From quality breakthroughs to a sustainable future

Beyond quality: Rice with a broader purpose

Vietnam’s rice story has long been one of survival, transformation, and triumph. Once a nation struggling to meet domestic demand, Vietnam has grown into one of the world’s leading rice exporters. Yet, as industry leaders emphasize, the sector’s mission now goes beyond quantity and even quality.

Talking to Vietnam Agriculture and Nature Newspaper about the story of the rice sector, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Rice Sector Association (VIETRISA) Le Thanh Tung stressed that rice production must adapt to new global realities. “We are facing many unforeseen fluctuations, such as climate change and consumer tastes. Beyond rice quality, consumers now require farming techniques, food safety, environmental responsibility, and social accountability. All these factors need to be integrated into the value of rice while still aligning with consumer tastes,” he said.

This shift has prompted Vietnam to focus on developing “the right materials,” which are new rice varieties tailored not just for taste but also for health and sustainability. At present, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has begun to change its breeding programs by developing rice varieties with added health benefits, similar to functional foods.

Specifically, these are rice strains with higher iron content to support women’s nutrition, low-sugar varieties for diabetics, and high-amylose rice used for starch and flour processing. A growing niche is colorful rice, with purple, yellow, and pink varieties, which are rich in amino acids and appeal to health-conscious consumers. Low-GI rice, which helps regulate blood sugar levels, is also gaining attention in export markets.

“We are moving toward health-oriented rice varieties and rice specialized for processing. We are also researching rice that does not emit greenhouse gases, and we will provide proof of this. Our goal is to meet future consumer demand, as studies suggest that 85% of consumers in the next five years will prefer environmentally friendly, safe, and health-beneficial rice,” noted Mr. Le Thanh Tung.

According to Mr. Tung, the next step is to establish production zones capable of meeting the strict standards of export enterprises, ensuring that Vietnam remains competitive globally.

Building a sustainable export strategy

Offering a broader perspective on Vietnam’s development path, Mr. Do Ha Nam, Chairman of the Vietnam Food Association, emphasized that the sector has already passed through several transformative phases.

“Vietnam’s rice sector has gone through several stages. We first moved from being an importer to achieving domestic food security, then rose to become one of the top five rice exporters worldwide. By 2025, we are projected to rank second globally, which is a testament to our consistent, integrated efforts across production, business, and trade,” he said.

Yet, Mr. Nam cautioned that ensuring the sustainability of the rice sector is no simple task, as it is closely linked to food security. Meanwhile, food security requires not only keeping production costs low but also setting prices that global consumers can accept. “To secure the best benefits for farmers, we must target markets such as the U.S., Europe, and Japan, where buyers are willing to pay the best prices,” Mr. Nam said.

The representative of the Vietnam Food Association emphasized that these markets impose stringent requirements on pesticide and chemical residue limits, low emissions, and sustainable organic standards for rice products. This is a challenge as we strive to maximize profits while ensuring the long-term sustainability of Vietnam’s rice sector.

With moderate export volumes and limited ability to serve all consumer segments, Vietnam must focus on markets that offer long-term benefits for farmers. “We need to prioritize demanding segments that value high-quality rice,” Mr. Nam noted.

One key step is the Government’s One Million Hectares of Low-Emission Rice project, which aims to standardize production practices and meet the requirements of international markets. This project will also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, making Vietnamese rice more competitive in markets where sustainability certifications are increasingly a prerequisite.

According to Mr. Nam, this effort requires coordination across the entire value chain, from farmers to processors, exporters, and government agencies. Only with harmonized efforts can we meet these demanding standards.

Industry experts are optimistic that with the intelligence, diligence, creativity, and perseverance of farmers,  supported by government programs, Vietnam’s rice sector will achieve a new milestone. Successful implementation of the One Million Hectares of Low-Emission Rice project could make Vietnam a global model for sustainable rice production.