Businesses are willing to pay scientists to research "rice with less sugar, corn with a good smell, tomatoes with firm fruit"

Businesses are willing to spend money to have quality products from science and technology.

Presenting her views on the connection between businesses and scientists in the agricultural sector at the "Forum connecting agricultural science and technology products with businesses, cooperatives, and people", on the afternoon of July 10, Ms. Tran Kim Lien said that right before this forum took place, businesses had selected 3 scientific products from institutes and schools to put into production and business.

Affirming that public-private partnership is necessary to maximize resources, connect with the market, and bring great benefits to businesses and society, Ms. Lien said that since 2006, Vinaseed has cooperated with public research institutes to transfer scientific and technological products into production. Plant variety groups that have purchased copyrights to put into production contribute 50% of the company's revenue.

According to Ms. Lien, scientific and technological research units consider enterprises as the market of science and technology. Because enterprises have the goal of seeking profits from the market, they will understand the needs and forecast the market.

"With current corn varieties, coloring corn kernels has been done, and in the future, corn will have a natural aroma like pineapple, for example, and rice must be low-sugar rice," said Ms. Lien, emphasizing that private enterprises always expect to have specific project information to seek investment opportunities.

Doanh nghiệp sẵn sàng trả tiền cho nhà khoa học để nghiên cứu ra — Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietnam Seed Group (Vinaseed) Tran Kim Lien said he is willing to pay scientists if they can research "corn with added natural aroma, rice with less sugar, and tomatoes grown in the field while still ensuring firm fruit." Photo: Tung Dinh

Vinaseed also wishes to participate more deeply in the entire value chain of crop production, from purchasing copyrights, transferring and testing varieties, to putting them into production and investing in harvesting and post-harvest technology, with the goal of going the long way, accompanying the sustainable development of agriculture.

"Our company has ordered researchers and scientists to research and create tomato varieties that can be grown in the field, are less susceptible to pests and diseases, and still ensure firm fruit for long-term transportation; and to research cucumber varieties for processing so that we no longer need to import varieties from the Netherlands. We are willing to partially or fully fund these projects," said Ms. Lien.

To connect businesses with the scientific community, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Thaibinh Seed Group Tran Manh Bao said that multi-dimensional cooperation is necessary for sustainable and effective development. “For example, developing rice blast-resistant varieties internationally can cost up to 3 million USD, but when ThaibinhSeed cooperated with the Institute of Food Crops and Food Plants, we successfully produced quality varieties,” said Mr. Bao.

This shows that multi-dimensional cooperation is necessary for sustainable and effective development. And to promote cooperation between businesses and stakeholders in the rice value chain, Mr. Bao made 3 proposals.

First, there needs to be a clear mechanism for transferring scientific products from the State to businesses. There needs to be a specific and transparent mechanism to promote this transfer process, thereby creating conditions for businesses to access and apply research results quickly and effectively.

In addition, the current financial mechanism still has many shortcomings, making it difficult for businesses to invest in research and application of new technologies. Mr. Bao suggested that there should be reforms and adjustments to the financial mechanism to support businesses to access capital more easily.

Finally, one of the key factors for the development of science and technology is the transfer of products from research to production practice. Facilitating training programs and technology transfer will help improve the professional qualifications of workers and increase the ability to apply research results to production practice.

Can't "stand alone"

Prof. Dr. Vo Dai Hai, Director of the Vietnam Forestry Science Institute, said that to connect good science and technology products, there must be many good and new products. After confirming the cooperation of enterprises, carrying out scientific tasks, conducting trial production and implementing in agricultural extension projects is an important chain to transfer results.

Mr. Hai said that in order to connect and transfer science and technology, communication work needs to be done well. He also proposed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development support the digitization of science and technology products so that businesses and people can access them more easily.

Besides, it is necessary to change the approach, businesses seek out scientists and vice versa, scientists also need to seek out businesses to promote science and technology.

Finally, in cooperation and technology transfer, "Trust" must be put first.

According to Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan, scientific research institutes need to have close links with businesses and farmers. Scientists need to abandon the mindset of not knowing what the market is like, just doing research and then the State buying it.

“Whatever we research, we must follow the market. Any changes in the market, businesses are the first to know. Just like the salty and sweet taste in water, shrimp and fish are the first to feel it. The State will always be behind businesses in this matter. Why? Because the market is the breath and health of businesses,” he said.

If a research institute stands alone, it does not understand the market, and this is when research institutes need businesses. The cooperation between research institutes and businesses, therefore, has a much deeper meaning than just the word "capital".

“Don’t think that we are scientists, then this small business, that super small business, we don’t meet. That’s not it, we sit here doing national affairs, helping farmers and the agricultural sector to develop. Businesses are the factor that helps the institute, helps scientists understand what the market needs, what research to do,” Minister Le Minh Hoan shared.

Source: https://danviet.vn/doanh-nghiep-san-sang-tra-tien-cho-nha-khoa-hoc-de-nghien-cuu-ra-gao-it-duong-ngo-co-mui-ca-chua-qua-phai-cung-2024071110433337.htm