The information was given at the International Scientific Conference on "Innovation in plant breeding technology in enterprises and research organizations" co-organized by the Vietnam Academy of Agriculture, PAN Group and the participation of leading units in the field of research and selection of plant varieties domestically and internationally, taking place on May 9 in Hanoi.
Technology plays an important role in improving productivity
According to Vietnam Seed Association (VSA), in recent years, Vietnamese crop industry has achieved remarkable achievements, especially in 2024 with agricultural export turnover reaching 62.5 billion USD, of which rice reached a record 9 million tonnes. Regarding crop varieties, by 2024, 1,008 varieties will be recognized, including 455 rice varieties and 206 corn varieties, along with a series of fruit tree varieties, industrial crops and vegetable and flower varieties.
Therefore, innovation in plant breeding technology plays an important role in improving agricultural productivity, ensuring food security and developing high-quality crop varieties that are resistant to climate change conditions.
However, challenges in breeding include the imbalance in research between food crops and fruit trees, limitations in improving forestry varieties; The seed production system is still fragmented and has not reached industrial scale; the rate of using standard seeds in production is still low, especially in the Mekong Delta.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Tra My - General Director of PAN Group - said that selecting and creating plant varieties is foundation of agriculture. In context of rapidly changing climate, higher market demands, increasingly demanding consumers, seeds and seed technology are the starting point of every value chain. PAN Group always identifies this as a strategic focus. And to do this well, close cooperation between businesses and scientists is indispensable.
According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Tra My, we do not lack aspirations. But if we only have aspirations but lack technology, lack innovation, lack genetic resources, lack connection between research and application, all efforts will not go far. Therefore, businesses are very interested in new approaches such as rapid breeding, gene editing, artificial intelligence (AI) applications and biotechnology not only at the strategic level, but also through specific investments and practical actions.
“Connecting and sharing knowledge between researchers and businesses in areas such as management, exploitation of genetic resources, development of new breeding technologies in research and breeding of plant varieties. From there, solving challenges facing the field of breeding,” said Ms. Nguyen Thi Tra My.
According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Tra My, at the end of 2024, Politburo issued Resolution 57 on development of science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation and just last week issued Resolution 68 on private economic development. These are new winds and a big turning point for private enterprises.
"Tomorrow morning (May 10), PAN will attend conference to implement the Resolution and sign a cooperation agreement with Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. The fact that PAN Group cooperates with the leading training and research institution, Vietnam Academy of Agriculture, to co-organize today's workshop is a demonstration of commitment to bring Resolution 57 into life not only on paper but also through real connections," said Ms. Nguyen Thi Tra My.
Regarding this issue, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Trung - Deputy General Director of Vietnam Seed Group Joint Stock Company - said that enterprises are playing an increasingly important role in research, development and innovation of plant breeding technology in Vietnam. Statistical data in 2024 shows that more than 60% of recognized varieties were researched and proposed by domestic enterprises, affirming key position of the private sector in this field.
To support enterprises in innovating plant breeding technology, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Trung proposed groups of solutions including: financial incentives, legal reforms, research infrastructure development, human resource training support, promoting public-private partnerships (PPP) and promoting international cooperation to transfer advanced technology and genetic resources. These policies not only help shorten time for researching new varieties but also contribute to increasing productivity, quality and competitiveness of Vietnamese agriculture in context of globalization and increasingly evident climate change.
Record rice exports are thanks to breeding
Dr. Cao Duc Phat - Chairman of Board of Directors of International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) - Former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development - commented that our country's agriculture and plant breeding industry are facing two major challenges. Firstly, to increase income faster and improve farmers' lives to maintain attractiveness of agriculture, maintain farmers' interest and attachment to the fields and agriculture in context of industrialization and urbanization that are creating more and more new attractive opportunities. Secondly, to make agriculture more sustainable, adapt to climate change, greener and emit less greenhouse gases.
The main solution to overcome these two challenges at the same time lies in two areas: Continuing to innovate market-oriented policies; Promoting application of new technologies to more rapidly improve science and technology level of the industry. In particular, there must be innovations in field of plant varieties. The world as well as Vietnam have achieved very special achievements in innovating plant breeding technology. As evidence of this, Prof. Dr. Pham Van Cuong, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Academy of Agriculture - said that in Vietnam, we have 100 - 120-day rice varieties instead of 180 - 200-day rice varieties; from 180 cm high rice varieties down to 100 cm; rice varieties from 3 - 4 flowers to 9 - 10 flowers; from rice varieties with a yield of only 3 - 4 tons to 9 - 10 tons. Transition from high-yield rice varieties to high-yield, delicious, and pest-resistant rice varieties is an achievement in breeding.
In 2024, Vietnam's rice exports will reach a record 9.18 million tonnes with a turnover of 5.75 billion USD, up 12.9% in volume and 23% in value compared to 2023. This result is due to breeding work.
On part of Vietnam Academy of Agriculture, we hope to cooperate with businesses and international organizations to meet needs of breeding plant varieties in Vietnam and around the world. "The workshop brings together hundreds of scientists and experts from institutes, research centers at home and abroad, businesses, leading universities... hoping to solve challenges facing the field of breeding and promote cooperation between research agencies and businesses", said Prof. Dr. Pham Van Cuong.

Source: Vitic/ congthuong.vn