology is being applied for traceability and disease control, while sensor systems and smart barns enable real-time monitoring of animal health. In fisheries, the digitalization of aquaculture data, water quality monitoring, and automation of feeding and harvesting have enhanced production efficiency.

AI and GIS technologies are also applied in mapping farming zones, fisheries management, and product traceability. In forestry, digital solutions support forest monitoring, fire prevention and fighting, planted forest management, and certified timber harvesting. In processing and consumption, many enterprises apply ERP software, advanced post-harvest processing technologies, QR codes, and blockchain to ensure traceability and expand distribution channels through e-commerce.

At the community level, various smart village and commune models have emerged, initially shaping new digital rural areas and contributing to improved management efficiency, production, and rural livelihoods. Localities have deployed smart broadcasting systems, online meetings, and digital platforms for managing the New Rural Development Program, supporting the development of digital maps, planning management, population databases, and agricultural household data.

Several smart new rural models have integrated digital data into local governance, developed online public services, and strengthened market connectivity. The application of digital technologies is rapidly expanding from leading enterprises to cooperatives, cooperative groups, and farmer households. Farmers are gradually becoming digital users in production, thanks to training and support programs as well as the widespread adoption of smartphones and social media.

In the context of global efforts toward sustainable development and green transition, in Viet Nam, with its agricultural and environmental advantages and the challenges posed by climate change, the interrelationship between sustainable agricultural development, environmental protection, and climate change adaptation is an inevitable trend.

The objective of Viet Nam’s agricultural development is to build a modern, commodity-based agriculture with sustainable productivity, quality, and efficiency, firmly ensuring national food security while promoting ecological and organic agriculture based on circular economy principles, low-carbon emissions, environmental friendliness, and climate change adaptation.

Environmental protection and proactive climate change adaptation are the foundation for sustainable agricultural development. Strengthening environmental protection must follow the principle of harmonizing human activities with nature, in accordance with natural laws, with prevention as the priority, combined with pollution control and remediation, environmental improvement, nature conservation and biodiversity protection, placing human health above all. Investment in environmental protection should be regarded as investment in sustainable agricultural development. Climate change adaptation is not only about proactive response, but also about creating opportunities for adjustment and promoting a growth model transformation that aligns with nature.

To realize these perspectives, Viet Nam’s agriculture needs to accelerate the transformation of its growth model associated with agricultural sector restructuring toward enhancing adaptability, resilience, and recovery in the face of natural disasters, droughts, floods, saltwater intrusion, sea-level rise, and disease outbreaks. Promote the transformation of crop and livestock varieties and adjust crop calendars through the application of adaptive farming measures. Develop aquaculture in areas affected by sea-level rise and saltwater intrusion; shift to the growing of upland crops in areas with declining rainfall; and widely apply environmentally friendly technical measures, including minimum tillage, smart fertilization and pesticide application, water-saving irrigation, water-saving livestock production, and the use of tolerant crop and livestock varieties.

Strengthen the use of microbial or organic materials, smart techniques, and circular economy approaches to reduce input costs and fully tap the potential for renewable energy production to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and lower carbon emissions.

Intensify training, enhance adaptive capacity, and secure livelihoods for people in areas at high risk of severe climate change impacts and frequent natural disasters. Implement programs to upgrade and ensure the safety of reservoirs, especially in disaster-prone areas; reinforce vulnerable sections of sea and river dikes; and complete sluice systems for salinity control and freshwater retention.

Gradually reduce the pressure of socio-economic development on the environment through measures such as ending the overuse of chemicals and synthetic, non-degradable materials; facilitating the regeneration of fundamental resources such as soil and water; developing renewable energy, rainwater storage, and waste treatment at household and production facility levels; and promoting deep processing and the utilization of agricultural by-products to proactively treat pollution at source.

Regularly conduct surveys and assessments of marine biological resource stocks to regulate fishing capacity; identify solutions for managing saltwater intrusion at river mouths and estuaries based on the "no-regrets" principle to maintain river–sea ecological balance, ensure the regeneration of biodiversity, and sustain nature’s self-purification capacity. Strengthen measures to prevent and mitigate the impacts of tidal surges, flooding, and saltwater intrusion caused by sea-level rise.

Review, supplement, and adjust development strategies and plans for sectors and fields, as well as regional and local socio-economic development plans, in line with sea-level rise scenarios. Proactively relocate and resettle communities in areas frequently affected by floods and storms and in zones at risk of flash floods and landslides. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect and develop natural ecosystems, enhance the capacity for greenhouse gas absorption, and promote mitigation activities suitable for each sector and region.

Develop rural landscapes associated with ecological and smart villages, leveraging local advantages while ensuring a green, clean, and beautiful environment that is friendly and harmonious with nature. Spatial planning should be conducted rationally so that environmentally intensive production activities, such as livestock farming, aquaculture and seafood exploitation, agricultural processing, slaughtering, and waste treatment, are located far from urban areas, densely populated residential zones, and tourism and resort areas.

Protect and develop forests, preserve nature and biodiversity protection; safeguard, restore, and regenerate natural forests; promote afforestation, particularly mangrove forests, coastal protection forests, and upstream watershed forests; and effectively prevent deforestation and forest fires. Strengthen the protection and expansion of nature reserves to safeguard landscapes, ecosystems, and natural heritage. Strictly protect wildlife species, valuable crops, medicinal plants, and livestock, and rare and endangered species at risk of extinction.

Promote solutions for environmental protection and climate change adaptation, and build a foundation for sustainable agricultural development, which is first reflected in planning, management, and the rational, efficient, and sustainable exploitation and use of national resources.

Boost the economical, rational, and efficient use of resources, combined with the protection of agricultural land area and fertility, gradually addressing land fragmentation and small-scale agricultural land use, and preventing land desertification.

Develop plans for water resource exploitation and protection, and strengthen river basin-based water management, water storage and regulation to serve socio-economic development. Enhance control over pollution sources affecting water resources, along with strict oversight of water exploitation and use to ensure efficiency and sustainability. Promote the development and use of new and renewable energy sources, as well as new materials and fuels to replace traditional resources.

Regarding environmental protection, it is necessary to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of strategic environmental assessment and environmental impact assessment to ensure that development strategies, plans, programs, and projects meet environmental protection requirements. At the same time, control pollution from agricultural production that affects public health and livelihoods. Focus on solid waste treatment and hazardous waste management, and promote reuse, recycling, and circular economy–based production.

The process of promoting sustainable agricultural development in association with environmental protection and climate change adaptation will face various difficulties and challenges, from mindset and awareness to resources, technology, and markets. Among these, renewing thinking and awareness is of decisive importance, while the application of technology represents a breakthrough for development.

Promoting the application of technology and strengthening market development through supply chains, such as integrating artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and Big Data into agricultural value chains, will help optimize production, enable traceability, ensure quality transparency, and enhance market forecasting capacity. The application of science and technology can create breakthroughs for agricultural production. Building brands and supply chains for Vietnamese agricultural products in global markets will help elevate the position of Viet Nam's agricultural commodities worldwide.

To implement these viewpoints and tasks in addressing the relationship between sustainable agricultural development, environmental protection, and climate change adaptation, synchronous and context-appropriate solutions are required at the local level. This should be based on the implementation of integrated and unified management methods across sectors and localities, meeting immediate needs while ensuring long-term interests, with long-term benefits serving as the fundamental and strategic foundation for promoting the country's sustainable development.