Plan of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam for implementing the Scheme on the development of biotechnology in the agriculture sector through 2030

Plan of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam for implementing the Scheme on the development of biotechnology in the agriculture sector through 2030 (Image from the Internet)

Plan of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam for implementing the Scheme on the development of biotechnology in the agriculture sector through 2030

On December 18, 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam issued Decision 4489/QD-BNN-KHCN regarding the promulgation of the Plan of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam for implementing the Scheme on the development of biotechnology in the agriculture sector through 2030.

The Plan of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam for implementing the Scheme on the development of biotechnology in the agriculture sector through 2030 includes the following tasks and solutions:

- Propagating and raising awareness about agricultural biotechnology

Enhancing the information, propaganda, and education efforts to raise awareness across all levels, industries, and society about the role, position, and importance of biotechnology in agriculture.

Propagating and disseminating scientific research results, introducing effective biotechnology business models. Increasing information dissemination to encourage the use of domestically-produced agricultural biotechnology products and building Vietnam's brand.

- Reviewing and perfecting the system of mechanisms and policies to create a drive for the development of the biotechnology industry in agriculture

Reviewing the current status of legal documents, mechanisms, and policies promoting research and application of agricultural biotechnology. Researching, developing, and submitting mechanisms and preferential policies for research, development, mastery, transfer, and application of agricultural biotechnology to production and life to competent authorities.

Perfecting the legal framework, policies on biosafety management concerning biotechnology products in alignment with international commitments and Vietnamese policies and laws. Proposing policy mechanisms to support enterprises investing in research and production of biotechnological products in agriculture on a commercial scale, ensuring sustainable development.

- Developing science and technology

Researching and applying biotechnological improvements to create crop varieties, livestock breeds, and aquaculture with good traits and exceptional superior characteristics, bringing high added value and sustainable agricultural development;

Approaching and mastering new generation gene technology/gene editing technology in researching and creating major crop varieties, livestock, and aquaculture breeds to increase resilience against adverse conditions due to climate change. Creating a DNA/barcode/molecular marker database for native genetic resources as a basis for conservation, exploitation, restoration, development, brand protection, and geographical indication for Vietnam's specialty crops, livestock, and aquaculture.

Maintaining and protecting livestock, aquaculture, creating new-generation vaccines for disease prevention in livestock and aquaculture; creating microbial preparations to prevent pests on crops, producing biotechnological veterinary drugs with high economic efficiency. Researching applications of enzyme, protein, and microbial technology to create products with high competitiveness.

Mastering and applying the development of biological test kits (KIT) for rapid detection, inspection, evaluation of livestock and aquaculture breed quality; KITs for diagnosing, managing plant diseases, and controlling residual prohibited substances in agricultural products originating from plants; assessing, diagnosing soil fertility and soil health for cultivation and irrigation water.

Proposing biotechnology industry planning in agriculture in some provinces, cities, and key economic regions. Closely linking scientific and technological activities with business production activities. Encouraging enterprises to invest in research, innovate technology, and apply advanced and new technologies in production to improve productivity and competitiveness of biotechnological products.

- Training high-quality human resources in the field of agricultural biotechnology

Enhancing the training of high-quality human resources in agricultural biotechnology. Organizing or integrating with other training programs to enhance the capacity of the research staff of science and technology organizations, technology transfer, and industrial biotechnology businesses through domestic and international training forms.

- Enhancing infrastructure investment and capacity to develop the biotechnology industry

Focusing investment, improving technical infrastructure, modernizing machinery, equipment for research and biotechnological applications in laboratories specialized in crops, livestock - veterinary, aquaculture, enzyme - microorganisms; for research institutes, universities, and academies in regions.

- Supporting the development of industrial-scale biotechnology enterprises

Supporting enterprises to import new technologies and techniques for developing the biotechnology industry in agriculture. Facilitating the establishment and development of biotechnology enterprises producing agricultural products at an industrial scale in fields like major crop varieties, livestock, and aquaculture; organic fertilizers, microbial organic, biological pesticides, environmental treatment biological products, animal feed... serving safe agriculture, organic agriculture; vaccines for animal and aquaculture diseases, biotechnological veterinary drugs, KITs for diagnosing, managing important diseases in crops, livestock, major aquaculture and controlling prohibited substance residues.

- International cooperation

Forming bilateral and multilateral cooperation tasks with countries having advanced biotechnology industries to quickly access, familiarize, and eventually master the foundational technologies of modern agricultural biotechnology. Taking advantage of cooperation opportunities to train leading staff, experts, and enhance research and technology development.

Creating favorable conditions for enterprises to proactively cooperate and receive, transfer production technologies of competitive advantage biotechnology products from abroad.

- Establishing databases and information systems for biotechnology in agriculture.

Establishing a database system and information about the agricultural biotechnology industry, connecting it with the agricultural science and technology database.

For detailed content, refer to Decision 4489/QD-BNN-KHCN, effective from December 18, 2024.

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