Vietnam Says 76% of Farm Technology Products Remain at Research Stage

Vietnamese officials have identified a wide gap between agricultural research and practical deployment, saying that 341 of 451 science and technology products reported in the sector remain at the research stage. The figures were presented at an October 27 conference in Hanoi on innovation and digital transformation in agriculture and the environment.

Deputy Public Security Minister Nguyen Van Long said reports from 34 localities covered 916 tasks linked to 908 science, technology and innovation products. Agriculture accounted for 451 of those products. Of that agricultural subset, approximately 76% were still being researched and about 24% had reached practical application or commercialization. These are administrative survey figures, not a measured failure rate for all Vietnamese agricultural research.

The findings matter because Vietnam is trying to raise the value of farm output rather than rely primarily on larger production volumes. Officials identified difficulties in linking research teams to companies and producers, defining practical deliverables and transferring technologies to farms. They also pointed to fragmented data systems and limited capacity for processing, preservation and traceability.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung called for science, technology, innovation and digital transformation to become more direct drivers of agricultural growth. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment said it would work with other ministries and local authorities to prioritize research addressing production needs, including improved seeds, veterinary vaccines, biological products, smart farming systems and product traceability.

For northern localities, the deputy prime minister asked authorities to select three to five priority tasks connected to production, processing and markets. The agriculture ministry was asked to finalize its priority list by December 15, with implementation intended to begin in the first quarter of 2027. These are forward-looking instructions and deadlines, not completed outcomes.

Agriculture and Environment Minister Trinh Viet Hung also highlighted the need for closer cooperation among government agencies, scientists, universities, businesses and farmers. Research projects should be assessed against tangible outputs, potential users and economic results rather than research activity alone.

Vietnam's agriculture, forestry and fisheries exports totaled about US$56.3 billion in the first nine months of 2026, according to figures cited at the meeting. That export figure describes sector performance and does not establish that the newly proposed research measures have already raised exports.

The next test will be whether ministries and local authorities turn the conference priorities into funded, measurable projects and increase the share of technologies that producers can use commercially.