Within the framework of the Protocol between Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA) and the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina titled: Quinoa varietal selection and production development for suitable ecological areas in Vietnam, VNUA’s delegation including the International Cooperation Office representative leader, and quinoa research team paid an working official visit to the University of Buenos Aires and several agricultural academic institutions in the Republic of Argentina.
The University of Buenos Aires is one of the largest multidisciplinary universities in the South America with 320,000 students in total and one of the best 50 postgraduate agricultural education institutions in the world. The delegation discussed with leaders and the International Cooperation Office of the University of Buenos Aires about the mutual cooperation enhancement in training and research. The delegation also worked with Prof. Daniel Berteto, a leading expert in quinoa breeding for abiotic stress tolerance such as drought and salinity, who takes charge of implementing bilateral cooperation of the two universities. The two sides will continue to cooperate in the exchange of breeding materials and international publications. The Argentinian side will support the training of VNUA’s students and researchers too.
The delegation discussed the cooperation with the leaders and the International Cooperation Office of the University of Buenos Aires
Professor Bertero introduced high yield and drought tolerant varieties.
Quinoa has high nutritional value and is priced 2-7 times higher than other grains.
With the special support of the Argentine Embassy in Vietnam and the Vietnam Embassy in Argentina in connecting VNUA with leading Argentine accademic institutions, the delegation had the opportunity to visit the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria - INTA). INTA is the largest agricultural research institute in Argentina with 7,000 staff based in Buenos Aires, 15 regional centers, 52 testing stations, 6 research centers, 22 research institutes, and 350 affiliates distributed throughout Argentina's ecological regions. INTA has been researching and supporting 31 Argentine high-value agricultural commodity chains. At the meeting, the two sides agreed to jointly seek funding sources to boost bilateral cooperation in their strong reserach fields such as: salt, rice, soybean, maize, veterinary vaccine; tropical fruits, aquatic products, and animal husbandry.
The delegation discussed cooperation with the Director and the Head of International Cooperation Office of INTA
The delegation worked with the Center for Agricultural Technology Development
for households and the Quinoa Research Center in Northwestern Argentina
The delegation worked at the Center for Genetic Resources Preservation and Biotechnology Center
where the laboratory assigned by the Government of Argentina to certify GMO products for agricultural exports is based).
The delegation of the university has successfully completed their working mission in Argentina. With the support from the Argentina Embassy in Vietnam and Vietnam Embassy in Argentina, hopefully in the coming time, VNUA will continue to extend training and scientific research cooperation with Argentinian partners.