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From
CGIAR Initiative on Sustainable Animal Productivity
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Published on
02.10.24
This blog was authored by Dao Thi Thu Hang, Emmanuel Mwema and Mary Atieno
Introduction
In 2023, Vietnam’s livestock industry grew by 5.72%, contributing 26% to agricultural gross domestic product (GDP). Livestock production increased by 4.5–6%/year in the 2018–2022 period, mostly driven by growing demand for eggs, milk and meat[1]. This rapid growth has come at the cost of environmental degradation and competition for feeds, which threaten long-term sustainability. Therefore, it is essential to address a wide range of issues that impact the livestock industry in Vietnam to enhance productivity, minimize environmental impact, and reduce the high cost of feeds.
This is the aim of the CGIAR Initiative on Sustainable Animal Productivity. One of the initiative’s work packages (evidence, decisions, and scaling) aims to facilitate evidence generation on the environmental impact of a livestock innovation pipeline through the Comprehensive Livestock Environmental Assessment for Improved Nutrition, a Secured Environment, and Sustainable Development (CLEANED) tool.
The results of these assessments are meant to:
- Help project proponents prioritize innovations and scale strategies that contribute to the achievement of sustainable livestock development in Vietnam;
- Raise awareness and facilitate decision-making and policing in the local livestock industry; and
- Contribute to the scaling the adoption of innovations by local and national partners.
On 26 March 2024, researchers organized a half-day stakeholder workshop to discuss potential scaling pathways for the CLEANED decision-support tool in academia, policy institutes, and the Ministry of Agriculture and its affiliates in Vietnam. Held in Hanoi, the workshop brought together scientists, researchers, policymakers, and business owners to discuss:
- Government efforts to promote sustainable livestock development with a focus on environmental regulation;
- University efforts to educate and develop the next generation of environmentally conscious experts; and
- The CLEANED decision support tool and its role in addressing the gaps identified in (1) and (2) above.
Government promotion of sustainable livestock practices
Nguyen Giang Thu from the Department of Science and Technology makes her remarks (photo credit: IAE/Nguyen Trong Hieu).
In her opening remarks, Nguyen Giang Thu, director of the Department of Science and Technology – Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), acknowledged government efforts to industrialize and modernize Vietnam’s livestock industry. To put these efforts into perspective, Mai Van Trinh, director general of the Institute for Agricultural Environment (IAE), presented the environmental benchmarks in use in Vietnam, which primarily focus on the regulation of effluents and effluvium from the industrialized livestock systems. Most regulations implicitly touch on the circular economy, with an emphasis on recycling and reusing.
There are limited resources, both in capacity and data, to support the formulation of policies and strategies, resulting in gaps and opportunities for support. Thus, Ngo Thi Kim Cuc, deputy director of the National Institute of Animal Science, emphasized the need to entrench environmental issues in livestock development planning.
The role of CLEANED in Vietnam
In her presentation, Dao Hang from the Alliance Bioversity-CIAT outlined the objectives and technical aspects of the CLEANED (Comprehensive Livestock Environmental Assessment for Improved Nutrition, a Secure Environment, and Sustainable Development along Livestock Value Chain) tool. The ex-ante tool is designed to assess the environmental impacts of livestock systems along multiple impact pathways: land requirements, productivity, economics, soil impacts (erosion and nitrogen balance), greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe) and water usage. The primary objective of CLEANED is to generate environmental footprint evidence that can be used to prioritize livestock innovations that contribute to increased productivity with minimal environmental impacts.
Hang highlighted that the tool had been applied to tailor innovations in Vietnam’s northwest highlands, transforming livestock production, farmer livelihoods, and income at lower environmental costs. For example, assessments conducted in Mai Son District, Son La Province, demonstrated interventions could improve feed availability, enhance animal nutrition, mitigate environmental degradation, and increase livestock productivity. This highlights CLEANED’s crucial role in evidence generation, reshaping project plans, and raising awareness among local farmers and stakeholders.
Integrating CLEANED into university curricula
One of the key insights from the meeting was the potential to enhance students’ understanding of sustainable practices and technical skills in environmental assessment and livestock management using the CLEANED approach. VanDinh Thi Hai Van from the Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA) highlighted the importance of integrating the CLEANED tool into the livestock environment curriculum, enhancing student enrollment, and fostering a new generation of multidisciplinary professionals.
Most participants agreed that the integration of the tool into university curricula would facilitate:
- Technical skills: Students would gain practical skills in environmental assessment and sustainable livestock management. This hands-on experience would prepare them for real-world challenges in the livestock sector.
- Innovative thinking: The tool would encourage innovative thinking and problem-solving, enabling students to develop new strategies for sustainable livestock production.
- Awareness: By using CLEANED, students would develop a deeper understanding of the environmental impacts of livestock production. This knowledge is crucial in promoting sustainable livestock systems.
The role of CLEANED in supporting decision-making and development of livestock master plans
The integration of the CLEANED tool in the formulation of policy frameworks is equally vital. By providing comprehensive data on trade-offs and synergies of livestock development practices, development partners can be guided to make sound decisions on the sustainability of the livestock sector. Policymakers can use this data to develop strategies that balance productivity with environmental protection.
Workshop participants take part in a discussion (photo: IAE/Nguyen Trong Hieu).
Key policy issues that CLEANED can address include:
- Reference document for policing: CLEANED can help policymakers develop regulations that minimize the environmental impact of livestock production. This includes guidelines for waste management, land use, and resource conservation.
- Sustainable practices: The tool can generate evidence for identifying sustainable impact pathways at varying scales, which can encourage farmers to implement environmentally friendly techniques.
- Investment prioritization: CLEANED can help prioritize investments in the livestock sector by identifying interventions with the highest environmental and economic benefits. This ensures that resources are allocated efficiently and effectively.
- Risk assessment: CLEANED can flag off risks associated with a project plan or policy, helping policymakers and stakeholders foresee potential environmental and economic pitfalls and make informed decisions.
Towards Sustainable Livestock Development in Vietnam
The integration of CLEANED in university curricula and support systems for policy frameworks is a crucial step toward realizing sustainable livestock development in Vietnam. Participants agreed that equipping students with soft and technical skills would go a long way in building the next generation of interdisciplinary environmental professionals to help the country achieve its vision for the livestock industry and beyond.
To facilitate ad hoc decisions and policing at the national and local governments, participants highlighted the need to conduct training of trainers to build the capacity of local staff who will directly implement recommendations based on the tool. Additionally, opportunities for integration into university curricula were emphasized. Developing a dedicated course on the CLEANED tool, where lecturers participate in a training of trainers program, can ensure that they are well-equipped to teach effectively. The Alliance will play a crucial role in this process by providing training and organizational support.
The SAPLING initiative and partners plan to continue their work in Vietnam, collaborating with various organizations to promote sustainable livestock practices.
Participants at the workshop included representatives from the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), National Institute of Animal Science (NIAS), Institute of Technique and Environmental Technology, Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA), Vietnam National Institute of Educational Science, University of Natural Sciences, Institute for Agricultural Environment (IAE), Que Lam Livestock Group and the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT (ABC),
Read more about SAPLING Vietnam in the media:
Learn more about the CLEANED tool:
CLEANED website: https://alliancebioversityciat.org/tools-innovations/cleaned