Officials are urging lawmakers to retain “high-tech agriculture” in Vietnam’s revised High Technology Law, warning that its removal could stall innovation and disrupt policy frameworks.
A working session was held on October 21 between the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the management boards of high-tech industrial parks to discuss the draft amendment of the High Technology Law.
Science and technology as the driver of agricultural growth
At the meeting, Nguyen Nhu Cuong, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, emphasized that science and technology are essential drivers for agricultural development.
Nguyen Nhu Cuong at the working session. Photo: Provided by organizing committee.
Resolution 57 by the Politburo affirms that science and technology form one of the four key pillars of Vietnam's new growth model.
Though agriculture accounts for only around 13% of GDP, it remains vital for national food security, social stability, and sustainable exports.
According to Cuong, traditional growth methods such as expanding land use and boosting yields have reached their limits.
To sustain agricultural growth at 3–4% annually, the only path forward is through science and technology - particularly high-tech agriculture.
He noted that the current High Technology Law includes Article 16 on high-tech agricultural applications, Article 19 on high-tech enterprises, and Article 32 on high-tech agricultural zones.
Decree No. 10/2024 also established a legal framework for the formation and development of high-tech agricultural zones. Thanks to this, many provinces including Ho Chi Minh City, Bac Lieu, and Phu Yen have developed models involving research institutes, universities, and enterprises operating in high-tech agriculture, which support the transition toward modern and efficient farming.
Draft amendment excludes key agricultural terms
Agriculture's true value lies in its stability and strategic role in food security.
However, the 2025 draft amendment to the High Technology Law omits references to “high-tech agriculture,” “high-tech agricultural enterprises,” and “high-tech agricultural zones.”
Cuong pointed out that this signals a shift toward grouping high-tech agriculture under general high-tech industry categories, treating it as just another production sector.
“In the current context, is it appropriate to equate agriculture with industrial production? How will existing high-tech agricultural zones operate without tailored mechanisms and incentive policies?” he questioned.
Sharing the same concern, Nguyen Van Hung, Director of the High-Tech Agriculture Zone Management Board in Phu Yen, urged lawmakers to retain the term “high-tech agricultural applications” in the revised law. He said it reflects the unique characteristics of Vietnam’s agricultural sector.
A decade of high-tech agriculture under threat
Hung explained that since the 2008 enactment of the High Technology Law, provinces such as Phu Yen, Bac Lieu, Hau Giang, and Ho Chi Minh City have launched high-tech agricultural zones. These models have attracted research institutions, universities, and enterprises to conduct research, pilot demonstrations, training, and technology transfer to farmers.
Such zones serve as hubs where scientists, businesses, and academic institutions collaborate to experiment and scale up commercial farming practices.
If the revised law excludes the term “high-tech agriculture,” there will no longer be a legal basis for these zones to operate, even though they were approved by the Prime Minister. This could disrupt investment policies, support mechanisms, and development strategies.
Pham Dinh Dung: Agriculture's true value lies in its stability and strategic role in food security. Photo: Provided by Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Agriculture
Dr. Pham Dinh Dung, Head of the High-Tech Agriculture Division in Ho Chi Minh City, highlighted that although agriculture contributes just 13% of Vietnam’s GDP, it represents the most stable and essential value in the national economy.
He argued that while Vietnam’s agricultural export value is not yet high, the country maintains stable food supply and food security - an advantage that many nations in the region lack due to dependence on imports.
“The true value of agriculture is not in the GDP number but in its ability to keep the country steady in times of crisis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was farmers and Vietnamese rice that helped the nation avoid collapse,” he said.
According to Dung, high-tech agriculture is not just a future-oriented strategy but a foundation for ensuring food security, adapting to climate change, and enhancing Vietnam’s agricultural competitiveness.
He recommended that the law revision process take into account practical insights from provinces to ensure continuity and sustainable development for existing high-tech agricultural zones nationwide.
“If the new law eliminates the term ‘high-tech agriculture,’ we will lose a critical legal tool to drive innovation in a sector that remains a pillar of the national economy,” Dung stressed.
Vietnamnet.vn
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