Speaking at the workshop on promoting low-emission rice in the Mekong Delta, Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, Director of the International Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, noted reducing greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture has become a strategic priority rather than an option.

As one of the world’s leading rice exporters, Vietnam is accelerating its transition toward a green, low-emission and sustainable agricultural model, Tuan said, adding that growing international engagement reflects confidence in Vietnam’s role in addressing global climate challenges.

At the COP26 climate conference, Vietnam pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Agriculture, which is both highly vulnerable to climate change and a major source of emissions, has been identified as a key sector for transformation. The rice industry plays a central role in ensuring food security and supporting rural livelihoods.

In recent years, Vietnam has introduced policies aimed at shifting rice production from a focus on volume to quality and value-added output. Measures include climate-smart farming practices, improved water management, reduced input use and the development of low-emission rice production models linked to sustainable farmer incomes, enhancing the competitiveness of Vietnamese rice in international markets.

The Mekong Delta, often described as Vietnam’s rice bowl, is among the world’s most important rice-producing regions and a major source of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane from flooded rice fields.

Experts at the workshop highlighted technical solutions such as alternate wetting and drying (AWD), use of high-quality seeds, balanced fertiliser application, and emissions measurement and certification systems. These approaches can deliver environmental benefits while improving productivity, income stability and climate resilience for farming communities, they said.

From a regional perspective, Jongsoo Shin, Asia representative of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), said ASEAN remains one of the world’s most dynamic economic regions despite development gaps among member states. He noted that the ASEAN Secretariat has reaffirmed plans to develop a shared agricultural roadmap to strengthen regional coordination.

Meanwhile, Ferosa Arsadita, a representative of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), said the ASEAN EU–German Climate Action Programme, launched in 2023 with support from the European Union and the German government, has produced positive results and may enter a new phase beyond 2026. The programme includes pilot projects on low-emission rice production in Vietnam.

Experts concluded that stronger regional and South–South cooperation could help replicate successful ASEAN models in regions such as Africa and Latin America, reinforcing the bloc’s role in advancing climate-smart agriculture globally.

Australia poised to become second importer of Vietnam’s low-emission rice

VOV.VN - Nearly 3,000 tonnes of certified low-emission rice are expected to be shipped to Australia in October 2025, making it as Vietnam's second export market for this product after Japan.