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Aquaculture Magazine reports:
The Embassy of the Netherlands in Vietnam held a few days ago in Can Tho, a Vietnamese city in the Mekong Delta, a business forum focused on finding ways for sustainable aquaculture in the region. The event was held in collaboration with the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).
Nguyen Van Huu, representative of MARD’s Fisheries Directorate, reported discussions focused on sustainable aquaculture, water resource management, a circular economy model, advanced technology transfer, breeding program development, capacity building and climate change mitigation.
According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien, the Mekong Delta is Vietnam’s aquaculture hub, generating 61.8% of the country’s seafood production and 57.6% of the value of its seafood exports. But the region faces major challenges such as climate change, saline intrusion, environmental pollution, biodiversity loss and increasing international market pressure.
Collaborating closely for more than a decade
Vietnam and the Netherlands have been collaborating closely for more than a decade on sustainable agriculture, food security, water resource management and aquaculture, promoting innovation, scientific research and practical measures for sustainable development.
The European country has been a global leader in sustainable practices and held strengths in nutrition research, cooperative management and advanced aquaculture technologies – the areas where Vietnamese research agencies and businesses could cooperate for development, said the Deputy Minister.
Consul General of the Netherlands in Ho Chi Minh City Daniel Stork said through cooperation mechanisms, both sides could equip local farmers with knowledge and technologies to develop sustainable livelihoods and protect the environment.
For his part, Michiel Smit from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency held that sustainable aquaculture production can only be achieved through a focused and robust approach that prioritizes water resources management, food safety, farm management, and technology application.
Other opportunities for expanding bilateral collaboration
In the same days, working session between leaders of Can Tho and a delegation led by Daniel Stork, Consul General of the Netherlands in Ho Chi Minh City, was held in the Mekong delta city to discuss opportunities for expanding bilateral collaboration in agriculture, environmental protection, and climate change adaptation.
During the meeting, Vice Chairman of the Can Tho municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thuc Hien reiterated the city’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, in line with the country’s pledge at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference.
Hien expressed his hope that increased cooperation with the Netherlands will result in innovative projects aimed at addressing sea level rise, flooding and other climate-related risks.
According to the city leader, Can Tho is currently proposing a large-scale project to address urban flooding and erosion while strengthening climate adaptation efforts. The project, which will focus on integrating flood prevention with urban planning on 2,770 hectares in the city, has an estimated budget of more than USD 190 million and is expected to be implemented between 2024 and 2030.
For his part, Stork expressed confidence in deepening relations between Vietnam, Can Thơ and the Netherlands, noting that past successes have laid a solid foundation for future cooperation.
He stressed that joint projects related to green and sustainable agriculture, environment and climate change adaptation are essential not only for the participating countries, but also for global efforts to protect the planet.
He praised Can Tho’s proactive approach to sea level rise, highlighting the city’s progress in implementing structural and non-structural solutions to improve climate resilience and protect urban areas from flooding.
According to Can Tho’s Department of Foreign Affairs, the city’s exports to the Netherlands reached USD 22.01 million in the first nine months of this year. Among the most important exports are seafood products, agricultural products and dairy products.
The post Representatives from Vietnam and the Netherlands Meet to Boost Cooperation in Sustainable Aquaculture appeared first on Aquaculture Magazine.
