The European Union, VIRI and its partners promote eco-fair agri-food products in Vietnam
Hanoi, 21 December 2021 – Under the framework of the project “Promotion of supply and demand of Eco-Fair Agri-food processing products in Vietnam” (Eco-Fair), co-financed by the European Union with EUR 1.5 million through the EU’s SWITCH-Asia Programme, VIRI and its partners held an online Policy Dialogue on “PROMOTION OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND OF ECO-FAIR AGRI-FOOD PRODUCTS”.
The dialogue attracted more than 160 participants including: Mr. Koen Duchateau, First Counselor, Head of Cooperation Section of the European Union Delegation to Vietnam; Mr. Le Hoang Tai, Deputy Director, Trade Promotion Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade; Representative of Department of Economic Cooperation and Rural Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Science and Technology; International Trade Center (ITC); International Labor Organization (ILO), World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), Global GAP Organization; Vietnam Standards and Quality Association , Vietnam Organic Agriculture Association, Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, Animal Husbandry Association Of Viet Nam, Vietnam Consumer Protection Association, Binh Phuoc Cashew Association. On the side of the project lead and co-implementation units, there were Ms. Nguyen Bao Thoa, Eco-Fair Project Manager, Director of the Vietnam Rural Industry Development Research Institute (VIRI); Mr. Nguyen Hong Long, Director of Centre for Creativity and Sustainability (CCS); Mr. Juha Ruskola, Project Coordinator, Funzilife Oy Company Limited (FUNZI); Ms. Nguyen Le Hang, Deputy Director of Vietnam Cleaner Production Center Co., Ltd (VNCPC). The Policy Dialogue also has the participation of international organizations, non-governmental organizations, experts and officials of universities, research institutes, businesses, media agencies, and the press.
At the Policy Dialogue, Mr. Koen Duchateau, Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation to Vietnam stated “For decades, the European Union has been a leader in addressing global challenges like climate change, environment, and sustainable consumption and production (SCP). The European Green Deal, adopted by the EU in December 2019, is the growth agenda for Europe in the next decades, aiming at promoting circularity in energy-intense sectors, ensuring greener and more sustainable food processing, setting ambitious standards for products, reducing food losses and waste and empowering consumers in their daily choices for products and services. The Eco-Fair project presents a great opportunity for Vietnam to progress towards a more sustainable agri-food sector by engaging value chain stakeholders, including private sector and consumer groups, and policy-makers to achieve the switch to more sustainable consumption and production”.
The Policy Dialogue shared some results and initial impacts of the Eco-Fair project that promotes Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) practices in eco-fair agri-food products supply chains, which contributes to the development of sustainable livelihoods and circular economy in Vietnam. The Eco-Fair project targets micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), consumer groups in agri-food processing sectors, as well as business intermediaries and relevant government authorities:
– Online training for nearly 1000 businesses and cooperatives, over 1 million consumers, building a network of sustainable consumption change-makers in the Eco-Fair Green Community group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ecofairgroup)
– Quick assessments and support enterprises to implement activities of efficient use of resources and cleaner production.
– Support enterprises to innovate sustainable products, conduct over 200 surveys, quickly evaluate 174 enterprises to select 33 enterprises for in-depth assessment on product innovation and technological innovation; provide orientation and solutions for product innovation and enterprise technology.
– Support for 23 businesses and cooperatives to self-assess and register for eco-fair certification (EU Organic, USDA, Global GAP, FLO, WFTO, TCVN, VietGAP, OCOP…), support packaging design, promoting communication for fair ecological products through Uncle Tom’s store system and Community Supermarket. Coordinating with associations to develop Code of Conduct and policy proposals for the industry (Vietnam Organic Agriculture Association, Vietnam Cashew Association, Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, Animal Husbandry Association of Viet Nam).
Some news and articles about the Policy Dialogue were published in newspapers:
https://congthuong.vn/don-bay-cho-san-pham-dat-chung-nhan-sinh-thai-cong-bang-169643.html
