Hanoi: Vietnam's push towards modern, green, and sustainable agriculture, driven increasingly by science and technology, presents substantial opportunities for collaboration with Germany. However, German experts suggest that the focus should be on developing solutions tailored to Vietnam rather than merely importing pre-existing technologies.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, Heinrich Gerd-Witte, Advisory Board Member and Chairman of the Agriculture and Food Committee of the German Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade (BWA), and Hans-Joachim Radtke, BWA's trade representative for Vietnam and Chairman of the German-Vietnamese Innovation and Economic Forum, underscored the promising potential for bilateral cooperation in this sector.
Radtke noted that Vietnam is progressing in the right direction with its economic reforms, offering considerable potential to apply AI and other advanced technologies in agriculture. The crucial aspect, he emphasized, is ensuring that these technologies provide tangible economic value. Additionally, Vietnam needs a practical path towards achieving net-zero emissions, learning from the missteps made by Germany and Europe rather than replicating them.
The experts highlighted that Vietnam has a robust agricultural base and is a dynamically growing economy. However, similar to many other nations, it faces challenges from climate change, water stress, urbanization, and a growing demand for safe and sustainable food, necessitating new agricultural solutions.
Gerd-Witte stated that the goal of bilateral cooperation is not only to advance agriculture and improve local livelihoods but also to help Vietnamese agricultural products gain better access to global markets, particularly the European market, thereby enhancing bilateral trade. Germany can contribute its expertise in AI, automation, digitalization, machine connectivity, the circular economy, and climate adaptation to aid Vietnam's agricultural modernization.
Nonetheless, financing and differing expectations remain significant obstacles. Radtke pointed out that while Vietnamese partners might seek investors, German businesses require financially sound projects that can secure bank financing. A lack of funding can prevent promising ideas from advancing beyond the planning stage.
The experts called for a transition from 'technology export' to 'joint transformation', where both sides research, adapt, and localize solutions before scaling them up. Promising areas for collaboration include smart rice farming, precision agriculture, sustainable aquaculture, water management, sensor technology, data platforms, AI, and climate-resilient agriculture. Urban and indoor farming could also present opportunities, particularly in cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, where such models can enhance local food supplies while conserving land and water.
They also emphasized the critical role of intermediaries, especially those fluent in both Vietnamese and German, in connecting the parties and bridging cultural and working style differences. The experts stressed that success should not be measured by the volume of German technology incorporated into Vietnam, but by the development of solutions that are effective in Vietnam and provide sustainable benefits for farmers, the economy, and the environment.