Welcome statement of Editor-in-Chief of VAN on quality assurance, food safety, and origin traceability of food

Editor-in-Chief of Vietnam Agriculture News Nguyen Ngoc Thach stated at the "Agricultural Products Connection 970 forum" on Feb 28 that Vietnam agricultural goods have been marketed to about 200 countries and territories. It illustrates the rising prestige and position of Vietnamese products, raising the turnover of Vietnamese agricultural products to USD 53.22 billion in 2022. But, when the worldwide market becomes more demanding, achievements are invariably accompanied by obstacles. Vietnamese products must fulfill importers' requirements and laws, particularly in terms of origin traceability.

Traceability refers to the ability to follow every element of a product's production and distribution, from cradle to grave, farm to fork, and mine to market. The procedure is governed by Vietnamese law. MARD published Circular No. 74/2011/TT-BNNPTNT on October 31, 2011, prescribing the traceability, recall, and management of dangerous agro-forestry goods; the duties of companies and persons engaged in the production and selling of agro-forestry products; and connected authorities.

MARD is working to promote digitization in order to develop a transparent, multi-value integrated agricultural and eliminate "cloudy" agriculture.

This helps to identify Vietnamese agriculture, develop confidence, and confirm the quality of Vietnamese agro products in local and international markets, as well as provide economic advantages to farmers, communes, and businesses.

These activities seek to demonstrate Vietnam's commitment to developing a "transparent-responsible-sustainable" agriculture.

Quality assurance, food safety, and transparent origin traceability of food for customers, according to Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thach, are required to shift production mindset. "It is not only individual duty, but also the obligation of the entire community, and digitalization, science, and technology play a vital part," Mr. Thach explained.

The "Promoting digitalization in agro-product and food traceability forum" is co-hosted by the Agricultural Products Connection 970 forum's Steering Board, the Center for Digital Transformation and Agricultural Statistics (MARD), and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).

"We believe that with the participation of managers, business community, cooperatives, and experts, the Forum will create favorable opportunities for all elements in the agro-food value chains and State management agencies to exchange and seize opportunities and challenges in applying traceability and product quality management to meet market requirements," said VAN's Editor-in-chief.

As a result, state bodies can provide rules, recommendations, and support solutions, as well as punishments, to guarantee traceability compliance and proper product quality.

The VAN leader expressed his hope that the forum of businesses, cooperatives, and production households would be kept up to date on the latest regulations, institutions, and support policies on traceability, planting area codes, and packing codes in the field of agricultural product production and processing.

"We expect that by sharing and discussing enterprises at the summit, we will uncover some successful approaches to boost digitalization in traceability of agricultural goods - food," Mr. Thach said.