Son La promotes innovation in agriculture and processing.

Attending the workshop was Mr. Duong Gia Dinh, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of the province.Son LaThe event was attended by expert Dam Quang Thang, Chairman of the National Innovation and Startup Advisory Council; Mr. Nguyen Quang Tin, Deputy Director of the Science and Technology Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment; and leaders from several departments and agencies, as well as representatives from businesses and cooperatives in the province.

At the workshop, delegates focused on exchanging experiences and proposing practical solutions to promote innovation in the agricultural sector. The main focus was on shifting from a production-oriented agricultural mindset to developing an agricultural economy based on value chains, with market orientation and product quality and value as the goals.

Many presentations at the workshop addressed issues of concern to businesses, cooperatives, and producers. Of particular note was the application of technology in agricultural product traceability, from the use of QR codes to the development of data systems for production management, consumption connectivity, and market development.

In addition, experts shared experiences in innovating preservation and processing technologies to increase added value and reduce post-harvest losses; applying science and technology to production, processing, and traceability to enhance the value of Son La's agricultural products. In particular, the delegates also focused on changing production and business models, gradually shifting from selling raw agricultural products to developing branded products linked to diverse value chains.

Son La organized a workshop on "Innovation in agriculture, processing and traceability". Photo: Nhu Thuy

Through the discussions, many practical experiences and specific solutions were shared, contributing to providing businesses and cooperatives with more information in the process of innovating their production and business activities. In particular, opinions emphasized the need to reorganize production, strengthen linkages between farmers, cooperatives, and businesses, form concentrated raw material areas, and connect production with processing and product consumption.

For Son La, a locality with strengths in agricultural products such as coffee, tea, and fruit, the application of science and technology is identified as one of the important solutions to improve the quality and value of agricultural products. Along with improving production processes and investing in processing technology, building a traceability system linked to product data will contribute to increased transparency, build consumer trust, and meet the increasingly high demands of the market.

During the discussion and Q&A session, delegates frankly exchanged views on the difficulties and obstacles encountered in applying technology to practical production. Issues of concern included investment costs, quality standard requirements, the development and exploitation of traceability data, human resources, and mechanisms and policies to support businesses and cooperatives in technological innovation.

Delegates attending the workshop "Innovation in Agriculture, Processing and Traceability". Photo: Nhu Thuy

Many believe that for innovation to truly impact production, close coordination is needed between management agencies, scientists, businesses, and the people. Technological solutions must be tailored to the specific conditions of each locality, the scale of production, and the investment capacity of cooperatives and individual farmers. Simultaneously, emphasis should be placed on training and improving the capacity to apply technology, helping producers gradually access and master modern production methods.

The workshop "Innovation in Agriculture, Processing and Traceability" is an opportunity for management agencies, experts, businesses and cooperatives to meet, exchange experiences, and identify difficulties and bottlenecks in the process of innovation and digital transformation in the agricultural sector.

Through this workshop, solutions regarding the application of science and technology, innovation in production and processing processes, and the establishment of a traceability system are expected to contribute to promoting value chain linkages, improving the quality, value, and competitiveness of Son La's agricultural products. This will gradually build a modern, transparent, and sustainable agricultural sector, bringing practical economic benefits to farmers.