The 2nd International Conference on Education, Environment and Agriculture (ICEEA 2021), with the theme "Sustainable Food, Food and Livelihood Systems: Translating Discoveries into Solutions and Applications"

On the morning of August 25, 2021, Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA) in collaboration with Central Bicol State University of Agriculture , Philippines (CBSUA) and Ecosystem Research and Development Department (ERDB), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Philippines co-hosted the 2^nd International Conference on Education, Environment and Agriculture (ICEEA 2021), with the theme "Sustainable Food Systems and Livelihood: Translating Discovery into Solutions and Applications". The conference took place online from the main venue, Central Bicol State University of Agriculture, Philippines, connecting with individuals, organizations, universities and partners on the Zoom platform.

The 2^nd ICEEA 2021 aimed to bring together and share together different initiatives, innovations and engagement of different communities to address the pressing needs for food and livelihoods in today's global context of unprecedented challenges. As the times of global instability unfold, food and livelihoods become central to society's demands. Communities, countries and regions have learned and realized that responding to this crisis will determine the future for all of us.

Accordingly, the objective of this Conference was to enhance the sharing of ideas and knowledge among the parties, establish relationships in scientific research and international cooperation activities, and create a forum for scientists, managers, domestic and international businesses to connect, exchange and share information, introduce advanced technologies and discover recent scientific discoveries in the fields of agriculture, environment, and education, and propose urgent creative and innovative solutions to create sustainable food systems and livelihoods across countries.

The conference attracted the attention and participation of more than 250 delegates, who are leading experts, scientists, managers and entrepreneurs from 12 countries around the world including Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, USA, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Timor Leste, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, and Liberia.

The topic of the Conference focused on key and urgent aspects of agriculture, environment and education; its specific topics include the followings: (1) Sustainable Agriculture (Sustainable plant production, protection and quality; Biological pest control and IPM in protected systems; Agricultural biodiversity and biological natural resources; Agricultural production systems; Agricultural economics; Agribusiness and financial management); (2) Environment (Climate change impact, adaptation and mitigation; Environmental conservation; Building resilience environment; Integrated marine and terrestrial management; Environmental governance; Environmental education); and (3) Education (Effective technology in the classroom; Curriculum development; Innovative learning methods; Teaching methods; Improving pedagogical teaching and learning methods).

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Bao Duong – VNUA’s Vice Presidentdelivering a speech at the opening session of the Conference

Speaking at the opening session of the Conference, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Bao Duong - VNUA’s Vice President expressed his joy and honour to be a member university to co-organize the Conference. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Bao Duong stated that, VNUA is a leading university in Vietnam in the fields of training and research in agricultural, environmental and development sciences, therefore, academic exchanges through international seminars and conferences are one of the priorities and concerns of VNUA.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Bao Duong believed that the International Conference on Education, Environment and Agriculture (ICEEA 2021), with the theme "Sustainable Food Systems and Livelihood: Translating Discovery into Solutions and Applications " would be a valuable opportunity, a useful forum for member schools and partners to exchange and discuss, thereby finding effective common directions and solutions for some important and urgent issues in the context of agriculture, environment and education were posing unprecedented challenges today. At the same time, VNUA hopes that the Conference would open up opportunities for experts, researchers, and managers from different countries around the world to enhance opportunities for cooperation in scientific research and training, helping to enrich knowledge in the future.

Some presentations at the opening session of the Conference

At the opening session of the Conference on the morning of August 25, 2021, the participants enjoyed 4 presentations from different countries, including: (1) Sustainable development of technology in agriculture - Focusing on the learning of farmers by Prof. Dr. Andrew Flachs (Purdue University, USA); (2) How gender factors affect career choice – The current situation in Japan and educational interventions to narrow the gap by Prof. Dr. Tomoko Adachi (Osaka Kyoiku University, Japan); (3) Political determination in local governance: Its impact on solid waste management and national security by Dr. Joan A. Lagunda (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Philippines); and (4) Gender perspectives on climate change adaptation in the Red River Delta Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam by Dr. Quyen Dinh Ha (VNUA). In addition, the members actively participated in discussions with European experts within the conference topics such as effective technology application, innovation and development of curricula and teaching methods in environmental education; development of sustainable farming systems, agro-biodiversity and biological natural resources; develop supply chains and food value chains, safe and sustainable food; assessment of impacts, adaptation and mitigation of climate change, improvement of environmental resilience, and environmental governance, etc.

The International Conference on Education, Environment and Agriculture (ICEEA 2021), with the theme "Sustainable Food Systems and Livelihood: Translating Discovery into Solutions and Applications " was divided into 13 sessions under 3 topic groups: Agriculture, Environment and Education, with the participation of 200 researchers from 12 countries, of which 14 presentations prepared and presented by VNUA’s experts and lecturers.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan, Prof. Dr. Alberto N. Naperi, DPA and Dr. Henry A. Adornado sign the Memorandum of Understanding between the three parties online

At the opening ceremony of the Conference, there was also a virtual signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between three parties, including VNUA, CBSUA and Department of Ecosystem Research and Development – Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Philippines (DENR-ERDB). Accordingly, the representatives of the parties included Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan, VNUA’s President; Prof. Dr. Alberto N. Naperi, DPA, CBSUA’s President; and  Dr. Henry A. Adornado, DENR-ERDB’s Director. Based on previous discussions, the three parties agreed to prioritize promoting cooperation in co-organizing international conferences and seminars in order to share knowledge and experience in research and training on agriculture, environment and education. On the basis of strengths and cooperation needs of the parties, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan, Prof. Dr. Alberto N. Naperi, DPA and Dr. Henry A. Adornado signed a memorandum of cooperation between the three parties focusing on the following areas: (i) Actively promoting cooperation and jointly organizing international conferences on agriculture, environment and education (ICEEA); (ii) Designating a co-chair who will be the official representative of VNUA participating in ICEEA; (iii) Actively supporting ICEEA in implementation; (iv) Introducing and promoting information about ICEEA and invite speakers and researchers from VNUA and other foreign universities to present their research results at the conference; and (v) Ensuring active participation of lecturers and researchers in the international conferences.

The Conference was held in 2 days, from August 25, 2021 to August 26, 2021. The plenary session ended on August 25, 2021.

The participants discussing at the Conference