CGIAR Science Day in Vietnam showcases research and innovations for food security

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and CGIAR co-organized the CGIAR Science Day in Vietnam on 21 November 2023 in Hanoi. With the theme ‘Advancing science for food security through collaborative initiatives,’ the meeting served as a platform for national and CGIAR researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders to explore cutting-edge research findings and innovations.

Reflecting on the significance of the event, Robert Caudwell, CGIAR country convener in Vietnam, emphasized that it ‘served as an opportunity for national and CGIAR researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to convene, exchange knowledge, and explore the cutting-edge research findings and innovations from the nine CGIAR Initiatives in Vietnam.’

Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, director general of MARD's International Cooperation Department, expressed his appreciation for the nine initiatives of CGIAR in Vietnam. He noted that these initiatives align closely with Vietnam's priorities and emphasized the expectation for CGIAR centers to work closely for better coordination and synergy. 

At the CGIAR Science Day, different CGIAR centres showcased scientific research and innovations under various initiatives, with a focus on impacting decision-making in the country. Presentations focused on four key impact areas of climate adaptation and mitigation, environmental health and biodiversity, nutrition, health, and food security, and poverty reduction, livelihoods, and jobs.

One of the key highlights was presentations from CGIAR initiatives addressing critical challenges in Vietnam's diverse landscapes, particularly in the Northwest Highlands and the Mekong Delta. Initiatives such as Sustainable Animal Productivity (SAPLING), Sustainable Healthy Diets (SHiFT), Nature-Positive Solutions (Nature+), and Asian Mega-Deltas (AMD) shared research findings on environmental trade-offs of livestock intensification, the food environment policy landscape, agrobiodiversity assessment, and climate adaptation in rice-shrimp systems.

The event also featured demonstrations of technologies and innovative platforms aimed at improving farming practices in Vietnam. These included a monitoring system for rice emissions in the Mekong River Delta, a collaborative effort under the CGIAR Initiative on Low Emission Food Systems (Mitigate+). Precision direct seeding, part of the CGIAR Initiative in Excellence in Agronomy (EiA), was another technological advancement on display, promising more accurate planting and higher yields in the Mekong Delta. The introduction of PathoTracer, under the CGIAR Initiative on Plant Health, was highlighted as a crucial action in reducing rice diseases and enhancing food security in the region.

The CGIAR One Health Initiative, focused on safeguarding human health through a comprehensive approach to food safety, zoonotic diseases, and antimicrobial resistance, also shared their efforts across various locations in Vietnam including Hanoi, Thai Nguyen, Lao Cai, Hue, Dong Nai and Can Tho. 

Participants engaged in the World Café session, discussing the next steps for achieving outcomes and results. Discussion groups identified the next users of CGIAR Initiatives' innovations, along with additional activities and partners to maximize outcomes and impacts. The CGIAR Science Day in Vietnam represented the commitment of MARD and CGIAR to collaborate and advance the science for food security.