VIETRISA redefines its role in Vietnam’s green rice ecosystem

On June 4, at the Institute for Public Policy and Rural Development, the Viet Nam Rice Sector Association (VIETRISA) hosted a meeting with Le Minh Hoan, former Vice Chairman of the National Assembly and former Minister of Agriculture and Environment.

Mr. Le Thanh Tung, Standing Vice Chairman and General Secretary of VIETRISA, said that in the first six months of 2026, the association continued to strengthen its organizational structure, expand membership and promote activities supporting the implementation of the project on developing one million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta.

To date, VIETRISA has 148 members, including 11 organizations, 67 enterprises, 32 cooperatives and 38 individual members. One of its notable achievements has been the completion and launch of the “Low-Emission Green Vietnamese Rice” trademark. In 2025, the production area meeting the standards for using this trademark reached 18,048 hectares, with an output of more than 71,420 tonnes of rice, contributing to emission reductions of 3-6 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per hectare.

Over the past period, VIETRISA has coordinated with agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and international organizations to implement pilot models, workshops and industry forums. It has also issued certificates for rice production and marketing linkages to localities and participating enterprises. Communication activities have continued to be strengthened.

From now until the end of 2026, VIETRISA will focus on expanding its membership base, strengthening cooperation among members, completing the registration of the “Low-Emission Green Vietnamese Rice” certification trademark and extending authorization for its use to qualified enterprises and cooperatives.

In addition, the association will promote linkage models among enterprises, cooperatives, farmers and traders; support the development of services serving rice production and marketing; encourage the application of science and technology; establish a Vietnamese rice research network; and expand its activities beyond the Mekong Delta.

In international cooperation, VIETRISA will continue working with organizations such as IRRI, SNV, FAO and World Bank, as well as other partners interested in the sustainable development of the rice sector. It will also continue improving the quality of its communication activities.

According to Bui Ba Bong, the “Low-Emission Green Vietnamese Rice” trademark is currently being applied for internally, and once it receives full recognition, it will provide a basis for VIETRISA to grant usage rights to eligible entities and to gradually generate revenue for the association. To implement the trademark on a wider scale, an independent assessment organization will be needed to verify compliance with production standards.

However, VIETRISA still has much work to do, particularly in strengthening support for farmers and cooperatives and promoting linkages across the rice value chain, especially within the one-million-hectare high-quality, low-emission rice project. While production processes have been effectively adopted in many localities, market linkages remain weak, and the number of enterprises committed to purchasing rice from farmers and cooperatives remains limited.

Dr. Le Minh Hai, Vice Rector of the Institute for Public Policy and Rural Development and Vice Chairman of VIETRISA, candidly acknowledged that the association still needs to further strengthen its role in representing, protecting and providing information to its members amid fluctuations in international markets. At the same time, it should create more opportunities to participate in working missions and negotiations related to the rice sector.

Speaking at the meeting, former Vice Chairman of the National Assembly and former Minister of Agriculture and Environment Le Minh Hoan said that VIETRISA needs to proactively redefine its role within the rice industry. In particular, it should become an organization that contributes to policy development, mobilizes resources and helps address major issues facing the national rice sector.

Mr. Hoan suggested that VIETRISA “needs to retell its own story, including its mission, vision, core values, key programs and role in major issues such as rice land conversion, improving farmers’ incomes and building a value-based rice ecosystem. This story should be presented through an official set of documents, published on its website, translated into multiple languages and shared with ministries, agencies, local authorities, international organizations, financial institutions and industry partners.”

According to Mr. Hoan, VIETRISA should expand international cooperation, particularly with IRRI, in order to access information, data, varietal research, professional advisory services and global networking opportunities. Greater participation in international cooperation ecosystems would also help promote the image of Viet Nam’s rice industry on a broader scale.

Mr. Le Minh Hoan placed particular emphasis on investing seriously in communications, especially the association’s website, newsletters and professional publications. He said the website should become a gateway through which both domestic and international audiences can better understand VIETRISA, featuring regularly updated content on farmers, cooperatives, enterprises, markets, rice varieties, green transformation, the circular economy, traceability and rice culture.

“We need a comprehensive understanding of the industry ecosystem, including the role of traders and rice brokers. These are important actors already participating in the operation of the market and should be recognized, trained and gradually integrated into the value ecosystem rather than overlooked,” Mr. Hoan stressed.

He also suggested that VIETRISA develop long-term flagship programs such as a Rice Farmers Academy, sector development initiatives, international communication programs, market intelligence systems and efforts to enhance the cultural value of Vietnamese rice.

In his view, by pursuing these directions, VIETRISA would no longer be merely an association focused on rice trading, but would become an organization that accompanies and addresses the major strategic issues facing Viet Nam’s rice sector.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Ba Bong said that from its earliest days, the idea of establishing VIETRISA was initiated and shaped by Le Minh Hoan when he was serving as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The vision was to build a new type of industry association that approaches the rice sector through a value-chain and ecosystem perspective, rather than focusing solely on trading activities or market transactions.