Vietnam National University of Agriculture organizes the 5th National Conference on Mycology

On November 26, 2023, at Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA), in collaboration with VNUA, the Vietnam Mycology Association organized the "5^th National Conference on Mycology" to provide and introduce new information as well as exchange and share scientific research results and production practices related to mushrooms and mushroom products from research units, farms, businesses and cooperatives across the country.

Attending the Conference, from VNUA, there were the presence of Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan, VNUA’s President and Dr. Vu Ngoc Huyen, VNUA’s Vice President. The international experts participating in the Conference included Prof. Dr. Kiminori Shimizu and Dr. Nguyen Thi Thao, Tokyo University of Natural Sciences, Japan; Prof. Kasem Soytong, President of the Southeast Asia Agricultural Technology Association; while the domestic experts participating in the Conference included Prof. Dr. Trinh Tam Kiet, President of the Vietnam Mycology Association; Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Thu, Vice President of Vietnam Mycology Association; and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Khuat Duy Trung, Deputy Director of the Institute of Agricultural Genetics. The Conference also attracted the presence of more than 200 delegates from nearly 80 agencies and organizations.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan, VNUA’s President, delivers the opening speech

Delivering the opening ceremony at the Conference, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan, VNUA’s President, said that, "Vietnam National University of Agriculture is very honored to welcome distinguished guests, experts, and scientists to the 5^th National Conference on Mycology and affirmed that mushrooms in general and edible and medicinal mushrooms in particular have been and are important to life as well as scientific research. The government has included mushrooms in the national product list. Accordingly, in the agricultural and rural development plan, ministries, departments and branches have determined to make mushroom cultivation and processing one of the key industries, helping to create stable and sustainable jobs for farmers. In response to this opportunity, VNUA, a multi-disciplinary training institution, do not stand aside. The training program on Edible and Medicinal Mushroom Biotechnology with the Professional Oriented Higher Education (POHE) direction had been built and started to enroll the first course since 2015. In parallel with training, the mycological scientific research was also paid much attention by the university. VNUA devoted a certain amount of resources through research projects and investment in facilities to serve the research and development on fungi. In 2021, the Institute for Research and Development of Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms (formerly known as the Training, Research and Development Facility for Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms under the Faculty of Biotechnology) was established by VNUA for the purpose of doing research, performing technology transfer, carrying out trial production, and providing training and education on mushrooms for agencies, organizations and individuals in need.”

Prof. Dr. Trinh Tam Kiet, Chairman of the Vietnam Mycology Association, delivers a welcome speech at the Conference.

Delivering the welcome speech, Prof. Dr. Trinh Tam Kiet said that in recent times, research and application activities on mushrooms had had received investment and development attention from the Government, ministries, branches and localities. Thousands of businesses, cooperatives and mushroom production farms had been established and developed. Edible mushrooms and medicinal mushrooms had been included in the national key product group. However, in the process of construction and development, in addition to achievements (selecting and creating a number of new mushroom varieties, investing in production point models on an industrial scale, and market development, etc.), the mushroom industry was facing many difficulties and challenges. Therefore, it was essential to focus on scientific research and find specific solutions to contribute to the sustainable development of the mushroom industry in Vietnam.

The 5^th National Conference on Mycology was held face-to-face, including a plenary session and three thematic sub-committees.

Prof. Kiminori Shimizu, Tokyo University of Science, Japan, presents a report at the General session

At the plenary session, attendees heard reports from: Prof. Kiminori Shimizu, Tokyo University of Natural Sciences, Japan, on Molecular mechanisms regulating sterigmatocystin biosynthesis in Aspergillus nidulans; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Van Tuan, University of Natural Sciences, Hanoi National University, on Modern biotechnology in research on filamentous mushrooms and medicinal mushrooms in Vietnam: Achievements and challenges; Prof. Kasem Soytong, President of the Southeast Asia Agricultural Technology Association on the Application of Fungal Biotechnology for Organic Agriculture; Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Thu, Vice President of the Vietnam Mycology Association on an Overview of fungal species of the genus Ceratocystis that cause diseases in plants; and finally Dr. Nguyen Phuong Thao, Tokyo University of Science, Japan, on Antibiotic activity of Fungal strain Amphichorda felina isolated from a deer dung collected in Yakushima island, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.

Delegates take a photo with the Organizing Committee.

The afternoon professional session took place in three Subcommittees, including: Subcommittee 1 - Research and application of large mushrooms; Subcommittee 2 – Research and application of Microfungi; and Subcommittee 3 – Production and commercialization of mushroom products.

To summarize the Conference, the Organizing Committee honored and awarded gifts to three excellent reporters at three Subcommittees and two posters winning the most impressive posters of the Conference.

The Organizing Committee awards gifts and certificates to the winning presenters.

The 5^th National Conference on Mycology was a great success and was approved by the Organizing Committee. On behalf of VNUA, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Canh, Faculty of Biotechnology, presented the coronation flag to Dr. Pham Chau Huynh, Director of Da Nang Biotechnology Center, the host organization of the 6^th National Conference on Mycology in Da Nang.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Canh , Dean of the Faculty of Biotechnology, VNUA, gives the coronation flag and souvenir flowers to Dr. Pham Chau Huynh, Director of Da Nang Biotechnology Center (Host of the 6th National Conference on Mycology)

Some photos of the Conference