The Vietnam Rice Industry Association (VIETRISA) has set a goal for 2025 to develop a certified label for the “Vietnam Low-Emission Green Rice” brand, paving the way for the creation of a national rice brand in the coming years.
Toward a Low-Emission, High-Value Rice Brand
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Within the framework of the AGRITECHNICA ASIA Vietnam 2025 International Exhibition, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), VIETRISA, and the German Agricultural Society (DLG), held a conference themed “The Value Chain of Vietnam’s Green, High-Quality, and Low-Emission Rice.”
Experts at the event presented the latest progress of the national project “Sustainable Development of One Million Hectares of High-Quality, Low-Emission Rice Linked to Green Growth in the Mekong Delta by 2030” — an internationally recognized and highly valued strategic initiative.
Developing the “Vietnam Green Rice” Brand
According to Mr. Lê Thanh Tùng, Standing Vice President and General Secretary of VIETRISA, the Association aims to launch a trademark for the “Vietnam Low-Emission Green Rice” brand in 2025. This will serve as a foundation for building a national certification mark for low-carbon rice with the potential for carbon credit trading by 2028.
He explained that the “One Million Hectare Project” has long emphasized the concept of low-emission rice. Vietnam is currently piloting a Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) system, which is expected to be fully operational by 2028 — enabling carbon valuation and payment mechanisms.
However, brand development can begin immediately. “What matters now,” Mr. Tùng emphasized, “is that enterprises prove their products comply with the Technical Protocol for High-Quality, Low-Emission Rice Production issued by the Department of Crop Production (now the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection) in 2024.”
“Certification for ‘Vietnam Low-Emission Green Rice’ will be granted by VIETRISA, ensuring transparency and credibility. Until a national certification system for low-carbon rice is established, businesses may self-declare their ‘green rice’ brand, provided they are responsible for their claims,” he added.
This certification process will start at the enterprise level. Businesses participating in the One-Million-Hectare Project must demonstrate their commitment to sustainable, high-quality rice production and affirm their product value to consumers.
Economic Efficiency and Environmental Benefits
Mr. Nguyễn Cao Khải, Director of Tiến Thuận Agricultural Cooperative (Thạnh An Commune, Vĩnh Thạnh District, Cần Thơ City), proudly shared that his cooperative was the first in Cần Thơ and the Mekong Delta selected to pilot the One-Million-Hectare Project.
The 50-hectare model involved 12 households practicing low-emission cultivation and 3 households using traditional methods for comparison. After three crop cycles, yields from traditional fields averaged 8.2–8.4 tons/ha, while low-emission fields reached 8.6–9 tons/ha.
“Farmers are very excited,” Mr. Khải said. “Even though rice prices have fallen and input costs have risen, we clearly see economic efficiency — and more importantly, we are contributing to protecting our health, the community, and the environment.”
Regarding production costs, traditional farmers spent about 23–25 million VND/ha on seeds and fertilizers, while low-emission farmers spent only 20–21 million VND/ha — a tangible reduction in costs alongside environmental gains.
Ensuring Long-Term Farmer Participation
Ms. Nguyễn Thị Thu Hương, Deputy Director of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, emphasized that understanding the full benefits of sustainable farming is key to ensuring long-term farmer engagement.
“The One-Million-Hectare Project started under favorable conditions, with strong rice prices. Now that prices have declined, we must ask: will farmers remain motivated to participate? Appropriate support mechanisms are needed to sustain their commitment,” she said.
She also noted that rice production linkages remain fragile. To expand the model nationwide, stronger policies and practical measures are needed to strengthen connections among farmers, enterprises, and markets.
“The Vietnamese rice industry must focus on producing responsible products — not only for consumers but for the future of the sector itself. Once a strong low-emission rice brand is established, Vietnam can develop a niche carbon-friendly market, enhance product value, and elevate its global position,” Ms. Hương concluded.
Digital Transformation and Production Transparency
Dr. Nguyễn Văn Hùng, Senior Expert and Head of the Mechanization and Post-Harvest Group of IRRI Vietnam, highlighted major advances in building a digital data ecosystem for rice production management.
A notable achievement is the RiceMoRe system, developed jointly by the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, the Center for Digital Transformation and Agricultural Statistics, and IRRI.
According to Dr. Hùng, RiceMoRe automatically aggregates data across management levels — from farms and cooperatives to regional and national scales — thereby improving the accuracy of rice production reporting and statistics. Importantly, it can also store and process data on greenhouse gas emissions from rice cultivation.
“The development and application of digital technologies like RiceMoRe will provide a strong foundation for Vietnam’s agriculture by 2028 — ensuring transparent production, enhancing product value, and meeting the increasingly stringent standards of domestic and international markets,” Dr. Hùng affirmed.
Meaning and Significance
The initiative to build the “Vietnam Green Rice” brand reflects a strategic shift in the country’s rice industry — from focusing purely on yield to embracing sustainability, transparency, and carbon accountability. It positions Vietnam not only as a global leader in low-emission rice production but also as a pioneer in integrating agricultural products into the emerging carbon market.
In essence, “Vietnam Green Rice” is more than a label — it is a symbol of responsible agriculture, representing economic efficiency, environmental protection, and Vietnam’s readiness to thrive in a carbon-valued global economy.