Vietnamese ginseng requires quality standards

The event was organised by the Vietnam-Korea Institute of Science and Technology (VKIST) and was attended by representatives from South Korea and Vietnam, opening up opportunities to learn from South Korea's successful experiences and techniques, with the goal of developing the Vietnamese ginseng industry for the domestic and international markets.

VKIST also hopes that Vietnamese and South Korean businesses will find opportunities for cooperation in researching and developing ginseng products in the future.

Vietnamese ginseng has been included on the list of national products by the government since 2017, providing a significant advantage for developing it as a healthcare product. The cultivation of ginseng has contributed to economic development and social welfare in several localities, notably Quang Nam, Kon Tum, and Lai Chau.

At the event, participants agreed that Vietnamese ginseng currently lacks clear, modern, and reliable quality standards that meet the strict demands of consumers.

Vu Duc Loi, director of VKIST, said, "To compete with other ginseng species in the market, Vietnamese ginseng needs clear, modern, and reliable quality standards."

Loi explained that VKST is currently researching and evaluating the quality of Ngoc Linh and Lai Chau ginseng with the help of South Korean technologies and standards.

"VKIST will connect Vietnamese research institutes with their South Korean counterparts in the near future, and provide links with South Korean businesses," he added.

Dr. Pyo MiKyung, Geumsan Ginseng Herb Development Agency in Korea, said, "Vietnam needs to thoroughly research the components of its ginseng and establish a set of standards with clear criteria to attain credibility and gain consumer trust."

After studying Vietnamese ginseng, Prof. Park Jeong Hill, Seoul National University, recommended that Vietnam develop standard cultivation methods for the ginseng to grow well and yield high productivity. He emphasised the need for more research, as scientific evidence of its beneficial qualities is essential for creating demand. He also suggested further cooperation between scientists and farmers.

Many Vietnamese people believe that only Korean ginseng is of sufficient quality. Therefore, in addition to establishing a set of standards for Vietnamese ginseng, there is a need to communicate the quality and benefits of Vietnamese ginseng to raise consumer awareness domestically.

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