In the heart of Ninh Bình, a significant conference took place on Monday, marking a pivotal moment for Vietnam’s agriculture and environment sector. The event, centered around implementing the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 540/QĐ-TTg and outlining science and technology tasks for 2026, was graced by the presence of Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment, Phùng Đức Tiến. The conference underscored the critical role of science, technology, and innovation in steering the sector towards a green, circular, and low-emissions future.
Deputy Minister Tiến emphasized that the integration of science and technology is not merely an option but an inevitable requirement. The sector is at a crossroads, facing substantial opportunities alongside mounting challenges from climate change, environmental pollution, natural disasters, and disease. “This was an inevitable requirement as the sector faces both significant opportunities and mounting challenges from climate change, environmental pollution, natural disasters and disease,” Tiến told the conference.
Despite recent difficulties, the agriculture and environment sector has achieved notable successes. The continuous growth of exports in agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products has contributed to macroeconomic stability and social welfare. However, significant challenges remain, including environmental pollution, resource depletion, and the increasing unpredictability of natural disasters and disease. Tiến stressed the urgency of restructuring agriculture to enhance added value and ensure sustainable development.
To meet these challenges, concrete targets and indicators for agricultural and aquatic production and exports must be established, with a strong focus on environmental protection and climate change adaptation. Tiến highlighted the necessity of promoting research and applying scientific and technological advancements in production, resource management, and environmental protection. He asserted that science must transcend academic research to address real-world problems.
Over the past five years, the ministry has implemented six ministerial-level science and technology programs in natural resources and the environment. Hundreds of projects and tasks have been accepted and applied in practice, with 23 research projects providing crucial theoretical foundations for major legal amendments. These research outcomes have contributed to basic surveys, monitoring, forecasting, disaster warning, and resource and environmental protection.
Notably, many science and technology tasks have been directly applied in production, enhancing resource-use efficiency, reducing emissions, and promoting circular economic development. The proportion of research results applied in practice has been rising, indicating a shift towards development-oriented research.
Deputy Minister Tiến emphasized the need for realistic, focused, and targeted tasks in science and technology, promoting autonomy and proactive implementation from the outset of 2026. Looking ahead, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will focus on improving institutions, formulating a science, technology, and innovation plan for 2026-2030, and strengthening linkages among the State, scientists, and enterprises. Effective implementation of Decision No. 540/QĐ-TTg is also a priority.
Through these efforts, science and technology are poised to become a central pillar for the sustainable development of agriculture and the environment. The conference in Ninh Bình has set a clear vision for the future, ensuring that the sector can navigate the challenges ahead and seize the opportunities presented by technological advancements.