With ESG standards, carbon emissions, and traceability increasingly becoming 'passports' for global goods, many experts, businesses, and financial institutions believe that green transition is no longer a trendy option but has become a matter of survival for Vietnamese agriculture.
The workshop "Green Transformation in Agriculture: Opportunities for Businesses and Public-Private Partnerships (PPP)" was held at SECC, Ho Chi Minh City.
Pressure to green from the global market.
On the afternoon of May 20th, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), the Vietnam General Association of Agriculture and Rural Development organized a seminar titled “Green Transformation in Agriculture: Opportunities for Businesses and Public-Private Partnerships (PPP)” within the framework of the ILDEX Vietnam & Horti Agri Vietnam 2026 Exhibition.
The workshop brought together numerous experts, businesses, financial institutions, and representatives from industry associations. The trend of greening agriculture in the context of ESG standards, carbon emissions, and traceability were among the topics discussed, as these are now mandatory requirements of the international market.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Ho Xuan Hung, President of the Vietnam General Association of Agriculture and Rural Development, stated that the global agricultural sector is entering a period of profound transformation. In this context, competitiveness no longer relies solely on output or production costs.
"We cannot continue to develop primarily extensively, relying heavily on resource exploitation, cheap labor, and pure output growth," Mr. Ho Xuan Hung emphasized.
According to him, Vietnamese agriculture needs to shift to a newer model: one that is "greener; smarter; with lower emissions; and higher added value."
Mr. Ho Xuan Hung - President of the Vietnam General Association of Agriculture and Rural Development - delivered a speech at the workshop.
He also argued that green transformation is no longer just an environmental issue. It has become a matter of national competitiveness and the position of Vietnamese agricultural products in the global supply chain.
Green finance and value chain integration
At the seminar, Mr. Phan Dinh Tue, a member of the Board of Directors of Sacombank, offered his perspective from a banking standpoint. He argued that in the "greening" journey of Vietnamese agriculture, the role of commercial banks also needs to change. This means not just providing capital as has been the case for a long time. Banks must become partners with businesses and farmers in building a financial ecosystem for green agriculture.
He also pointed out several current bottlenecks, including the lack of a unified green criteria, the difficulty for small businesses to access capital, and the limited availability of value chain financing models.
Mr. Phan Dinh Tue, a member of the Board of Directors of Sacombank, believes that the role of commercial banks also needs to change.
Dr. Nguyen Tri Ngoc - Standing Vice President of the Vietnam General Association of Agriculture and Rural Development - believes that green transformation must be a comprehensive restructuring process of the agricultural sector. This is not just a matter for the State or businesses alone.
According to Mr. Ngoc, public-private partnerships (PPP) should be seen as a mechanism connecting many components, including the state, businesses, financial institutions, scientists, and farmers. All aim to form green agricultural value chains capable of long-term competitiveness.
Dr. Nguyen Tri Ngoc - Standing Vice President of the Vietnam General Association of Agriculture and Rural Development - believes that green transformation must be a comprehensive restructuring process of the agricultural sector.
From a business perspective, Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Bao, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Antesco, believes that current growth must be linked to sustainability, transparency, and long-term competitiveness.
According to Mr. Bao, import markets are changing very rapidly towards reducing emissions, increasing traceability, using resources efficiently, and meeting ESG standards. In this context, businesses that are slow to transition to green may lose their competitive advantage and struggle to maintain export markets.
Meanwhile, Mr. Dang Huy Dong, Chairman of the Vietnam Green Transformation Association, argues that green transformation is no longer a slogan or a voluntary choice. Instead, it has become a mandatory condition if Vietnamese goods want to access major export markets.
Mr. Dong attracted attention when he likened ESG reports and carbon audits to "visas" for exported goods.
"The state may issue export licenses for goods, but that's just a passport issued to a citizen. To set foot in the country, they need that visa," he said.
Mr. Dang Huy Dong - Chairman of the Vietnam Green Transformation Association - spoke at the event.
Technology paves the way for low-emission agriculture.
Many speakers at the conference argued that the future competitiveness of Vietnamese agricultural products will largely depend on the ability to reduce emissions and ensure transparency in the supply chain.
According to Associate Professor Dr. Mai Quang Vinh, Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Green Transformation Association, rice cultivation is currently one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Vietnam's agricultural sector.
Mr. Vinh introduced several solutions currently being applied. These include the alternating dry-wet irrigation (AWD) system, microbial treatment of rice straw, organic nutrient management, and a carbon emission measurement platform based on international standards. According to the research presented, the AWD model can help reduce methane emissions by 48% and save 25-30% of water while maintaining productivity.
Associate Professor Dr. Mai Quang Vinh - Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Green Transformation Association - spoke at the event.
Meanwhile, Ms. Nguy Thi Giang, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Vietnam Green Innovation Joint Stock Company, believes that ESG standards are gradually becoming a mandatory requirement for businesses to participate more deeply in the global value chain.
Ms. Nguy Thi Giang - Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Vietnam Green Innovation Joint Stock Company - presented a paper titled "Mastering Sustainable Development Standards (ESG) to Meet International Standards for Food Processing Businesses".
According to Ms. Giang, for green standards to be truly implemented, businesses need not only awareness but also technology, data, and appropriate management solutions.
Additionally, the workshop addressed the role of AI technology, drones, and precision farming solutions in reducing pesticide use, conserving water, and improving the operational efficiency of the agricultural production chain.
Dr. Pham Thi Thu Hong - Director of the Cuu Long Science and Technology Center, Cuu Long University - emphasized that green transformation in agriculture is a change in development thinking, governance models, and value chains.
Ms. Pham Thi Thu Hong, Director of the Cuu Long Science and Technology Center, Cuu Long University, presented a paper on the role of research, training, and technology transfer institutions in promoting green transformation in agriculture.
According to Ms. Hong, training, research, and technology transfer institutions need to play a central role in knowledge sharing and as a bridge between science and practical production. This is especially important in the Mekong Delta region, which is suffering serious impacts from climate change and saltwater intrusion.
The workshop brought together numerous experts, businesses, financial institutions, and representatives from industry associations.
The workshop concluded with an open discussion session involving experts, businesses, and representatives from industry associations. Many opinions suggested that the current challenge lies in building a sufficiently strong interconnected ecosystem between the State, businesses, financial institutions, research facilities, and farmers.
From a development trend, green transformation is gradually becoming a core competitive condition for Vietnamese agriculture to maintain export markets and enhance its position in the global value chain.
Source: https://nongthonviet.vn/chuyen-doi-xanh-trong-nong-nghiep-la-bat-buoc-45395.html