Born in 1974, Professor Nguyen Thi Lan is currently a member of the National Assembly’s Committee on Science, Technology, and Environment; Secretary of the Party Committee, and President of the Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA). She serves as the Head of the Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine) and Director of the Center for Excellence and Innovation of the academy.

Lan's scientific journey began in 1997 when she became a lecturer at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural University I (now the Vietnam National University of Agriculture). Subsequently, she pursued an intensive research path and became a doctoral student at Miyazaki University (Japan) during the 2002-2007 period.

Upon returning to the country, Nguyen Thi Lan held many important professional and management positions, such as Deputy Head of the Department, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, and Head of the Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology.

In 2014, she was appointed Vice President of the Vietnam National University of Agriculture, before becoming the Secretary of the Party Committee in 2015 and officially holding the position of President of the university from January 2016 to the present.

In her management and scientific career, she has marked two notable milestones: becoming the youngest female Director and Party Secretary in the history of Vietnam National University of Agriculture in 2016.

In 2018, she was conferred the title of professor and became the youngest female professor of the academy.

Also in that year, she received the Kovalevskaia Award, one of the most prestigious awards for female scientists, and became one of the youngest professors to receive this honor.

Beyond academia and educational management, Prof Nguyen Thi Lan has also been active in legislative work. She served as a deputy of the 14th and 15th National Assembly and continued to gain trust in subsequent terms. She is among the female professors elected as National Assembly deputies for three consecutive terms.

Contributions to agriculture 

With expertise in agriculture, veterinary science and biotechnology, Prof Nguyen Thi Lan has participated in development and supervision of related policies.

Throughout her career, she has received numerous titles and awards such as “Outstanding Young Intellectual of Hanoi” (2010), certificates of merit from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (2011), the Ministry of Education and Training (2013), along with various emulation titles at institutional and ministerial levels. She was also honored as an “Outstanding Science and Technology Intellectual” in 2015 and received a certificate of merit “For the Advancement of Women.”

Before running for the 16th National Assembly, Lan stated that she would focus on building and refining policies related to agriculture, rural areas and farmers. She emphasized the development of ecological and circular agriculture and applying high technology in line with local conditions, thereby contributing to sustainable rural development.

At the same time, she highlighted the importance of supervision in policy implementation to ensure effectiveness and transparency, while proposing solutions to enhance the value of agricultural products through linkages from production to processing to consumption. 

Promoting science and technology and digital transformation in agriculture is also considered key to improving productivity, quality and competitiveness of Vietnamese agricultural products.

She is also concerned with expanding access to credit and agricultural insurance, as well as policies ensuring sustainable livelihoods for rural residents. She believes that only when people’s living standards improve can development policies achieve long-term effectiveness.

She has committed to maintaining close connections with voters through regular engagement activities, listening to and conveying their opinions and aspirations to the National Assembly and authorities. At the same time, she emphasizes communication and public mobilization to effectively implement Party guidelines and State policies and laws.

With a long-term vision, she aims to promote science, technology and innovation as key drivers for developing green, modern and high value-added agriculture. 

Her proposals include developing a multi-value rural economy, promoting new varieties and biotechnology, improving advanced production processes, as well as strengthening processing and post-harvest preservation technologies.

She also has paid attention to developing eco-tourism and traditional craft villages; ensuring food safety, traceability and rural environmental management. Promoting digital transformation in production and consumption management of agricultural products is seen as an important solution to improve efficiency and increase farmers’ income.

Tran Thuong