Vietnam - Australia Partner for Sustainable Agriculture and Workforce Development

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Agriculture: A Pillar of Vietnam's Economy

In recent years, Vietnam has witnessed significant shifts in agriculture. Despite natural disasters, the sector maintained a growth rate of 3.2% in the first nine months of the year, contributing significantly to the national economy.

Although agriculture greatly contributes to the economy, it accounts for one-third of Vietnam’s greenhouse gas emissions. In response, the government has approved the Strategy for Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development for the period 2021–2030. The goal is for Vietnam to become a leading agricultural nation by 2050, with a modern processing industry aiming for GDP growth, increased export output, and a 10% reduction in emissions by 2030.

To prepare the workforce for this strategy, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issued Resolution No. 37, calling for high-quality training to build an ecological agriculture sector supported by skilled, creative professionals, driving rural economic growth by 2030.

The shift toward sustainable and high-tech agricultural models is facing a labor shortage. In 2022, while the demand for workers in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries reached 46,000 people per year, only 0.86% of students chose these fields. This large gap indicates an urgent need for solutions to attract talent to agriculture.

A PwC report indicated that if Vietnam does not improve the quality of its agricultural workforce, the country could lose up to $9 billion in GDP growth. Vietnam needs to invest in training and nurturing agricultural experts to ensure its position in the global agricultural market and to support its transition to modern, sustainable agriculture.

Photo: Finance Journal

Strengthening Vietnam-Australia Partnership through Workforce Development

Vietnam and Australia are strengthening their partnership through trade agreements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), where sustainable agriculture is a key pillar.

In September, Australia welcomed 1,000 Vietnamese workers to participate in the agricultural sector under a labor rotation program. Workers take on short-term roles (6–9 months) or longer-term positions (1–4 years) in fields such as crop production, meat processing, aquaculture, and forestry. This initiative aims to help Vietnamese workers gain skills and experience, contributing to sustainable agricultural development back home.

In Australia, advanced research and technology are helping traditional industries like dairy, meat, horticulture, wine, and seafood adopt sustainable models to meet environmental requirements, from reducing methane emissions to conserving water in farming. Sustainable fishing and aquaculture are also helping curb overexploitation, under pressure from consumers and stringent government regulations.

These advancements highlight the importance of education and training in promoting sustainable practices. Major universities, such as the University of Adelaide and the University of Tasmania, are enhancing the agricultural workforce’s capabilities with specialized training in carbon-neutral farming and precision agriculture.

Vietnam can learn from and apply these experiences to develop sustainable agriculture. Through partnerships, Australia can provide tailored training programs, capacity-building initiatives, and collaborative research to address Vietnam’s specific agricultural challenges.

Promoting digitization and enhancing the capacity of Vietnam’s agriculture requires cooperation between the government, the technology sector, and businesses. The Aus4ASEAN Digital Transformation and Future Skills Initiative offers a model for improving digital skills, including courses on developing vocational training systems for a green economy. Australia can adapt and implement this model in Vietnam, contributing to the construction of a modern, sustainable, and deeply integrated agricultural sector.

By leveraging Australia's strengths in human resources and technology, and Vietnam's development potential, the two nations are working together to build a modern, efficient, and environmentally friendly agricultural sector.

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