On December 6, 2024, the International Scientific Conference: "Aquatic food in the transformation of the low-emission food system in Vietnam: Opportunities, challenges and future paths" took place successfully.
Participants of the conference
The seminar was hosted by Van Hien University in collaboration with WorldFish with the information sponsorship of the Lao Dong Newspaper. The workshop attracted more than 170 guests who are scientists, leading experts, businesses and representatives of ministries, sectors and international organizations. The connection of the workshop has created an academic forum, contributing to finding solutions for Vietnam's fisheries industry in the context of climate change - one of the biggest threats to humanity in the process of sustainable development of the industry.
With the urgency and attractiveness of the topic "Aquatic food in the transformation of the low-emission food system in Vietnam: Opportunities, challenges and future paths", the workshop received more than 40 papers from domestic and international universities and research institutes. The professional council has selected 5 papers to be presented directly in the workshop, specifically the contents:
- Presentation 1: "The Role of Aquatic Foods in Vietnam's Low-Emission Transition" - Dr. Michelle Tigchelaar, Scientist and Impact Area Lead in Climate and Environmental Sustainability at WorldFish.
- Presentation 2: "Emissions from the aquatic food sector and challenges to low-emission aquatic food systems" - Dr. Cao Le Quyen, Deputy Director General at the Viet Nam Institute for Fisheries Economics and Planning (VIFEP).
- Presentation 3: "Policy, regulatory, and governance framework for low-emission aquatic food systems development (status, challenges, and opportunities)" - Dr. Nhuong Tran, Senior Scientist (Applied Economist) at WorldFish.
- Presentation 4: "Digital Transformation for Agriculture and Aquaculture Enterprises in An Giang: Sustainable Development Solutions for the Mekong Delta" – Thanh Nghi Doan - Associate Professor and Senior Lecturer with a Ph.D. in Information Technology at the Faculty of Information Technology, An Giang University, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City.
- Presentation 5: "Building greenhouse gas emission margins in Vietnam's aquaculture industry" – Dr. Giap Nguyen Van - Lecturer at Hanoi School of Business and Management, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
In the opening session of the workshop, Assoc. Prof. TS. Nguyen Minh Duc – Rector of Van Hien University emphasized: "The conference is a valuable opportunity for the domestic and international academic community to discuss topics of great significance, not only for Vietnam but also for the whole world. In the context of increasingly severe climate change, the urgency of transitioning to low-emission food systems has become a top priority. Fisheries, a valuable resource of Vietnam, play a particularly important role in ensuring food security and creating a driving force for the economy."
Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Minh Duc – President of Van Hien University
The presentations and discussions at the workshop highlighted the role of the fisheries industry in Vietnam's economy. The fisheries industry plays an important role in providing essential food, as well as making an important contribution to exports and rural economic development. In the context of increasingly serious climate change, Vietnam's fisheries industry faces many challenges but also opens up great opportunities in transforming the low-emission food system. Advanced technological solutions, production process improvements, and supply chain optimization are identified as key factors for the sustainable development of the seafood industry.
However, besides the opportunities, the fisheries industry is also facing many great difficulties and challenges. Climate change has been having a far-reaching impact on natural resources and fishery production. In addition, low emission requirements and strict international environmental standards also create great pressure on seafood businesses. In addition, the shortage of quality human resources, limited finance and lack of advanced production technology are also factors that need to be overcome to promote the transformation in the fisheries industry
Particpants at the Conference
At the conference, experts offered many practical solutions to develop a sustainable fisheries industry including strengthening international cooperation, access to new technologies and financial support. Policies that encourage innovation in seafood production, along with training high-quality human resources, will help businesses overcome barriers and adapt to the trend of low emissions. In addition, the development of circular production models and the application of sustainable production methods will help save resources and protect the environment.
In the presentation, Dr. Cao Le Quyen, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Institute of Fisheries Economics and Planning (VIFEP) said: "Vietnam's shrimp farming industry faces increasing pressure from import markets, requiring products with a low carbon footprint. The application of certification systems such as ASC, GlobalGAP, and VietGAP is not only a necessary factor to increase export value, but also a strategic step in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By using renewable energy, improving operational efficiency, and deploying smart technology, we can not only meet market demand, but also contribute to the national sustainable development goals."
In-depth Discussion section on the presented topics
The workshop not only helps to raise awareness of environmental issues and climate change, but also opens up many opportunities for cooperation and development between domestic and foreign stakeholders. The knowledge and information gained from the workshop will become a reference resource with high academic value, making an important contribution to specialized teaching at Van Hien University, helping to train high-quality human resources for the fisheries industry. Moreover, the workshop helped connect researchers, businesses and international organizations to jointly promote the development of Vietnam's seafood industry in the direction of sustainability, environmental protection and emission reduction.
Assoc.Prof.Dr. Tran Huy Hoang – Permanent President of Van Hien University offered flowers to the presenter
It is hoped that the results from the workshop will be a stepping stone for Vietnam's seafood industry to be ready to transform itself to achieve sustainable development and low emissions in the future.