Within the framework of the project "Developing human resources in the food sector through cooperation between Japan and ASEAN universities" hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam, from 4 July 2022 to 15 July 2022, Vietnam National University of Agriculture successfully organized a training course on Food Value Chain. Due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, Japanese lecturers presented online lectures, while the main class was based in Vietnam National University of Agriculture, with students participating online from other provinces around the country.
After the opening ceremony on 4 July 2022 with a speech by Mr. Hayato FUKUI, Head of Intellectual Property, Export and International Affairs, representing MAFF, the training program took place for 2 weeks. This course is designed with 10 modules which contain a wide range of topics in the field of agriculture and food: Intellectual Property Law; Supply chain of agricultural and fishery products and logistics; plant varieties selection; Agricultural business; Animal husbandry and meat processing industry; Loss of food and environment; Restaurant and fast food industry; International trade in food and agricultural products; Food processing and sustainable development; Agricultural cooperatives in Japan. The speakers are experts from the Intellectual Property Office, Department of Export and International Affairs (MAFF), Japan's agricultural and food production and trading companies. such as Ajinomoto AGF Company, Takii Co., Ltd., JETRO Hanoi Group, Yusen Logistics Co., Ltd., Yoshinoya Company, Institute for Development of Asian Agricultural Cooperation - IDACA.
Although the training time was limited and formated in the combincation of face-to-face and online for theories, discussion and presentation, the training course took place as planned with excellent quality. Nearly 200 students from 6 universities, 9 centers, research institutes, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Vietnamese agricultural and food enterprises have accessed basic and up-to-date knowledge about the agricultural and food science sectors, Japan's policies for sustainable, environmentally friendly, high-value agro-food development, agricultural and food trading and business strategies for Japanese products. Especially, new knowledge on intellectual property issues and geographical indications for agricultural and food products were introduced for the first time. Although students did not have the opportunity to go on a field trip, they were able to exposed to the restaurant and food industry model through the videos of Yoshinoya Company.
In the training program, after the theoretical lessons, students were divided into 10 groups to discuss and present in two seminars with interesting topics such as: Impact of the Covid-19 epidemic on agricultural production, food industry and market in Vietnam; Difficulties and solutions to improve the situation of freight (cold chain) in Vietnam; Geographical indications for agricultural products of Vietnam and Japan, comparison and business opportunities for Vietnam; Food industry with fast food and the feasibility of applying automation in this service industry. The presentations were dynamic and exciting, not only helping students to understand the theories profoundly, but also giving them an opportunity to analyze and evaluate the current situation of Vietnam's agriculture and food industry, as the basis for future improvements.
With valuable and useful knowledge, the training course contributed positively to human resource training in the food sector in Vietnam, and at the same time promoted strong cooperation in agriculture and food industry in Japan and Vietnam. Vietnam National University of Agriculture also expects that in the near future, on the basis of cooperation between the two countries as well as universities in ASEAN, VNUA will have the opportunity to participate in extensive cooperation activities related to agriculture, food value chain, and at the same time opening up job opportunities for our students in Japan or in Japanese enterprises in Vietnam.
Some pictures of the training course
“Intellectual property law” presented by Mr. Takashi Kosadaka
Student Nguyen Tien Trung reported the topic “The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Vietnam's agriculture”
Mr. Kenji Yoshida presented the topic “Action towards Sustainability”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy gave a closing speech of the training course
Mr. Naoki Mitamura, 3rd Secretary of the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam delivered the closing speech
Closing ceremony of the training course
Faculty of Food science and Technology