Viet Nam–Ireland Conference on Bilateral Cooperation in Agri-Food Systems Transformation
Ciara Varley, Anna Lorente Sebastian, Peter McKeown.
EcoFoodSystems attended the Viet Nam–Ireland Conference on Bilateral Cooperation in Agri-Food Systems Transformation. The event, hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Vietnam and Sustainable Food Systems Ireland (SFSI), shared examples of Ireland-Viet Nam collaboration for food system transformation.
“From the rice fields of the Mekong Delta to the green dairy farms of County Cork, we are writing a common story of sustainability, responsibility and trust.”
These were the opening remarks from Mr. Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, Director General of the International Cooperation Department, Vietnam, at the Viet Nam–Ireland Conference on Bilateral Cooperation in Agri-Food Systems Transformation. The theme of collaboration between the two countries was the focus of discussion for stakeholders from Ireland and Vietnam, who met to discuss strategic directions and collaboration opportunities for the two countries.
The conference, which took place on 04th November 2025, was run by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Vietnam, in coordination with the Embassy of Ireland in Vietnam. The EcoFoodSystems team were represented by researcher Ky Hoang, Masters researchers Duy Dinh Anh Nguyen, Minh Phuong Nguyen and Minh Duc Tran, and communications officer Nhung Vuong.
Collaboration between countries and sectors was a key focus of the day’s event. This was reflected in opening remarks from Director General of the International Cooperation Department, Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, who highlighted ten years of bilateral cooperation between Ireland and Vietnam.
Speaking at the conference, the Director General shared:
“No country can transform its agri-food system alone. It is a global effort that requires the cooperation of governments, businesses, scientists, civil society organizations and farmers. From the rice fields of the Mekong Delta to the green dairy farms of County Cork, we are writing a common story of sustainability, responsibility and trust”.
The Ambassador of Ireland to Viet Nam, Deirdre Ní Fhallúin, echoed these sentiments, saying:
“Ireland has walked side by side with Vietnam for many years. We have supported and witnessed Vietnam’s impressive poverty reduction achievements over the past three decades. The IVAP programme now demonstrates our continued commitment to advancing our agri-food systems together.
We view the Ireland–Vietnam Agrifood Partnership as a platform for collaboration, bringing together government agencies, research institutions, academia, civil society, the private sector, and international partners, to co-develop solutions and innovations that support the implementation of Vietnam’s Food Systems Transformation Strategy and National Action Plan.”
Irish and Vietnamese Food System Leaders Share Recommendations for Future Research
Best methods and practice in collaborative research were a focus for speakers at the days’ conference. Associate Professor Dr. Tran Minh Tien, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS), shared:
“We have spoken at length about transforming the food system, but without data, provincial-level planning remains nothing more than guessing. If a locality can measure yield, nutritional value and emissions, it will know precisely where to prioritise investment. One cannot transition on sentiment alone. Transformation only matters when farmers, businesses and scientists act together.”
Associate Professor Dr. Dao The Anh, President of the Vietnam Rural Development Science Association and former Deputy Director of VAAS, said:
“Transformation of the food system cannot be seen solely from the agriculture sector. We must use a holistic approach combining nutrition, health, environment and livelihoods. What Vietnam needs is a system in which sectors do not operate in isolation. Agriculture remains the pillar, but it must be knowledge-based and built on new risk governance. The key is not speed but the reach, so people feel they are part of the change process.”
Dr. Joseph O’Flaherty, Expert at Sustainable Food Systems Ireland, also emphasised the links between sustainable food systems and the provision of food that is safe for all:
“If you want to reduce emissions, you must effectively control food safety, for that is where sustainability begins.”
EcoFoodSystems Collaborations in Vietnam Continue
The EU DeSIRA-funded EcoFoodSystems project is managed by IFAD as part of the Agroecological TRANSITIONs programme, which focuses on developing metrics, digital tools and private-public partnership incentives to enable climate-informed agroecological transitions in low- and middle-income countries.
The EcoFoodSystems project, which is led by the University of Galway in Ireland in partnership with Wageningen University & Research and Rikolto’s Vietnam branch, works with key food system organisations in Vietnam, including the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS), Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA) and Sustainable Food Systems Ireland (SFSI).
Some recent examples of collaboration between the countries enabled by the EcoFoodSystems project include the release of the report ‘Research Priorities for Enabling Healthy, Sustainable and Affordable Diets in Hanoi City Region’; a recent renewal of a Memorandum of Understanding between Vietnam National University of Agriculture and University of Galway; and EcoFoodSystems’ support of three SFSI-funded Ireland-Vietnam AgriFood Partnership (IVAP) Fellows, where three students from Vietnam National University of Agriculture were supported to complete Masters studies at the University of Galway, including completing their theses in topics of direct relevance to food system transformation in Vietnam.
The EcoFoodSystems project continues to engage with policymakers, stakeholders, and researchers from across the Hanoi food system, guided by the leadership provided by speakers at events such as this Viet Nam–Ireland Conference on Bilateral Cooperation in Agri-Food Systems Transformation.
Held just two weeks after the World Food Forum, the “Viet Nam–Ireland Conference on Bilateral Cooperation in Agri-Food Systems Transformation” was a timely reminder of the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) 2025 World Food Day Theme, ‘Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future’. As EcoFoodSystems looks towards our 2026 events, we are excited to work ‘hand in hand’ with our partners in Vietnam to support cross-country collaboration between Vietnam and Ireland, enabling better food systems for both corners of the globe.