From June 30th to July 4th, 2025, the Vietnam National University of Agriculture successfully organized a short-term training course on the Food Value Chain in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan and with the coordination of the ASEAN Secretariat. The training course is part of the project "Human Resource Development in Agriculture and Food-related areas through partnership with universities in ASEAN region," expected to significantly contribute to enhancing human resource capacity, promoting exports, and sustainable development of Vietnam's agricultural sector.

The opening ceremony took place on June 30th, 2025, with the participation of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hoang Anh - Dean of the Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy – HRD Project Coordinator, and several lecturers from the Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA). Representing Japan, Mr. Hiroyuki Tanaka, Director of the Intellectual Property Department at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF), joined the ceremony online. The opening ceremony at VNUA also had the presence of Ms. Kazuko Takabatake, Project Coordinator for HRD Phase 4, representing the ASEAN Secretary. In their opening speeches, both sides emphasized the importance of building and developing the food value chain in the context of international integration, especially with the support and cooperation of leading experts from Japan.

The training course covered various in-depth and practical topics such as Food loss reduction and environmental protection; Global food supply chain management and logistics; Production technology of dairy products; Intellectual property in agriculture. The team of instructors from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan and leading companies such as Megmilk Snow, Yusen Logistics, and Yoshinoya Holdings shared new, updated, and highly applicable knowledge, helping trainees grasp global trends and international business operations.

The course attracted nearly 200 trainees from over 40 universities and food companies nationwide. With a blended learning approach, the course ensured high interactivity, providing opportunities for trainees from all regions to participate fully and actively. Group activities and specialized seminars helped trainees delve deeper into the issues, engage in lively discussions, and evaluate the current situation while proposing sustainable solutions for the development of the food value chain in Vietnam.

Moreover, to bridge theory with practice, trainees visited and learned from Nutricare Nutrition Joint Stock Company, Yen Dung Safe Vegetable Cooperative, and Luc Ngan Green Litchi Cooperative, helping them better understand practical models in the management of production and trading of safe, high-quality agricultural products and food. During the closing ceremony on July 3rd, 2025, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy, representing VNUA, summarized the outstanding results of the training course and extended heartfelt thanks to the Japanese partners, the ASEAN Secretary, and supporting units. Ms. Akiko Ishimaru, representing MAFF of Japan, affirmed that the course not only provided valuable knowledge but also laid a foundation for stronger cooperation between the two countries in the future.

This training course not only provided an opportunity to develop professional capacity for trainees but also opened up great prospects for international cooperation between Vietnam and Japan. This is an important prerequisite for building a network of high-quality human resources to meet the increasing demands of the agriculture and food industry in Vietnam and the ASEAN region.

The programme implementation has been uploaded to the HRD Project website. You may access it to the following link: https://aseanhrdproject.com/schedule/food-value-chain-training-course-in-partnership-with-vnua-2025/

Some images from the training course

 

The training course is organized in a hybrid format, combining both in-person and online sessions

Lecturer guides the preparation of group discussion topics

Trainees participate in direct learning at the Vietnam National University of Agriculture

Japanese lecturer teaches online

Trainees ask questions to the lecturer after each study topic

Trainees present reports on discussion topics

Ms. Kazuko Takabatake – Coordinator of Project HRD Phase 4 , representing the ASEAN Secretary, delivered the closing remarks for the training course

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyễn Thị Bích Thủy – HRD Project Coordinator from the Vietnam National University of Agriculture expressed her gratitude at the end of the training course

Representatives of the organizing committee, lecturers, and trainees participating in direct learning at the Vietnam National University of Agriculture

 

Faculty of Food Science and Technology