Green Value Chains: A Strategic Direction for Modern Agriculture in Vietnam

As Vietnam accelerates its transformation toward modern, sustainable agriculture, developing green value chains emerges as a critical strategy. This approach not only enhances product value but also reduces environmental impact and strengthens Vietnam’s competitiveness on the global stage.

Importance of Green Value Chains in Agriculture Transformation

Green value chains encompass the entire agricultural process—from production, harvesting, processing, and distribution to consumption and waste management—aiming to:

• Reduce emissions and environmental footprint
• Save resources
• Ensure sustainable livelihoods for farmers
• Comply with international standards and consumer demands for sustainable products

These chains form the basis for building national agricultural brands and expanding market access, especially in demanding international markets that prioritize sustainability and quality.

Key Expert Insights

Regional Linkage and Institutional Support

Dr. Dao Xuan Hung (Editor-in-Chief, Agriculture and Environment Magazine) highlights the significance of:

• Establishing concentrated, synchronized raw-material zones
• Enhancing processing capabilities
• Optimizing logistics to minimize post-harvest losses
• Implementing production standardization and traceability systems

Close cooperation among state agencies, enterprises, scientists, cooperatives, and farmers is essential to transfer technology, innovate, and foster robust regional linkages.

Challenges and Barriers

Dr. Tran Cong Thang (Head, Institute of Strategy and Policy on Agriculture and Environment) points out current limitations such as:

• Small-scale and unstable linkages
• Limited participation from farmers and enterprises
• Lack of binding contracts and sustainability in partnerships

Overcoming these obstacles is critical to fully realize the potential of green value chains.

Integrating Climate Adaptation and Sustainability

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Thi Thanh Nga stresses the role of regional coordination based on ecological and climatic data. This allows for:

• Optimizing land, water, and climate resources
• Strengthening green supply chains
• Proactive climate risk management aligned with Vietnam’s Net-zero 2050 and Green Growth Strategy commitments

Cooperative Support and Capacity Building

The Viet Nam Cooperative Alliance advocates:

• Legal framework enhancements to implement supportive policies fully
• Training for cooperative leaders in governance, contracts, marketing, and finance
• Technical and sustainable farming knowledge for members
• Shift from short-term aid to long-term investment that builds a sustainable cooperative ecosystem

Government Role and Policy Focus

Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien emphasizes raising farmers’ awareness of market standards and competition. The ministry focuses on:

• Promoting regional connectivity
• Enhancing cooperation among stakeholders
• Prioritizing traceability, food safety, technology transfer, and certification standards

He underscores that green value chain development is a collective societal responsibility.

Pillars of Green Agriculture Development

Professional Farmers and Cooperatives

• Training a new generation of green-certified professional farmers
• Using cooperatives as core units to connect farmers and enterprises for market development and risk reduction

Advanced Technology and Infrastructure

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Anh Tuan highlights:

• Adoption of cutting-edge technologies like ultra-fast freezing
• Regional planning aligned with local specialties to prevent product overlap
• Integration of green logistics and packaging infrastructure
• New-style cooperatives facilitating quality control and product aggregation

He advocates applying global standards (VietGAP, GlobalGAP, organic certification), mechanization, and digital tools such as environmental sensors and blockchain-based traceability.

Policy Recommendations for Sustainable Growth

• Strengthen regional coordination from production to consumption
• Develop a national agricultural data system linking farmers to markets
• Improve credit policies, technology innovation support, and agricultural insurance schemes to support green production

Conclusion

Vietnam’s strategic focus on green value chains serves as a foundation for transforming agriculture, balancing environmental sustainability with economic growth. Success depends on multi-sector collaboration, technological innovation, institutional support, and farmer empowerment, aligning domestic policy goals with global climate and market demands.

Source: Nhan Dan Online, November 28, 2025
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