Vinaseed promotes Vietnam-Laos cooperation in agriculture

On September 10, the Vietnam National Seed Group (Vinaseed), a member of The PAN Group, in collaboration with the World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg) and partners, organized the International Workshop on Tropical Pumpkin Varieties, UPOV Roadmap, and Customer Partnership in Oudomxay Province, Lao PDR.

As Vietnam’s leading seed enterprise, holding 22.5% of the market share, Vinaseed has been expanding its business network and enhancing Vietnam-Laos cooperation in the agricultural sector.

One of the workshop’s key highlights was the announcement of trial results for 14 new F1 hybrid pumpkin varieties jointly developed by WorldVeg and Vinaseed in Vietnam and Laos in 2025. The trials were conducted at Vinaseed Research Institute in Hung Yen Province (Vietnam) and in Muang La District, Oudomxay Province (Laos), using a randomized complete block design with three replications.

The trial results showed that several outstanding varieties demonstrated exceptionally high yields and strong virus resistance. All tested varieties exhibited tolerance to yellow mosaic virus, a major challenge in pumpkin production across Southeast Asia.

In particular, the PKH426 pumpkin line was evaluated as highly promising, with an average weight of about 3.5-4 kg, yields of 25-27 tons/ha, deep yellow flesh, sweet flavor, and a nutty aroma. Additionally, PKH618 and PKH435 pumpkin lines also received high marks for yield performance and virus resistance.

UPOV: Vietnam’s experience and lessons for Laos

Within the framework of the workshop, experts also shared insights on developing a Plant Variety Protection (PVP) system and the roadmap for Laos to join the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV). Vietnam officially became a UPOV member in December 2006. Nearly 20 years later, the implementation of the UPOV-based PVP system has delivered remarkable results.

According to data from the Department of Crop Production & Plant Protection (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), by the end of 2024, Vietnam had received around 2,610 applications for new plant variety protection, of which about 1,249 varieties were granted protection certificates. Many of these varieties offer high quality, productivity, and outstanding traits, contributing significantly to the increased value of Vietnam’s crop production sector.

Vinaseed reported that farmers growing protected rice varieties earned, on average, 45% higher incomes compared to those using non-protected varieties demonstrating the substantial economic benefits of plant variety protection.

From an innovation perspective, many private enterprises in Vietnam have developed modern plant breeding research systems to enhance competitiveness within the region.

Mr. Nguyen Trung Dũng emphasized: "Vinaseed not only brings high-quality seed varieties but also aims to accompany Laos in building a modern seed system aligned with international standards. We believe that this close cooperation will further strengthen the Vietnam–Laos friendship and promote sustainable agricultural development in both countries."

Within the workshop's framework, Vinaseed and Phu Tho Udomxay Company – Laos’ leading seed distribution enterprise – signed a strategic cooperation agreement. Under the agreement, the two sides will jointly establish demonstration models, develop, and commercialize promising F1 hybrid pumpkin varieties in the Lao market, while also expanding into other key crops such as rice and sticky corn.

The international workshop in Oudomxay opened new opportunities for the seed industry in Laos and further consolidated the two nations' traditional friendship.

For more than 20 years, Phu Tho Udomxay Company and Vinaseed have cooperated in introducing the LVN10 maize variety to serve Lao farmers. "The partnership between Phu Tho Udomxay and Vinaseed goes beyond LVN10 maize; it will continue to expand to include many other high-quality Vinaseed products," affirmed Mr. Phi Van Sau, Director of Phu Tho Udomxay Company.