Vietnam aims to become responsible, sustainable food producer

Vietnam targets becoming a transparent, responsible, and sustainable food producer and supplier under a national action plan on building a food and foodstuff system by 2030, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang has said.

He made the statement while addressing the 4th Global Conference of the One Planet Network’s Sustainable Food System Program (SFS Program), which opened in Hanoi on April 24.

Lasting until April 27, the conference will look into barriers and problems related to the transformation of the food system and propose solutions, focusing on models and global architecture in the food system; national and local policies and the administration of the food system; production and consumption models; and food system transformation methods.

Vietnam stands ready to share its experience and cooperate with other countries in agriculture and rural development, and wishes to receive more support from them in the time ahead, he said.

He cited a report from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) showing that the number of people affected by hunger globally rose to 828 million in 2021. The Asia-Pacific region is well off track, and will need an additional 35 years to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, in 2065.

“It’s high time to take action to protect the planet - our common home,” Minister Quang said.

FAO Director General Qu Dongyu stressed the urgent need to transform the food system in a more effective, comprehensive, flexible, and sustainable fashion, saying this requires effort from all countries.

The conference took place in the context of countries around the world worrying about the risk of food insecurity due to the impact of climate change, loss of biodiversity, emerging pandemics, conflict, and price hikes.