Bayer’s ForwardFarming Initiative granted the “Public-Private Partnership of the Year” award

The award is given by the GovMedia Conference & Awards in recognition of outstanding government projects and initiatives in Asia that positively impact the well-being of the region's people. The ForwardFarming Initiative stands as a testament to the power of public-private partnerships in driving sustainable development and bringing about positive change in the agricultural community in Vietnam.

Bayer and NAEC honored with “Public-Private Partnership of the Year” Award for ForwardFarming Initiative. Photo by GovMedia.

Rice is Vietnam’s most important crop and is grown on more than half of its agricultural land area. The Vietnamese Government has set a vision to shift from low-quality, high-volume rice to low-emission, high-quality rice. However, over 15 million rice smallholders involved in rice production are faced with many challenges, such as land degradation, water scarcity, and climate change.

The ForwardFarming Initiative was launched in September 2023 through a three-year partnership between Bayer Vietnam and NAEC to address these challenges for Vietnam’s rice production. The project has attracted various rice value-chain partners from the public to the private sector, including Provincial Agricultural Service Centers, Mekong Delta Rice Institute, Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint Stock Company, Saigon Kim Trading Service Company Limited Hong, Vietnam Rice Company Limited (Vinarice), and others.

Within the framework of the project, Bayer Vietnam and rice value-chain partners have led several initiatives to help Vietnamese farmers increase rice yields while minimizing environmental impacts. One remarkable initiative is establishing demonstration sites showcasing high-quality rice production techniques that optimize inputs and reduce emissions. On-farm demonstration sites showcase integrated practices like optimized seed rate and fertilizer application, water management techniques, and integrated crop protection approaches with Bayer’s Much More Rice Solution.

Another initiative is enhancing farmers’ sustainable rice cultivation capabilities through extensive training. To date, up to 4,500 rice growers in Can Tho, An Giang, and Kien Giang have participated in workshops covering topics such as good agricultural practices, safe, responsible, and effective use of crop protection solutions, and greenhouse gas mitigation strategies suited to local conditions.

Rice is Vietnam’s most important crop and is grown on more than half of its agricultural land area. The Vietnamese Government has set a vision to shift from low-quality, high-volume rice to low-emission, high-quality rice. However, over 15 million rice smallholders involved in rice production are faced with many challenges, such as land degradation, water scarcity, and climate change.

The ForwardFarming Initiative was launched in September 2023 through a three-year partnership between Bayer Vietnam and NAEC to address these challenges for Vietnam’s rice production. The project has attracted various rice value-chain partners from the public to the private sector, including Provincial Agricultural Service Centers, Mekong Delta Rice Institute, Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint Stock Company, Saigon Kim Trading Service Company Limited Hong, Vietnam Rice Company Limited (Vinarice), and others.

Within the framework of the project, Bayer Vietnam and rice value-chain partners have led several initiatives to help Vietnamese farmers increase rice yields while minimizing environmental impacts. One remarkable initiative is establishing demonstration sites showcasing high-quality rice production techniques that optimize inputs and reduce emissions. On-farm demonstration sites showcase integrated practices like optimized seed rate and fertilizer application, water management techniques, and integrated crop protection approaches with Bayer’s Much More Rice Solution.

Another initiative is enhancing farmers’ sustainable rice cultivation capabilities through extensive training. To date, up to 4,500 rice growers in Can Tho, An Giang, and Kien Giang have participated in workshops covering topics such as good agricultural practices, safe, responsible, and effective use of crop protection solutions, and greenhouse gas mitigation strategies suited to local conditions.

Up to 4,500 rice growers in Can Tho, An Giang, and Kien Giang have participated in workshops on sustainable and good agricultural practices. Photo by Minh Phu.

Thanks to these collaborative efforts, this public-private partnership project has been quickly scaled up to make a substantial impact on rice production. Since the inception of the initiative, the adoption of sustainable rice farming practices has led to a 30% reduction in seed rates and the use of herbicides, fertilizers, and workload for farmers. Farm yields across three crop seasons have also reportedly increased by 13%, resulting in a more profitable farming system with a 46% higher profit-to-income ratio compared to conventional practices.

The findings from the Mekong Delta Rice Institute also show that climate-smart rice farming techniques have significantly improved plant growth, soil quality, and water savings of up to 50% compared to conventional rice farming methods. On top of that, greenhouse gas emissions have also been slashed by 24.7%. These positive outcomes reflect how the public-private partnership drives the farming communities towards a sustainable and resilient future.

"We are grateful for our partnership with NAEC and the dedication of all stakeholders involved in ForwardFarming," said Mateus Barros, Cluster Head of Crop Science Division, East Asia & Pakistan, Bayer. "This recognition serves as an inspiration for us to leverage our 30 years of experience in Vietnam, fostering collaboration with more partners across rice value chain, driving innovation, and placing special emphasis on regenerative farming practices, in order to make a positive and enduring impact in the agricultural sector."

Le Quoc Thanh, Director of NAEC under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said, “By introducing innovative and sustainable farming solutions tailored to the specific needs and conditions of Vietnam, ForwardFarming Initiative aims to transform the rice cultivation practices in Vietnam. NAEC is excited about our ongoing partnership with Bayer and other rice-value chain partners to scale up this initiative. The PPP model will contribute to the government’s efforts to develop 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation.”

Le Quoc Thanh, Director of NAEC (R). Photo by Minh Phu.

As climate change poses a significant threat to rice production, Bayer Vietnam and NAEC have pushed forward several future plans to accelerate the ForwardFarming initiative. Ongoing work will focus on conducting further research and evaluations to more effectively decrease greenhouse gas emissions and boost rice quality. The partner network will be expanded to reach more farmers in the Mekong Delta region. This aims to improve the livelihoods of farming communities while also supporting the government's target of establishing 1 million hectares of sustainable, high-quality, and low-emission rice cultivation in the Mekong Delta region.