The global agricultural sector faces unprecedented challenges that require innovative collaboration between nations. Climate change, natural disasters, and the pressing need to feed nearly 10 billion people by 2050 demand a fundamental shift from traditional production-focused approaches to value-added sustainable agriculture. This transformation has sparked meaningful partnerships between countries with complementary expertise, particularly between Vietnam and Ireland in their groundbreaking agricultural cooperation initiatives.
Vietnam’s agricultural sector remains the backbone of its economy, supporting over 60% of the rural population and contributing approximately 12% to the national GDP. The country generates agricultural exports worth over $60 billion annually, positioning itself as a significant player in global food supply chains. However, the mounting pressures of climate change and increasing international market demands have necessitated a strategic pivot toward sustainable agricultural practices.
Strategic partnership through the IVAP program
The Vietnam-Ireland Agriculture-Food Partnership Program (IVAP) launched in 2023 represents a revolutionary approach to international agricultural cooperation. This innovative model connects governments, research institutions, enterprises, and farmers through shared knowledge generation and practical implementation strategies. The program has already demonstrated remarkable success in multiple areas of agricultural development.
Ireland brings extensive experience through its successful implementation of strategic frameworks including Food Harvest 2020, Food Wise 2025, and Food Vision 2030. These initiatives have enabled Ireland to develop a green, intelligent, and low-emission agricultural economy. The country’s Origin Green program, a national sustainability certification system managed by Bord Bia Food Council, involves over 55,000 participating farms and 300 companies.
Despite having a population of just over 5 million, Ireland exports food products worth more than €18 billion annually to over 180 countries. This impressive achievement stems from their systematic approach to sustainable agriculture and their commitment to transparency and responsibility throughout the food system. Ireland ranks second globally in the 2023 Global Food Security Index, with 90% of its meat and dairy products certified as sustainable through Origin Green.
| Key IVAP Achievements | Impact Area | Results |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Training | Human Resources | Hundreds of agricultural specialists trained |
| Cooperative Models | Organizational Structure | European-standard cooperative pilot programs |
| Biosecurity Systems | Food Safety | Comprehensive monitoring infrastructure |
| Biotechnology Research | Innovation | Reduced antibiotic use in livestock |
Addressing transformation challenges and opportunities
Vietnam’s agricultural sector is transitioning from traditional agricultural production models to comprehensive agro-economic systems focused on value enhancement and sustainable development throughout supply chains. However, this transformation faces several critical challenges that require coordinated international support and expertise sharing.
Current implementation gaps include inadequate coordination mechanisms between successor organizations, insufficient specialized funding, and shortages of qualified personnel and technical equipment. Additionally, successful pilot models lack proper networking and scaling mechanisms, while information from international partners remains fragmented and underutilized.
The collaboration with Ireland addresses these challenges through enhanced support for steering committees, technical working groups, and coordination offices. Both countries are organizing bilateral and multilateral dialogues while actively participating in regional and global food system transformation forums. This comprehensive approach ensures systematic knowledge transfer and practical implementation of proven agricultural innovations.
Technical support initiatives focus on several key areas :
- Model summarization and replication of successful agricultural practices
- Scientific research support for evidence-based policy development
- Enterprise networking and market expansion strategies
- Provincial action plan piloting and implementation
Future directions and strategic focus areas
The agricultural cooperation between Vietnam and Ireland is evolving from project-based collaboration toward a strategic policy partnership designed to achieve long-term results and systemic impact. This transformation requires concentrated efforts across four fundamental areas that will define the future of sustainable agriculture in both countries.
The first priority involves improving food system institutions through strengthened technical working groups focusing on food safety, emission reduction, and sustainable consumption patterns. These institutional enhancements create the foundation for systematic agricultural transformation and ensure compliance with international standards and best practices.
Science, technology, and digital transformation represent the second crucial focus area. Vietnam plans to adopt Ireland’s Smart Farming model, incorporating sensors, big data analytics, and artificial intelligence into agricultural operations. This technological integration supports precision agriculture while promoting research in agricultural carbon management and CO₂ certification systems for farmers.
Educational cooperation and academic partnerships form the third pillar of this strategic alliance. Both countries are establishing scholarship programs, facilitating expert exchanges, and launching the Young Leaders in Agriculture and Food initiative. These educational investments ensure sustainable knowledge transfer and build the next generation of agricultural innovators and leaders.
The final focus area emphasizes strengthening business relationships and promoting joint ventures in environmentally friendly food production for EU export markets. This commercial dimension includes sharing successful models with other developing countries, creating a multiplier effect that extends the partnership’s impact beyond bilateral cooperation. The collaboration also promotes advanced agricultural practices including organic farming, circular economy principles, food loss reduction, waste management, and digital transformation aligned with EU and international standards.
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