Ten women who have made outstanding contributions to scientific research, innovation, agricultural production, and development were honoured at the 2026 World Food Day Conference. Among them was Professor Nguyen Thi Lan, President of Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA).
On the morning of 15 October, 2026, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), held the 2026 World Food Day Conference in Ho Chi Minh City under the theme “Innovation for a Food-Secure Future.”
As part of the conference, ten outstanding women were honoured for their contributions to agriculture, agrifood systems, and rural development. The honourees represented a wide range of fields, including primary production, business development, agricultural value chains, scientific research, technology application, agricultural extension, and management.
The recognition aimed to acknowledge the role of women in fostering innovation, improving livelihoods, and building sustainable agricultural value chains. It also sought to encourage greater female participation in research, production, business, and management.
Ten outstanding women were honoured for their contributions to agricultural production, business development and agricultural value chains, scientific research, technology application, agricultural extension, and management. Photo: VNUA
Among the ten honourees was Professor Nguyen Thi Lan, VNUA’s President and a member of the 16th National Assembly of Vietnam. She was a veterinary scientist who had made significant contributions to research and the application of biotechnology, the prevention and control of animal diseases, and the transfer of scientific and technological advances to agricultural production.
After earning her PhD from the University of Miyazaki in Japan in 2007, Prof. Nguyen Thi Lan returned to Vietnam to pursue teaching and research. In 2016, she was appointed the President of VNUA. Two years later, at the age of 44, she was awarded the title of Professor, becoming the youngest female professor in veterinary medicine in Vietnam at that time.
Throughout her research career, Prof. Lan had published 159 scientific works, including 55 international journal articles and 104 domestic journal articles, and participated in 36 science and technology research projects. Her research focused on veterinary biotechnology, the diagnosis, prevention, and control of infectious animal diseases, including those with the potential to spread to humans.
Together with her colleagues, she had contributed to the research and development of several products with practical applications, including vaccines for livestock, rapid diagnostic kits for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), commonly known as blue-ear disease in pigs, and biological bedding products. These research outcomes had helped improve disease prevention and control, reduce livestock farming losses, and protect farmers’ livelihoods.
Pro. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan, VNUA’s President, was honoured for her contributions to sustainable agriculture. Photo: VNUA
As the President of VNUA, Professor Lan had promoted closer links between research and the needs of agricultural production, technology transfer, and the commercialisation of scientific research. Under her leadership, the university had developed 49 strong research groups and expanded its partnerships with more than 100 universities and international organisations, as well as 200 domestic enterprises.
Notably, she had also promoted cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on programmes to improve nutrition through food systems, share agricultural research data, and implement the Zero Hunger Programme. These initiatives aimed to translate research findings into practical applications, enhance human resource quality, and contribute to the sustainable development of agrifood systems.
Besides her scientific and educational leadership roles, Professor Nguyen Thi Lan had served as a member of Vietnam’s National Assembly for three consecutive terms, the 14th, 15th, and 16th, contributing to policy development in education, science and technology, and agriculture.
In recognition of her contributions to research and education, she received the Kovalevskaia Award in 2019 and was awarded the title of Meritorious Teacher in 2021.
Speaking at the conference, Dr. Vinod Ahuja, FAO Representative in Vietnam, emphasised that ensuring women had equal opportunities to access land, capital, knowledge, and markets would help increase productivity, improve child nutrition, and strengthen communities’ resilience to difficulties and challenges.
According to FAO, promoting the role of women in agriculture went beyond recognising their existing contributions. It also required creating favourable conditions for women to access technology and resources, participate in decision-making, and take on leadership positions.
This year’s World Food Day Conference also focused on innovation and international cooperation to develop sustainable food systems, with particular emphasis on implementing the project to develop one million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation in the Mekong Delta.
Nguyen Hoang Hiep, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment, delivers his remarks. Photo: VNUA
In his opening remarks, Nguyen Hoang Hiep, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment, stated that ensuring food security in the new era could no longer rely solely on increasing production volumes. Instead, greater emphasis had to be placed on improving the quality, value, and efficiency of production, reducing environmental impacts, adapting to climate change, and ensuring sustainable livelihoods for farmers.
Through the recognition of outstanding women, the conference reaffirmed the important role of women in driving innovation, applying science and technology, and advancing the transition towards greener and more sustainable agriculture.