Green and Eco-friendly agriculture: Opportunities for fruit and vegetables processing industry to archive visibility and distinguish itself in the international marketplace
Vietnam’s processed fruit and vegetables with eco-fair certification are expanding export to the EU under EVFTA, with the expectation of exploiting opportunities in the market thanks to incentives given by the agreement.
Advantages of eco-fair certified processed fruit and vegetables
The EVFTA Agreement opens up many opportunities for Vietnam’s export market, including processed fruit and vegetables. However, the industry has yet to take advantage of the agreement due to unsustainable factors, and it is necessary to find suitable solutions soon.
Therefore, the development of eco-fair certified processed agriculture products is an inevitable trend and is increasingly popular in many countries, including Vietnam, because of its benefits.
Economically, processed products with eco-fair certification in general and processed fruit, in particular, will help small and medium enterprises have the opportunity to shift manufacturing models and stimulate standardization of Vietnamese fruit and vegetables production process.
In fact, processed fruit in our country has only been invested in capital widening to increase output, not to focus on in-depth investment to create goods with high added value. Businesses mainly buy directly from farmers. An ecological and fair workout will help ensure input quality and output quality. From there, meet the requirements of the export market.
In terms of environment protection, many agricultural, forestry, and fishery exports of Vietnam are based on natural resources (land, water, sea, forests …), and the development of agriculture is at risk engine destroying this resource. Moreover, due to the outdated production level, the environment is seriously polluted during the production process.
Environmentally and friendly production processes such as food safety processes in manufacturing are being researched and put into practice in production facilities. They are expected to reduce the negative impact of agricultural farming on natural resources while maintaining sustainable development.
In terms of society, the development of the processed fruit and vegetables industry in terms of production and export is attracting a labour force. However, this has a significant negative effect, causing the current social unsustainability situation of our country. Export enterprises are increasing production capability while neglecting the need for workforce improvement. Labor quality is low, and workers’ income is unstable. The changes in the world market make farmers more vulnerable, widening the gap between rich and poor, increasing income inequality among different regions and classes. This leads to the erosion of labour’s share of value added, which is the result from importation and trade automation.
Applying the direction of processed fruit and vegetables toward ecology and fairness, which means equal sharing of trade benefits, with the foremost benefit is the benefit-sharing mechanism in resource exploitation. Moreover, the farmers will have access to new techniques and opportunities to enhance farming skills. Finally, the value of products will increase, contributing to stabilizing income sources of farmers, while solving job unemployment issues, and changing jobs for workers.
Within the reach but not easy
The benefits of developing processed fruit and vegetables products in eco-fair direction are clear, but there are still many challenges and difficulties ahead. In order to develop sustainably in the industry, there are two factors that need to be considered: good raw materials and good processing technology. If these two factors are not developed in parallel, wasted is the expected result.
To create green and eco-friendly products, the input materials need to comply with certification standards, with traceability. Therefore, it is essential to find stable and good sources of raw materials and find the output of products. The result can be met by following these actions:
+ Enhancing the capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to implement sustainable manufacturing practices and innovative productions in raw material input of the supply chain. Accordingly, it is necessary for enterprises to reorganize, build and form the value chain from varieties selection, cultivation, collection, processing, packaging, and preservation to export transportation.
+ Raising awareness to a majority of consumers about sustainable consumer behaviors and building a network to promote eco-fair labeling. Why should green and eco-friendly products be used by customers?
+ Using a sustainable e-platform to build a network of eco-fair retailers. The network is used as a source for members of the processed fruit and vegetables industry to find production output.
+ Enhancing capability for eco-fair MSMEs to gain access to sources of finance. Supporting the development of policies on eco-fair production and consumption in Vietnam.
Currently, the project of Promotion of supply and demand of Eco Fair agri food processing products in Vietnam has been implemented. It will be an opportunity for processed fruit and vegetables manufacturers to seize a breakthrough opportunity and being put in a great position in the market. It is not until Vietnamese manufacturers can produce high quality eco-friendly products that Vietnamese processed fruit and vegetables are welcomed in the global market.
