An overview of the conference on February 22. (VNA) The online conference, 'Strategies to develop technology, science and creativeinnovation for the agriculture industry and rural areas development 2030-2050',was organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) on February23.
The key goal of the plan is to make science and technology key to building aproductive, quality and effective agriculture industry with robustcompetitiveness and a sustainable value close to the campaign of building 'newrural areas', according to Nguyen Huu Ninh, Deputy Director of the ministry’s Departmentof Science, Technology and Environment.
The strategy also laid out specific goals, such as the Total FactorProductivity (TFP) in the agriculture industry's growth must reach at least 50%,and 40% of agricultural products must be at least of VietGAP quality.
At least 60% of research results must be approved and applied into production,with 15% registered for intellectual property.
At least 200 businesses that use high-tech products should be supported, with60% of businesses with creative innovation by 2025 and 85% by 2030.
Ninh also pointed out that the strategy requires more investments from thegovernment and the public-private sector partnership.
To execute the strategy, new policies to motivate the development of science,technology and creativity are also recommended, such as a legal frameworksupporting entrepreneurs in creative innovation for agriculture and a frameworkfor investment and financing new technologies based on healthy competition andoutput effectiveness.
Equipment and researchers for institutes and universities researching newtechnologies in agriculture are also regarded as important resource thatrequires investment.
The strategy also encourages greater international cooperation in researchingand applying new technologies.
One of the main concerns discussed in the seminar was the marketability oftechnological products.
The connection between science institutes and businesses is vague, saidProfessor Pham Van Toan, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Academy of AgricultureSciences.
The policies regarding the transfer of usage rights, research products,intellectual property and establishing an agricultural startup ecosystem shouldalso be reviewed, according to Toan.
Toan also called for an investment in new equipment to keep up with globaldevelopment and the unity in cooperation between institutes.
In his closing speech, Phung Duc Tien, Deputy Minister of Agricultural and RuralDevelopment, emphasised the role of science and technology in contributing tothe success of the agricultural industry.
The strategy is now just a plan, and the most crucial issue lies in theexecution, said Tien.
Most notably, Tien asked for a review of scientists and researchers and apolicy to keep talented ones working in Vietnam, citing a brain drain of 10%annually being the problem.
Technology products should also be marketable in the future to fully utilisethe research and studies, said Tien./.
VNA
