Climate impacts, scarcity of natural resources, environmental degradation, etc. force countries to change their thinking to the basic principle 'everything is an input to something else'.

Everything is an input to something else

On July 8, 2024, in Hanoi, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Ms. Ramla Khalidi, Chief Resident Representative, United Nations Development Programin Vietnam co-chair the Dialogue on “Promoting international commitment and multi-sectoral cooperation on circular economy in agriculture”. 

The Dialogue is attended by more than 100 delegates from 70 domestic and international agencies, more than 20 provinces and cities nationwide and hundreds of online participants.

The conference aims to raise awareness of multistakeholders about the role of circular economy in development goals in the agricultural sector; spread the key messages, tasks and objectives of the Scheme on Scientific Development, Application, and Technology Transfer to Promote CE in Agriculture by 2030 chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; share good practice models on circular economy; orient key agricultural industries for circular economic development and corresponding markets; learn about difficulties and advantages in the process of developing circular economy in agriculture; then propose solutions on mechanisms and policies for circular economic development. And especially, in the current context of comprehensive development, no industry can grow independently without the support of resources and knowledge from the international community and timely coordination of relevant departments within a country. 

Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien affirms that developing a circular economy in agriculture is both a requirement and an inevitable trend, as well as a solution for sustainable and effective agricultural development to implement international commitments, national and sectoral tasks on green and sustainable development. The Deputy Minister also emphasizes that the important and practical role of circular agriculture is to ensure economic, social and environmental benefits when applying circular agriculture models. More than ever, climate impacts, scarcity of natural resources, environmental degradation, epidemics, etc. force countries to change their thinking of development and production according to the basic principle “everything is an input to something else”.

On the principle of strengthening multilateral international cooperation and multi-sectoral coordination, the Deputy Minister calls for the international community, the active coordination of ministries and branches from central to local levels, and the active participation of the private sector joining to support the agricultural sector in implementing 10 objectives and 6 tasks of circular agriculture in the Scheme on Scientific Development, Application, and Technology Transfer to Promote CE in Agriculture by 2030, approved in Decision No. 540/QD-TTg dated June 19, 2024 by the Prime Minister, chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, focusing on research, technology application, market development, and policy mechanisms, strengthening international cooperation and communication on circular agriculture.

UNDP commits to accompanying in the promotion of a circular economy

Co-chairing of the event, Ms. Ramla Khalidi, Chief Resident Representative, United Nations Development Program in Vietnam appreciates the efforts of the Vietnamese Government in implementing international commitments, Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) recognizes the benefits of circular agriculture for climate targets, enhancing economic competitiveness, and protecting human health and ecosystems.

UNDP is proud to have successfully tested the Circular Economy-NDC Toolbox, which can help Vietnam identify, prioritize, implement and track circular interventions in agriculture that contribute to the implementation of NDC 2025. This tool has special significance for the agricultural sector to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from rice production, cultivation, and livestock farming…

Therefore, she also calls for increased cooperation to develop and implement circular policies, adequate investment allocation, and promoting knowledge sharing and cooperation; chain-based agricultural production, taking advantage of science and technology, implementing communication campaigns to raise awareness, etc. She suggests that Vietnam should create a leap in access to financial methods for farmers and small and medium enterprises. In this journey, UNDP commits to accompanying the Government of Vietnam.

At dialogue sessions, representatives of international organizations (EU, AUSTRALIA, Canada, IRRI, FAO...), private sector, non-governmental sector and ministries share about international cooperation mechanisms and inter-sectoral coordination to promote circular agriculture practices, introduce successfully circular agriculture models, and appreciate the proactive initiative of the agricultural sector to circular agriculture practices. In particular, emphasis is placed on public-private partnership in the success of circular agriculture, specifically the proactive role of the Private Sector in applying science and technology and implementing advanced circular agriculture initiatives and models.

The parties mutually agree to commit to promoting international cooperation and multi-sectoral coordination on circular agriculture, be ready to share responsibility for implementing international commitments on climate change and the national Net-Zero goal. At the same time, we also hope that after the Conference, the Parties will proactively meet to propose and implement specific activities in chain-based circular agriculture production.

With the active participation of 70 agencies and departments of the Government of Vietnam, international and domestic development partners, provinces and cities participating online, and hundreds of other points, in the spirit of cooperation, construction, and careful preparation of the two host agencies, the Conference takes place in an atmosphere of contribution, openness and great success.