Grow Asia and Viet Nam's Ministry of Agriculture and Environment renew partnership and launch AI skills program for coffee and rice farmers

New collaboration between Grow Asia, PSAV, and Edufarmers, funded by Google.org, will equip smallholder farmers with artificial intelligence tools to build resilience against mounting climate and market pressures

HA NOI, Viet Nam — 30 July 2026 — Grow Asia and the Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture Viet Nam (PSAV) today announced two significant developments that deepen more than a decade of collaboration with Viet Nam's Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) and open a new chapter in support of the country's smallholder farmers.

First, Grow Asia and the Ministry, through PSAV, have renewed their Memorandum of Understanding that has anchored their partnership since its inception — one of Grow Asia's longest-standing and most trusted collaborations. The renewed agreement reaffirms a shared commitment to advancing sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient agriculture across Viet Nam.

Second, Grow Asia and PSAV will team up with Edufarmers and Viet Nam's National Agricultural Extension Centre (NAEC) in a new grant-funded program supported by Google.org, to train coffee and rice growers in artificial intelligence (AI) skills. The program will place practical, farmer-centric digital tools directly into the hands of up to 100,000 smallholders — helping them make better decisions on planting, crop protection, and adaptation.

The announcements come at a critical moment for the region's farmers, who face a convergence of pressures: the intensifying impacts of climate change, geopolitical volatility disrupting fertilizer prices and supplies, and the approach of a new El Niño season, raising the risk of drought and severe weather events. Together, these developments demonstrate the power of trust-based partnerships between public, private, and philanthropic actors to convert shared commitments into practical, field-level action at scale.

"None of this would be possible without the vision and leadership of the Government of Viet Nam," said Beverley Postma, Executive Director of Grow Asia. "For more than ten years, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has trusted us to walk alongside them through our support for PSAV.  It is Viet Nam’s commitment to their farming communities that makes this work so meaningful. We are honored to renew this partnership, and humbled by the responsibility it carries. Our role is to connect the right partners around a shared goal: reaching farmers with the solutions they need, when they need them most." 

Dr. Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, Director of PSAV, said: "Viet Nam's farmers are among the most resourceful in the world, but they cannot face today's challenges alone. By bringing together government, private sector, and philanthropic partners — and by putting new tools such as artificial intelligence into the hands of coffee and rice growers — we can help our farmers adapt, thrive, and continue to feed the nation and the world with high quality, nutritious food. This partnership reflects Viet Nam's long-standing spirit of collaboration and openness to innovation."

The initiative builds on Grow Asia's proven model of blended, multi-stakeholder partnership — described as "4P" for Public, Private, Philanthropic Partnership — which de-risks investment, aligns diverse stakeholders, and channels resources toward measurable outcomes for smallholder farmers.

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About Grow Asia Grow Asia is a non-profit organization established by the World Economic Forum in partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). As an Entity Associated with ASEAN, Grow Asia works with all eleven Member States to build inclusive, resilient, and sustainable food systems in Southeast Asia by convening public, private, and philanthropic partners and blended finance. Its network spans a regional secretariat in Singapore and five Country Partnerships across the region, engaging hundreds of partner organizations and reaching millions of smallholder farmers with technology, training, and access to finance.

About PSAV The Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture Viet Nam (PSAV) was established in 2010 under the World Economic Forum's "New Vision for Agriculture" initiative. Operating under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, PSAV links stakeholders across the agricultural sector to advance sustainable value-chain development through Public-Private Partnership Task Forces.

About Edufarmers

Edufarmers International Foundation (Edufarmers) is a non-profit organization focused on empowering farmers, strengthening food systems, and combating stunting to build a resilient and sustainable future. Since 2015, Edufarmers has evolved its mission, intertwining agriculture and nutrition. Its programs equip farmers with knowledge and skills while recognizing the vital link between nutrition and agriculture. Through workshops and collaborations, they strive for sustainable farming and improved health outcomes, fostering holistic development in both agriculture and the well-being of stunted children in Indonesia.

Media contacts 

Frederique Glazener, Grow Asia — Frederique@growasia.org

Thuy Cam Nguyen, PSAV — Thuy@growasia.org