Vietnam

Vietnam is at a crossroads in the development of its farming sector, as it faces many challenges regarding productivity, quality and sustainability. It is one of the countries most exposed to the consequences of climate change. As such, and more broadly because of substantial anthropogenic pressure, health and phytosanitary risks are significant in Vietnam. CIRAD has been a major partner of Vietnamese government bodies and universities for almost 30 years. Its research, development and training operations address the Vietnamese government’s major research issues in the current context of climatic and environmental upheaval relative to food security, agroecology, rural development and overall health.
Vietnam, a keeper taking his ducks across the river. © A.-V. Bernus, CIRAD

Vietnam, a keeper taking his ducks across the river. © A.-V. Bernus, CIRAD

Main research areas

Many of the Vietnamese government’s research priorities thus tally with CIRAD’s strategic priorities.

  • Ecologically intensifying food production for accessible, diversified and safe food.
  • Analysing and modelling soil health in agroecology systems.
  • Analysing animal and plant production value chains from a socio-economic perspective.
  • Promoting integrated management of emerging and endemic health risks.
  • Developing public policies to reduce inequalities and alleviate poverty.
  • Supporting the sustainable management of rural areas.

Key figures

  • 15 expatriate researchers
  • 30 current projects
  • 35 missions per year
  • 7 PhD students supervised

The future of coffee growing through agroforestry

CIRAD has been convinced for several decades that the future of coffee growing lies in agroforestry and interdisciplinary approaches. The research undertaken seeks to improve varieties, cropping techniques and the assessment of how this agroecological cropping system performs. For four years, the European H2020 BREEDCAFS project worked on all these scientific fronts, particularly in Vietnam. Follow-on activities are being carried out as part of three projects: Sustainability of coffee and pepper in the Central Highlands of Vietnam (V-SCOPE), with Australian funding from ACIAR, a new Horizon-Europe project BOLERO (2022 to 2026) and the ECOFFEE project, whose second 3-year phase started at the end of 2022. The partnership with the private sector is important and is being strengthened following the BREEDCAFS project. The accreditation process for Arabica varieties bred by CIRAD has been initiated and is supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

Vietnam, the world’s second largest producer, will host the International Conference on Coffee Science (ASIC) in September 2023.

Coffee

Coffee is the world's leading agricultural resource, in value terms. Coffee growing generates income and jobs in producing countries, and is primarily practised on small family farms.

Antibiotics and livestock farming

Several projects are focusing on antibiotic use in livestock farming and antibiotic resistance, taking an integrated One Health approach, particularly for assessing risks for human health. 

These are the Vietnamese components of the international One Health Poultry Hub and ROADMAP projects:

ROADMAP  to understand the practices of different stakeholders (farmers, veterinarians, drug manufacturers, health authorities, etc) in the use of antimicrobials in animal health.

and the new i-CRECT project in Vietnamese hospitals in Hanoi, and public and animal health research centres.

In the “One Health” field, CIRAD is also a member of the Vietnamese One Health Partnership, which brings together the ministries of agriculture, health and the environment and interacts with the Vietnam One Health University Network - VOHUN).

Cooperation and partnerships

Main Vietnamese partners

  • The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), and particularly its international cooperation department. CIRAD has renewed its Framework Agreement, the purpose of which is to define joint strategic orientations for cooperation between MARD and CIRAD in agricultural research matters. Several researchers are hosted in MARD institutes: 
    •  NIAS, National Institute of Animal Sciences
    •  NIVR, National Institute of Veterinary Research
  • VAAS, Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences and several institutes:
    • AGI, Agricultural Genetics Institute
    • FAVRI, The Fruit and Vegetable Research Institute
    • FCRI, The Field Crops Research Institute et le CASRAD, The Center for Agrarian Systems Research and Development
    • NOMAFSI, Northern Mountainous Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute
    • SFRI, Soils and Fertilizers Research Institute
    • SOFRI, Southern Fruit Research Institute   
    • WASI, The Western Highlands Agriculture & Forestry Science Institute
  • IPSARD, Institute for Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development
  • RUDEC, Center for Rural Development
  • RRIV, le Rubber Research Institute of Vietnam (Vietnam Rubber Group)
  • Several CGIAR centres in Hanoi host CIRAD researchers (Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT, CIFOR-ICRAF), or work together with CIRAD, such as ILRI and CIP.
  • Can Tho University (Mekong Delta), where a CIRAD researcher has been posted since mid-2021.
  • HUPH, Hanoi University of Public Health ; CENPHER, Center of Public Health and Ecosystem Research
  • FAO Vietnam

Other partnerships

  • NIHE, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (Membre du réseau International des Instituts Pasteur)
  • OUCRU, Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, à Hanoï et HCMC
  • Université de Hué
  • Université de Nong Lam, Ho Chi Minh Ville
  • VG-CARE, Vietnamese-German Center for Medical Research, Hanoï
  • WCS, Wildlife Conservation Society

 

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