Hanoi (VNA) - As green and digital transformation are identified as two strategic drivers of growth, digital infrastructure and data are becoming key foundations for reshaping development models in the agriculture and environment sectors. Besides optimising costs, monitoring environmental conditions and improving supply chain transparency, data is increasingly regarded as a strategic asset, giving businesses a competitive edge in deeper international integration.
This direction is in line with Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science and technology, innovation and national digital transformation, which promotes data- and technology-driven green transformation in agriculture.
A strategic asset for green economy
Whereas growth in the agriculture and environment sectors previously relied mainly on natural resources, labour and production expansion, development is now shifting towards technology- and data-driven models.
Against this backdrop, digital infrastructure and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, digital twins and cloud computing are playing a fundamental role in driving green transformation.
In practice, digital and green transformation are no longer separate processes but increasingly complement each other. While green transformation aims to reduce emissions, promote the circular economy and protect ecosystems, digital infrastructure and data provide the tools to measure, monitor and optimise these efforts.
More importantly, data has evolved beyond a management tool to become a strategic asset. Real-time data enables the monitoring of production activities, improving the efficient use of resources, energy, and production inputs. At the same time, digital infrastructure helps manage the entire product lifecycle, meeting increasingly stringent environmental and traceability standards.
According to Vu Ngoc Tuan, Deputy Head of the Digital Technology Division under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment's Digital Transformation Department, data offers significant benefits for businesses, particularly those involved in processing and trade.
He said digital technologies can reduce investment costs by 15-20%, while cutting energy use and labour costs. More importantly, data enhances supply chain transparency. By digitising and making information traceable from production to consumption, it has become a "passport" enabling agricultural products to access demanding markets such as the EU and Japan.
In production, IoT enables continuous monitoring of farming conditions, helping optimise processes and reduce input costs by 15-25%. AI supports early disease detection, yield forecasting and supply chain optimisation, while blockchain strengthens traceability and MRV systems help measure emissions and connect producers with carbon markets.
However, Tuan noted that for digital infrastructure and data to become genuine growth drivers, institutional and policy frameworks must be developed in parallel.
He said digital transformation cannot be separated from a sound legal framework. Policies on data, electronic transactions, and digital technology are gradually being improved. The sector's digital transformation strategy targets the digital economy contributing 10% by 2030 and 20% by 2035, while promoting real-time, data-driven natural resource management. At the same time, a unified digital architecture is being developed and connected with the National Data Centre.
Alongside institutional reform, data standardisation and human resource development are also essential. Standardised data enables different systems to connect, forming a complete digital ecosystem. In the long term, data will become a key factor determining the competitiveness of the agriculture and environment sectors in global supply chains.
Building unified data ecosystem
According to Director of the Digital Transformation Department Le Phu Ha, improving institutions and policies has been a priority since early 2026. The ministry has issued a series of key documents, including the 2026 digital transformation plan, the 2026-30 roadmap, and decisions establishing the ministry's Data Steering Committee and its operating regulations.
At the same time, the sector is developing a data governance framework, data dictionary, and sector-wide data catalogue to build a unified governance system that underpins digital transformation.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is developing 25 sector-wide information systems and databases. Four are already operational, while the remainder are being built under the principles that data should be accurate, sufficient, clean, live, unified, and shared to support effective management and administration.
According to the department, a key milestone has been connectivity with the National Data Centre. The ministry has synchronised 12 national and sectoral databases, laying the foundation for an integrated digital data ecosystem. Its connection with the Ministry of Public Security in April 2026 marked another important step towards data-driven governance./.
