Vietnam and Denmark cooperate on food and agriculture

Together with a group of Danish agri-food companies that employ advanced technology with experience in sustainability and green transition, the aim of the minister’s visit is to intensify high-level policy dialogue with a focus on more sustainable food production and a resource-efficient supply chain.

Danish Minister for Food, Agriculture, and Fisheries Jacob Jensen is leading a high-level delegation to Vietnam

During his visit, Jensen has signed a MoU with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, extending government-to-government cooperation.

For the coming years, the cooperation will have increased focus on the green transition of food and agricultural production, aiming to promote a more sustainable and resilient food system.

According to Jensen, Denmark's green transition in sustainable food production has led to the development of strong, innovative methods and approaches throughout the value chain, which have boosted production yield and improved product quality, while consuming less water and energy.

During this visit, the Danish minister also made a keynote speech at a workshop on antimicrobial resistance in agriculture and aquaculture. Antimicrobial resistance is a big threat to public health and human health nowadays. Therefore, this has been an important part of the Strategic Sector Cooperation Food program.

The minister’s visit is the second Danish high-level visit in just two months, and has been accompanied by a group of Danish companies and producers who own the world's leading solutions in food production, processing, and storage, optimising the use of food, agricultural, and water resources.

Vietnam is an attractive destination for Danish businesses in the agricultural sector

Vietnam has become an attractive destination for Danish businesses in the agricultural sector. At present, Denmark one of the EU's highest exports per capita to Vietnam, of which the agri-food sector accounts for approximately half.

“Vietnam has become an important and attractive market for Danish businesses and investors. Although Vietnam and Denmark are geographically very far from each other, we are facing many of the same challenges, and we have to continue working together to find ways to use resources effectively and in a smart way to increase competitiveness and sustainability,” added Jensen.

During his visit to the south of Vietnam, Jensen will visit Food Bank Vietnam, an important partner for the efforts to combat food waste and food loss. He will also pay site visits to a catfish aqua-farm in Tien Giang and an aqua-feed factory in Ben Tre, where close partnerships between Vietnamese and Danish research institutions and companies promote the use of new green technologies and solutions for sustainable aquaculture production in Vietnam.

On the last day of his visit, the minister will deliver another keynote speech at a seminar themed “Sustainable agri-food production – Danish innovative technologies and financing opportunities”. The seminar will provide a forum to connect and facilitate exchange of experiences, technologies, financing, and business opportunities between authorities, local decision-makers, sector managers, and Danish and Vietnamese entrepreneurs.

Vietnam and Denmark have developed a close and long-term relationship on food safety. Since 2017, the bilateral cooperation has concentrated on facilitating cooperation within feed and food safety. The cooperation is a crucial part of the Green Strategic Partnership launched by the two prime ministers last November, where the two countries have committed to promote green transition and green growth, supporting Vietnam in building a green economy and fulfilling the country’s commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

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