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Perception of Challenges in Opportunities for Organic Food Research and Development in Vietnam

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Regulatory Issues in Organic Food Safety in the Asia Pacific

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Abstract

Since the inception of the green revolution during the 1970s, Vietnamese farmers converted their natural ways of farming into conventional agriculture using short-term rice and vegetables hybrids and intensive inputs of agrochemicals. Unfortunately, the Vietnamese society nowadays has a considerable concern about the side-effect of conventional farming on human health and the natural environment. There is a strong demand for safe food or organic food in urban areas as well as the rural communities. In response to this issue, the government has initiated the organic agriculture strategy for Vietnam in 2017 while growers and processors continue to practice organic agriculture for domestic consumption and exports over the last decade. Drawing on evidence from 36 in-depth interviews (qualitative research) with government officials, researchers, NGOs, media, processors and organic growers in Vietnam, this chapter aims to shed light on the organics industry. It places a spotlight on the perceptions of stakeholders with particular reference to (1) scope of adoption of organic agriculture, especially organic rice farming, (2) awareness of domestic and international standards and markets for organic food, (3) perception of government policies for the organic agriculture movement in Vietnam, and (4) the perception of current research activities on organic farming and practices inside the country. There is also a review of the literature and a profile of current research activities in key agricultural research institutions and universities in Vietnam is given.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Mr Vo is a young farmer who recognized the problems of using chemicals in his rice paddy fields and surrounding rice-based landscape. In 2014, he recovered 2 ha of ecological rice which was used to grow three crops of conventional rice per year in Thuong Thuong Tien commune of Hong Ngu District of Dong Thap province (Mekong Delta). After this success with ecological rice, he decided to rent 40 ha of neighbouring farmland to grow ecological rice in 2016. In 2018, he extended to 80 ha of the ecological rice model in another area in Long An Province (Mekong Delta).

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Acknowledgments

I would like to thank participants who responded the questions. In particular, I wish to thank Vietnam PGS team leader (Mrs Tu Tuyet Nhung) in Vietnam, government research organization (IPSAR), universities (HCM National University, University of Social Science and Humanity, Vietnam Agriculture Academy, An Giang, Kien Giang,Can Tho, and Tay Do), private sector organisations (Ong Tho Rice, Tan Vuong Company, Co May Group, Ech Op Farm, Tam Viet Farm, and Viet Ha Organic Agriculture Company), NGOs (HEPA Eco-Farming School, Anh Ba Việt Nam and Y-farm Mekong), international organic certified organizations in Vietnam, growers, associations, and media who responded to the in-depth interviews for this research. I wish to acknowledge the contribution of SEARCA (The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture) in funding this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fenner School of Environment & Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

    Van Kien Nguyen

  2. Research Center for Rural Development, An Giang University, Vietnam National University, HCM City, Long Xuyên, Vietnam

    Van Kien Nguyen

  3. Mekong Organics Pty Ltd, Canberra ACT, Australia

    Van Kien Nguyen

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  1. Van Kien Nguyen
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Correspondence to Van Kien Nguyen .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Law and Justice, Southern Cross University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, Faculty of Law, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand

    Bee Chen GOH

  2. School of Law and Justice, Southern Cross University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia

    Rohan Price

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Nguyen, V.K. (2020). Perception of Challenges in Opportunities for Organic Food Research and Development in Vietnam. In: GOH, B., Price, R. (eds) Regulatory Issues in Organic Food Safety in the Asia Pacific. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3580-2_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3580-2_12

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