Vinasoy expands soybean growing areas nationwide to proactively source raw materials and improve soil, aiming for sustainable development.
Soybean is a familiar crop, playing an important role in agriculture and the environment. The roots of this plant have many nodules containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria living symbiotically inside. They help convert nitrogen gas (N2) in the air into ammonia (NH3) and derivatives (protein) that can be absorbed by soybeans as well as leaving nitrogen in the soil. Therefore, soybeans have the ability to improve the soil well and are often likened to a natural nitrogen factory for the soil.
While the plant has the effect of improving the soil, the seeds are a long-standing source of nutrition for Vietnamese people, but recently, farmers are not interested in growing soybeans because the economic efficiency is not as high as other varieties. According to data from the Southern Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, the soybean area in Vietnam is unstable, domestic soybean production is only enough to supply about 8-10% of the demand. In 2017, the soybean growing area nationwide reached about 100,000 hectares, the yield was about 1.57 tons/ha, the output reached 157,000 tons.
The shortage of high-quality domestic soybean supply has always been a concern for the leaders of Vinasoy Company - a member of Quang Ngai Sugar Joint Stock Company. They understand that the company itself and the Vietnamese market need to proactively source raw materials to steadfastly and accelerate development, while demonstrating responsibility to the community and society.
Mr. Huynh Son Hai, CEO of Vinasoy, commented that doing large-scale agriculture in our country is not easy. Many challenges come from climate, geography, quality, productivity, farming practices of farmers as well as connections and cooperation with related parties.
To proactively source raw materials for production and sustainable development for the business, in 2013, Vinasoy established the first Vinasoy Soybean Application Research Center (VSAC) in Vietnam with the goal of conducting in-depth research on soybeans to serve sustainable business development. "Establishing the VSAC center is a strategic decision that Vinasoy has made to remove each bottleneck one by one," emphasized Mr. Huynh Son Hai.
The Central Highlands Soybean Testing Station, part of VSAC, is located in Cu Jut District, Dak Nong Province, where 1,533 lines and varieties in the gene bank are being grown and evaluated to create new and better varieties. Photo: VNS
VSAC focuses on three main groups of solutions. The first is to create a breakthrough in the selection and creation of new varieties combined with the collection of soybean gene banks to preserve valuable natural genes and use as breeding materials. VSAC team also cooperates with the world's leading agricultural machinery companies such as Kubota to bring mechanization to soybean cultivation. VSAC is also committed to purchasing all quality soybean products and accompanying farmers throughout the production process.
VSAC also established the role of soybeans in the sustainable crop rotation system: soybeans - peanuts - sweet potatoes in the Central Highlands and 2 rice crops - 1 soybean crop in the Red River Delta and the Mekong Delta, thereby supporting farmers to increase their income and make agriculture more sustainable. In the context of climate change and lack of irrigation water, the 2 rice crop - 1 soybean crop rotation model is a solution to develop sustainable rice and large soybean growing areas. This solution is also consistent with the policy of sustainable development and greenhouse gas emission reduction that the Government is implementing.
With the motto of "taking what comes from the land, return it to the land", VSAC Center has applied science and technology in the development of raw material and product areas to redevelop soybean raw material areas in Vietnam, thereby contributing to building sustainable agriculture. "At the same time, we also aim to preserve and enhance the nutritional value of soybean and other plant products, contributing to bringing a healthy and balanced life to every family", Mr. Huynh Son Hai shared more about Vinasoy's passion when establishing VSAC Center.
With support from authorities at all levels and relevant departments, the cooperation of farmers as well as support from consumers, the enterprise has now built 4 raw material areas in the Red River Delta, Central region, Central Highlands and Mekong Delta. In these raw material areas, Vietnamese farmers have increased the average yield of soybeans to 2.5 tons/ha, double the previous yield, while minimizing production costs. Vinasoy-02 NS soybean variety, a product of VSAC's hybrid research and licensed for circulation by the Department of Crop Production, can yield up to more than 3 tons/ha under certain conditions.
Vinasoy 02-NS soybeans. Photo: VNS
According to Vinasoy representative, the great and diverse benefits of soybeans for both long-term health and the environment are one of the reasons why the company is determined to pursue the goal of reviving "natural nitrogen fields" in Vietnam.
Many studies have shown that soybeans have a rich protein content with high quality, rich in polyunsaturated fats and essential fatty acids. Soybeans also provide many other valuable nutrients such as isoflavones, potassium... This is considered a food source to balance vegetable protein and animal protein in daily meals, thereby helping to reduce the risk of chronic diseases, reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, prevent the risk of cancer, control weight, improve skin condition...
According to Dr. Mark Messina - Director of Soy Nutrition Research, Global Soy Nutrition Institute (USA), soybeans provide more protein per unit of greenhouse gas emissions than other popular foods.
The journey of expanding the soybean material area and accompanying the nutritional life of consumers across the country has led Vinasoy to the leading position in the industry with an output of 390 million liters of milk per year, constantly meeting the needs of Vietnamese consumers and reaching far into the global market. According to data from market research company Nielsen, Vinasoy is the manufacturer that has held the leading position in the ready-to-drink soy milk industry in Vietnam for 3 consecutive years (2020 - 2022). According to GlobalData UK, the company is the first and only Vietnamese name in the top 5 largest soy milk companies in the world for 5 consecutive years from 2018 to 2022.
Mr. Duc
Source link
Comment (0)