The core themes of the upcoming Southeast Region High-Tech Livestock Export Chain Connection Conference will focus on:
- Building an export connection model for high-tech livestock products in a value chain format.
- Adopting Industry 4.0 technology for livestock farm management.
- Reducing antibiotic use in livestock farming.
Southeast Region High-Tech Livestock Export Chain Connection Conference Held in Binh Phuoc
BINH PHUOC – On December 11, 2017, the Binh Phuoc Provincial People's Committee Hall hosted the "Southeast Region High-Tech Livestock Export Chain Connection Conference." The event was jointly organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the Binh Phuoc Provincial People's Committee, with Hung Nhon Group and De Heus Group serving as the key organizing units.
The conference saw the participation of numerous dignitaries, including:
- Mr. Tran Thanh Nam, Deputy Minister of MARD.
- Mr. Nguyen Van Loi, Secretary of the Binh Phuoc Provincial Party Committee.
- Mr. Huynh Anh Minh, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee.
- Leaders from provincial and agricultural sectors of Southeast region provinces and cities.
- The Deputy Consul General of the Netherlands in Vietnam.
- Various experts, businesses, cooperatives, and livestock farms from the Southeast region.
Opening the conference, Mr. Vu Manh Hung, Vice Chairman of the High-Tech Agriculture Club (DAA) and Chairman & CEO of Hung Nhon Group, introduced the model chain for exporting livestock products utilizing the most advanced technology from Big Dutchman Group (Germany). This integrated chain involves:
- Bel Ga (Belgium): Supplying breeding stock.
- De Heus (Netherlands): Providing animal feed.
- Hung Nhon Group: Managing livestock production.
- San Ha and Koyu & Unitek: Responsible for processing, slaughtering, and distributing to consumers.
Mr. Vu Manh Hung also revealed that Hung Nhon Group is actively researching the application of Industry 4.0 technology in livestock production. This initiative aims for a completely closed-loop process, where inputs like breeding stock, feed, and water are precisely controlled to minimize losses, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and automate steps from harvesting and preservation to transportation and processing. All processes adhere to GlobalG.A.P. standards and leverage cloud computing for product traceability.
The successful outcome of these efforts was the first commercial broiler chicken shipment to the demanding Japanese market on September 9, 2017.
At the seminar, Mr. Nguyen Van Loi, Secretary of the Binh Phuoc Provincial Party Committee, emphasized: "The restructuring of the livestock industry must follow a linked-chain model with various levels. Large-scale production by enterprises and cooperatives should focus highly on exports, while small and medium-sized operations should supply the domestic market. Developing the livestock sector with specialty animals linked to organic farming to meet consumer demand... is a trend that needs to be promoted in the coming period."
Mr. Tran Thanh Nam, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), stated that the Ministry is implementing several decrees on livestock production linkages, organic agriculture, and a project to enhance the processing capacity of the agricultural sector to increase the value of export products.
At the conference, Mr. Frank De Laat, Deputy Consul General of the Netherlands in Ho Chi Minh City, also shared Holland's experience in livestock farming. He highlighted that reducing antibiotic use in animal husbandry is a growing trend in developed countries, ensuring the good physical and mental well-being of livestock. This involves treating animals well and respecting animal rights. These rights are measured by how animals are treated, based on five criteria:
- Freedom from hunger and thirst.
- Freedom from discomfort, both physical and mental.
- Freedom from pain, injury, and disease.
- Freedom from fear and distress.
- Freedom to express natural behaviors.
Mr. Frank De Laat also stressed the importance of establishing a truly integrated value chain in livestock farming, viewing livestock farmers as genuine entrepreneurs, and fostering close interaction within a diamond model (government, businesses, intellectual sphere, and consumers).
Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Dung, Director of the National Fertilizer Testing Center, Department of Plant Protection, MARD, cited that annually, Vietnam's livestock industry discharges approximately 87 million tons of animal manure and 58 million tons of animal urine. Of this, only about 20% is utilized efficiently, with the remaining 80% often neglected and largely discharged into the environment, causing pollution.
During the panel discussion, Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam (MARD), Vice Chairman of Binh Phuoc Provincial People's Committee Huynh Anh Minh, Mr. Gabor Fluit (CEO of De Heus Asia), and Mr. Vu Manh Hung (Vice Chairman of the High-Tech Agriculture Club, Chairman & CEO of Hung Nhon Group), addressed questions from the delegates.
On this occasion, the Vietnam High-Tech Agriculture Club, De Heus Group, and Vinacert Certification and Inspection Joint Stock Company signed a cooperation agreement to develop the livestock industry in accordance with VietGAP standards.
Ban Truyền Thông.
