At the press conference on the 80th anniversary of Vietnam's Agriculture and Environment sector on November 5, Pham Van Duy, Deputy Director of the Quality, Processing and Market Development Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), noted that Vietnamese agricultural products are present all over the world.

By the end of 2024, Vietnam’s key export commodities, including rice, coffee, seafood, fruits and spices, had achieved remarkable global rankings.

Vietnam exported 9.15 million tons of rice in 2024, placing the country among the world’s top three, after India (17 million tons) and ahead of Thailand.

Seafood export turnover surpassed $11 billion in the same year, ranking Vietnam third globally, behind China and Norway. Coffee maintained its second-place position, while fruits ranked 15th, and herbs and spices took the top spot.

"These figures show that 'Vietnam is feeding the world' in a figurative sense - meaning playing an important role in the global food and supply chain", Duy said.

According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien, Vietnam has not only exported traditional products, but its meat, eggs, and dairy products have begun going global, with a growth rate of 19 percent year-on-year in 2024.

He noted that agricultural potential remains vast, especially as the country pushes toward science–technology adoption, digital transformation, and traceability, moving toward a high-tech sustainable agriculture.

“Vietnamese rice, fish, coffee, and vegetables have appeared on dining tables across hundreds of countries, from Asia to Europe, from the Americas to the Middle East, with Vietnam’s mark becoming increasingly visible,” Tien said.

"We not only export products but also export identity, intelligence and creativity of Vietnamese people in every rice grain, every fish, and every coffee drop," he said.

Tran Cong Thang, Director of the Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Strategy and Policy, believes that for Vietnamese agriculture to maintain its position in the world market, it needs to shift from "increasing output" to "increasing value", linking production with market, technology and sustainable development.

Tien said that increasing agricultural value must be linked to green production, a circular economy, and emission reduction.

When science, technology and people converge, Vietnamese agriculture can go further, not only "feeding the world" figuratively, but also contribute to ensuring global food security in the future in a world of about 8 billion people.

At a forum "Gene Editing in Agriculture - Strategic Technology Linked to Legal Framework" held on October 18, Tien stressed that biotechnology, especially gene technology, is creating a "strong wave of innovation" in agricultural production, contributing to improved productivity, quality and resilience of crops and livestock.

In Resolution No19 and Resolution 57 recently, the Party and State have identified biotechnology as one of the strategic breakthrough directions. This is the basis for the agriculture sector to continue its transformation towards a biological, circular and sustainable agriculture.

Thanks to the application of biotechnology in breeding, cultivation and preservation, productivity and output continue to increase.

In just the first nine months of the year, Vietnam achieved over 34.8 million tons of rice, the high output which not only contributed to ensuring domestic food security but also international food security. To date, the country has exported over 7 million tons of rice, contributing to affirming Vietnam's role in the global food supply chain.

According to Tien, the fact that many countries like the Philippines, Singapore and Brazil continue to import rice and agricultural products from Vietnam is clear evidence of the reputation and quality of Vietnamese agricultural products in the international market.

He said the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will continue to promote biotechnology application in breeding, animal husbandry, cultivation and agricultural processing.

The government's decision on biotechnology industry development is a strategic step, opening new development space for Vietnamese science.

"It is time for us to step into difficult fields that require high knowledge such as gene technology, vaccines, and biotechnology industry. Success will not come immediately, but this is the path for Vietnam to advance, master technology, master the future of agriculture", Tien said.

Nguyen Phuong Thao from Vietnam National University HCMC said that Vietnam has  potential to become a leading center for biotechnology innovation, especially for tropical crops, if there are open and appropriate support policies.

Tam An