Colombia and Vietnam join forces to strengthen their rice and cashew agroindustries

Mosquera, Cundinamarca. December 5, 2024. AGROSAVIA led a technical mission to southern Vietnam in collaboration with the Embassy of Colombia in Vietnam and the Presidential Agency for International Cooperation (APC-Colombia, for its Spanish acronym). This initiative sought to promote exchanging knowledge and technologies applied to rice and cashew production systems, which is essential for both nations.

During the visit, which took place between November 18 and 22, 2024, experts from the Tibaitatá, Nataima, and Turipaná Research Centers met with researchers from the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS), highlighting meetings with the Southern Vietnam Cashew Research and Development Center and the Mekong Delta Rice Research Institute. These activities allowed the exploration of advanced methodologies implemented in Vietnam, such as genetic breeding technologies, sustainable soil and water management practices, and climate adaptation strategies. In addition, visits to cultivation areas and specialized laboratories were made, where VAAS' commitment to innovation and agricultural development was confirmed.

In this context, important opportunities for collaboration between the two institutions could be generated. In the case of rice, the technical exchange would allow the development of hybrid varieties adapted to specific conditions in Colombia, such as saline soils or areas susceptible to flooding. Besides, there is the possibility of adopting technologies for efficient water management, such as intermittent irrigation, which would contribute to reducing carbon emissions. Strategies could also be designed to diversify rice uses, taking advantage of agro-industrial by-products to increase their added value.

Regarding cashews, potential initiatives to share advanced propagation techniques, such as grafting and early selection, were identified, enabling the stabilization of high-yield and superior-quality nut hybrids. Similarly, the joint development of strategies for sustainable soil management and optimization of post-harvest systems would strengthen the competitiveness of Colombian cashews in international markets, guaranteeing high quality and traceability standards.

This mission has laid the foundation for a collaboration that could be extended to other productive systems, such as coffee and coconut, and include technical exchange programs and joint projects. The bilateral relationship between AGROSAVIA and VAAS can potentially become a model of international cooperation aimed at sustainable agricultural development and innovation in Latin America and Asia.