Having studied abroad in Israel and Australia, and received a PhD in biotechnology in Japan, since 2019, Nguyen Duc Chinh has completely quit his desk job at a science institute to become a farmer.
Increase investment in technology for processing chain
Currently, Mr. Chinh's GenXanh farm covers an area of 3.5 hectares in Hiep Thuan commune, Phuc Tho district, Hanoi. Mr. Chinh's farm grows organic vegetables and applies the "5 no" rule when cultivating. That is, no chemical fertilizers, no chemical pesticides, no herbicides, no growth stimulants and no genetically modified varieties.
Dr. Nguyen Duc Chinh - Founder of GenXanh farm in Phuc Tho district, Hanoi said: "The State needs to promote the application of technology for deep processing investment to increase the value of Vietnamese agricultural products. Going into actual production, I see that investing in technology for agricultural processing is very important." Photo: Viet Niem
From the perspective of a vegetable farmer, Mr. Chinh said: "For Vietnamese agriculture to make a breakthrough, the application of science and technology is very important. Along with the application of science and technology to research and create new varieties to increase productivity and quality of crops and livestock, the State needs to promote the application of technology for deep processing investment, increasing the value of Vietnamese agricultural products. Going into actual production, I see that investing in technology for agricultural processing is very important.
For example, with our vegetable growing model, if we can't sell it, we'll "have vegetables in the morning and trash in the afternoon". Consumption is not always favorable. To solve the problem of "good harvest, low price", GenXanh initially entered deep processing by investing in cold drying racks. We have only processed raw batches of chrysanthemums, roses, vegetables, and dried herbal leaves, but they have brought quite high economic value. If we can participate in deep processing such as researching extraction or producing nutritional products from vegetables, tubers, and fruits, the value of agricultural products will increase a lot" - Mr. Chinh shared.
According to Mr. Chinh, currently, Vietnamese farmers have not been deeply involved in the processing chain, but only participate in providing input materials for manufacturers. Therefore, farmers have not benefited much from the processing chain. Mr. Chinh proposed that the State have mechanisms and policies to support groups of farms to join together to invest in common processing facilities.
Scientists must change their thinking, topics have high practical applications
Returning to the story of a scientist in the agricultural field, Mr. Chinh shared: "If scientists only do research, it is not enough to make a living. Serious researchers do not have the resources to do it, they want to do it but cannot. Research money is small but research results must be many".
Mr. Chinh expressed his joy when Resolution No. 57 of the Politburo determined that the budget for research and development (R&D) reached 2% of GDP; allocating at least 3% of the total annual budget expenditure for science, technology development, innovation, national digital transformation and gradually increasing according to development requirements.
"This is a great concern of the State to make a breakthrough in developing science, technology, and innovation. If the country wants to develop and steadily enter the new era, science and technology must be a breakthrough. For the agricultural sector, scientific research must be practical, effective, and highly applicable. The State also needs to strictly manage funding for research, avoiding scientific research that is "more embellished than practical" - Mr. Chinh commented.
With the "3 in 1" role of being a farmer, an entrepreneur, and a scientist, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong - Director of Thien Phuc Herbal Medicine Joint Stock Company, an excellent Vietnamese Farmer, believes that scientists need to listen to farmers, go to the field, and work with farmers to solve problems, "avoid drawing elephants on paper". Photo: Thu Ha
Sharing the same opinion with Mr. Chinh, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong - Director of Thien Phuc Herbal Medicine Joint Stock Company, an excellent Vietnamese Farmer from Hanoi, said that there should be mechanisms and policies to encourage and create conditions for research topics with high practical applications.
With the "3 in 1" role of being a farmer, an entrepreneur, and a scientist (Hong herself has completed 2 national-level scientific research projects), Hong confided: "Because I am a farmer, I understand the hardships of farmers. As a researcher, I understand that if research projects stay in the lab forever, it is a waste.
Scientists must listen to farmers, go to the field, and work with farmers to solve problems, "avoid drawing elephants on paper". Farmers need basic research topics with high practical applications.
As a business, I know very well that without quality products, it is difficult to survive in the market. Scientists must also change their thinking, research topics must be produced on an industrial scale to reduce product costs. Therefore, there must be a close connection between the "3 houses": Scientists - businesses - farmers. Finally, the State is the one who creates the mechanism, the "playground" for the "3 houses" consortium to succeed.
"Resolution 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo on innovation, science and technology development and digital transformation has just been issued, opening up many opportunities for young scientists and entrepreneurs. If you know how to take advantage of it, you will turn many "impossible" things into "possible" - Ms. Hong added.
Strong support policies for the private sector in scientific research are needed.
Honored by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union as the Farmer's Scientist of 2024, Ms. Pham Thi Ly, Director of the Center for Integration and Development Enterprises (IDE), the unit that owns and operates the CheckVN traceability system, emphasized that Resolution 57 is a "lever" for innovative businesses like IDE.
CheckVN (checkvn.mard.gov.vn) is the first traceability technology platform recognized as one of the national core technology platforms in the National Digital Transformation program.
Ms. Pham Thi Ly, Director of the Center for Enterprise Integration and Development, and her colleagues deploy a multi-system medicinal plant biosystem model under the forest canopy. In the photo: Ms. Pham Thi Ly is inspecting an ancient yellow camellia tree. Photo: Hong Lien
"Over the past 10 years, we have gone through an arduous journey to research, invent, deploy and prove the value of this technology. Inventing a new platform not only requires creativity, but also proves its superiority when applied in practice" - Ms. Ly shared.
Accordingly, CheckVN has helped change the mindset about supply chain management, increase the value of agricultural products and create trust for consumers. Thanks to this traceability platform, businesses can make the entire production process transparent, from inventory, market research to receiving feedback from consumers. Each product when reaching the buyer can be clearly checked for origin through QR code, helping businesses enhance reputation, protect brands and interact directly with customers.
According to Ms. Ly, the special breakthrough of Resolution 57 is to encourage the use of digital technology platforms developed by Vietnamese people. This is an unprecedented policy, helping domestic technology enterprises have the opportunity to compete fairly and be prioritized in national digital transformation programs.
"Thanks to Resolution 57, for the first time we have received attention from state management agencies. Instead of having to come and introduce our capabilities, now state agencies proactively approach, learn about and assign tasks to us. This is a turning point in the thinking and actions of management agencies, helping innovative businesses have the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities and contribute to the overall development of the country," Ms. Ly emphasized.
Not limited to the field of information technology, Vietnamese enterprises are also making important strides in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. IDE is currently researching and developing anti-cancer drugs from indigenous plants in Vietnam. Ms. Ly hopes that the Government will continue to expand its support policies not only for digital technology but also for other technology fields led by Vietnamese enterprises.
As a non-public enterprise, IDE mainly conducts research using its own resources. However, Ms. Ly realizes that science and technology policy needs to have a balance between the public and private sectors. While the public sector is fully funded by the State budget, many research projects have not been applied in practice, while private enterprises, although conducting their own research, can put technology into practice, creating real value.
"I hope the Government will have stronger support policies for the private sector in scientific and technological research. There needs to be a mechanism to fund and support research for private enterprises, helping them develop highly applicable technologies, contributing to promoting the country's economy and science and technology," Ms. Ly expressed.
As a researcher and farmer, Ms. Ly has achieved important achievements in preserving and developing Nhat Duong Sinh ginseng - a precious medicinal herb of Vietnam. She has invested in researching and sequencing the genes of Nhat Duong Sinh ginseng, helping to preserve precious genetic resources and develop high-quality medicinal products.
According to her, the lesson from the Korean ginseng industry shows that protecting intellectual property and national brands is extremely important. Vietnam needs to have a strategy to protect and develop its specialty agricultural products, avoiding the loss and loss of control of precious resources.
"Resolution 57 not only opens the way for digital technology development in agriculture but also helps create a sustainable innovation ecosystem. To optimize the benefits from this resolution, we need close coordination between businesses, management agencies, research institutes and the farming community. Only then can Vietnamese technology truly unleash its full potential and become a solid foundation for the development of Vietnam's digital agricultural economy," Ms. Ly affirmed.
Source: https://danviet.vn/57-trong-nong-nghiep-tam-su-cua-cac-nha-khoa-hoc-khi-lam-nong-dan-tranh-ve-voi-tren-giay-bai-8-20250313131343267.htm
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