Bayer, WASI partner to promote sustainable agriculture in Vietnam's central highlands

Bayer and WASI’s representatives at the signing ceremony. Photo courtesy of Thanh Minh

The MoU outlines a framework for cooperation centered on sustainable integrated crop management for durian cultivation. The partnership will be carried out in two phases.

Phase One (2024-2025) will focus on utilizing current best farming practices to develop crop protection solutions aimed at improving yield, fruit quality, and profitability. This phase will involve large-scale experimental trials based on an agreed protocol.

Phase Two (2025-2026) will expand the collaboration to include partners specializing in nutrition and irrigation, with the goal of creating a comprehensive sustainable crop solution tailored to farmers' needs.

In addition to crop management, the partnership will emphasize the distribution of best practices to farmers through educational materials for training. This will be supported by the Better Life Farming project, which aims to enhance the knowledge and skills of local farmers.

Both organizations will jointly organize workshops, technical seminars, meetings, and events to share best practices and technology with external partners, including durian cooperatives and value chain growers.

The signing of this MoU reflects Bayer's commitment to sustainable agriculture and its focus on supporting local farmers in Vietnam. The collaboration aims to improve the livelihoods of farmers in the highland provinces, in line with Vietnam's agricultural development goals.

Kg Krishnamurthy, Country Commercial Lead of Bayer Vietnam's Crop Science Division at the signing ceremony. Photo courtesy of Thanh Minh

Kg Krishnamurthy, Country Commercial Lead of Bayer Vietnam's Crop Science Division, emphasized the importance of long-term partnerships to build resilient food value chains. He noted that tackling agricultural challenges requires collaborative efforts and a vision for the future.

"Our partnership with WASI reflects our dedication to supporting local farmers through innovative agricultural practices," Krishnamurthy said. "By combining our resources and expertise, we aim to help farmers address challenges while making their operations both profitable and sustainable."

Phan Viet Ha, Acting Vice President of the Central Highlands Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute (WASI), stated that following this agreement, WASI will focus on training, capacity building, consulting, and technology transfer, as well as developing advanced agronomic solutions and effective farming practices in the Central Highlands region.

"Our collaboration with Bayer provides us with additional resources to enhance our initiatives and reach more farmers, helping them improve productivity and increase their income. Step by step, we aim to contribute to a brighter future for the agricultural community," he added.

Phan Viet Ha, Acting Vice President of WASI, speaking at the signing ceremony. Photo courtesy of Thanh Minh

Bayer has set ambitious global sustainability targets for 2030, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions per unit of crop by 30%, improving water use efficiency by 25% for smallholder farmers, and supporting 100 million smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income countries.

Despite challenges like climate change and the need for modern farming technologies, Vietnam's agriculture sector holds great potential. Bayer aims to help the country unlock this potential, particularly for export crops such as rice, durian, and coffee.

The Better Life Farming initiative, launched in 2024, aims to support local smallholder farmers of coffee and durian by providing access to innovative solutions and expert advisory services. The initiative is focused on creating an ecosystem that enables farmers to adopt sustainable practices and thrive.

With the MoU in place, Bayer and WASI are positioned to make a significant impact on Vietnam's agricultural sector, promoting regenerative and environmentally responsible practices.