Fostering the adoption of sustainable rice straw innovations in Vietnam through private sector engagement

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Loc Troi Agricultural Research Institute signed an agreement on developing smart paddy logistics management and sustainable rice straw solutions at the Loc Troi Group’s 7th Science Café in An Giang Province. With this year’s theme, Solutions for sustainable, stable, and continuous agricultural production, the event attracted more than 70 representatives from various local and international private sectors and research and development agencies.

Organized by the Loc Troi Group, one of Vietnam’s leading manufacturers and distributors of seeds, crop protection chemicals, fertilizers, and food products, the Science Café aimed to tackle issues concerning agricultural production, particularly in the Mekong River Delta.

“The programs and activities in cooperation with the private sector make an important and effective contribution to achieving the goal of improving productivity and reducing environmental impact by scaling the application of new technologies, especially in mechanization and smart agriculture,” said Dinh Thi Kim Dung, office manager at IRRI-Vietnam.

Ms. Dinh also recognized the long-standing collaboration between IRRI and the Loc Troi Agricultural Research Institute, particularly the research and implementation of improved and sustainable rice farming practices, which has produced important achievements.

Part of the collaboration between the Loc Troi Group and IRRI will be testing and further development of the app EasyHarvest . The app was developed by IRRI for smart management and optimization of the logistics of paddy grains from harvest to drying by enhancing management efficiency and reducing cost and postharvest loss in paddy grain transportation.

Nguyen Van Hung, a scientist at IRRI’s Mechanization and Postharvest Unit, introduced EasyHarvest as a potential postharvest solution. Sowing of rice in the Mekong River Delta is done at the same time for easy and optimal control of pests and diseases, Dr. Nguyen explained….