From COP30 to the Field: How the Food Innovation Hub Can Accelerate Vietnam’s Climate Ambitions

At the December PSAV Plenary, leaders from government, development partners, and the private sector came together to discuss Vietnam’s next phase of climate and agricultural transformation. The session followed recent COP30 negotiations in Brazil and focused on what global climate commitments mean for Vietnam’s agricultural sector and emerging carbon markets.

Co-chaired by Beverley Postma, Executive Director of Grow Asia, and Director General Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, the plenary highlighted how national priorities such as low-emissions agriculture, digital transformation, and carbon-market readiness are increasingly shaping Vietnam’s development pathway.

COP30 and Vietnam’s Climate Direction

In her opening remarks, Ms. Postma noted that COP30 reaffirmed several global priorities, including the push toward net-zero emissions by mid-century, stronger climate finance for developing countries, and continued momentum on methane reduction and forest protection.

Within this context, Vietnam continues to position itself as a regional leader. The country has reaffirmed its Net Zero 2050 and methane reduction goals, joined the Alliance for Food System Transition, and is scaling practical mitigation solutions in agriculture. These efforts include advanced rice irrigation, biogas systems, and improved fertilizer management, supported by national strategies and the one-million-hectare low-emission rice program.

Linking Low-Emission Value Chains and Carbon Markets

The plenary also examined how Vietnam can scale low-emission agricultural value chains while unlocking opportunities in emerging carbon markets. Presentations highlighted best practices from the rice, coffee, and cocoa sectors, focusing on reducing methane and other greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening farmer resilience, and mobilising private-sector engagement through public–private partnership (PPP) models.

Discussions underscored the importance of linking value-chain interventions with carbon-market opportunities, enabling businesses and producers to contribute to national climate targets while potentially accessing new sources of finance.

Vietnam’s Progress on Methane Reduction

In her closing remarks, Ms. Postma reflected on Vietnam’s recent progress in agricultural methane reduction. Over the past five years, Vietnam has made solid gains and now ranks in the top 20 percent of lower-middle-income countries for methane reduction progress. The country is also among the fastest-improving countries in Southeast Asia on rice methane mitigation, driven by efforts such as alternate wetting and drying (AWD), improved input management, and digital mapping of rice paddies.

Vietnam’s commitment to scale AWD to one million hectares by 2030 was recognised at COP30, where the country was listed among 12 “high-readiness” countries capable of achieving rapid methane reductions with modest investment.

The Role of Partnership and the Food Innovation Hub

A recurring theme throughout the plenary was the central role of partnership. Discussions across topics—from measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems to low-emission rice, carbon capture in coffee, and circular livestock models, highlighted that no single actor can deliver this transformation alone.

Against this backdrop, Ms. Postma emphasised the strategic role of the Food Innovation Hub (FIH) as a platform to help translate ambition into action. With PSAV’s support, the FIH was highlighted as a mechanism to coordinate investment, partnerships, and national implementation at scale.

As PSAV marks its 10th anniversary, Grow Asia outlined three priorities emerging from the plenary discussions:

• Strengthening MRV systems and data integration to support enterprise and cooperative participation in future carbon markets

• Accelerating access to innovation and investment through the Food Innovation Hub, including blended finance, digital tools, and carbon-ready production models

• Deepening collaboration across value chains and borders to connect Vietnam’s progress with regional and global learning networks

  
  

From Strategy to Scalable Action

Vietnam’s experience positions it to become a regional hub for low-emission rice, climate-smart inputs, and sustainable food-system technologies. Through platforms such as the Food Innovation Hub, Grow Asia reaffirmed its commitment to support Vietnam in scaling public–private models for digital extension services, accessing climate transition finance for smallholders and SMEs, and co-developing pipelines of bankable regenerative agriculture projects.

As discussions at the PSAV Plenary made clear, Vietnam’s climate ambitions are increasingly matched by practical pathways for implementation. The Food Innovation Hub offers a platform to help bridge global commitments and on-the-ground action—supporting Vietnam’s efforts to build a competitive, resilient, and low-emission agricultural sector.