Vietnam, Bayer cuts PPP deal for sustainable rice farming

Bayer Vietnam Ltd. on Tuesday signed a MOU with the Mekong Delta Rice Research Institute to support research and develop sustainable crop management solutions and help the agricultural sector cope with climate change.

As part of the collaboration, the institute will conduct extensive research of Bayer’s crop protection compounds and hybrid rice varieties to help the company adapt their products effectively in Vietnam.

The institute will conduct research in Much More Rice (MMR), a program by Bayer to timely apply seed treatments, fungicides and insecticides to reduce costs, improve rice yield and quality.

Le Van Banh, director of the institute, told local media that the cooperation between the private sector and the scientific community is expected to bring about sustainable agricultural development.

“Previously, local scientists conducted research themselves to transfer the development to farmers. Now, businesses have the ability to sell their products to farmers. Despite the effectiveness of these products, farmers have been unaware of their existence,” Banh said.

“That’s why companies want to cooperate with scientists. Due to our independent research on the products the companies want, we can even give farmers advice on how to apply their products effectively.”

According to Rob Hulme, country director of Bayer Vietnam, the cooperation will also support a project on “Adaptation of rice-based crop systems” funded by the Australian Government via the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research and administered by the International Rice Research Institute.

In the implementation of its own MMR program in Vietnam, the company has launched a successful public-private partnership with the Mekong Delta Rice Research Institute, and plant protection sub-departments of all Mekong Delta provinces.

From 2007 to now, over 320 separate trials in the region show the program helped increase productivity of rice crops by 10% and with lower costs.

According to a representative of Bayer, Vietnam is the first and only country in the region that Bayer is conducting the MMR program, which combines integrated crop protection solutions tailored to local conditions.

“We believe the model we have created in Vietnam is an example of a good partnership between government, farmers and the private sector. We would like to expand that model to other countries for a better yield of crops and sustainability,” said Sandra Peterson, chairman of the board of management of Bayer CropScience on a visit to Vietnam this week.