Leading agricultural scientists and representatives of 100 businesses operating in the southern region gathered in Ho Chi Minh City on September 21 to attend the Vietnam Food Security Forum.

The event was co-organised by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the US ’ Du Pont Group.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Doan Duy Khuong, Vice President of the VCCI urged participants to discuss measures to ensure food security from now until 2050 when the global population reaches 9 billion.

He underscored heated issues related to the role of the economic sectors, local authorities, scientists, and businesses community in solving the food shortage.

Farra Siregar, Dupon Vietnam’s General Director said Vietnam has become the world’s important rice exporter but reasonable prices are considered to be the key to ensuring food security. Thus, it is necessary to apply scientific and technological advances in food production.

Meanwhile, Dao Quoc Luan, deputy head of the Planning Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said that Vietnam aims to eradicate poverty by 2012. To ensure national food security by 2020, Vietnam will keep 3.8 million hectares under rice cultivation, maintain an output of 43 million tonnes of paddy and export around 4 million tonnes of rice per year.-VNA