Highlights of 8th IFOAM Organic Asia Congress in Vietnam

Exploring progress and cooperation in organic agriculture across the region

Liha Nguyen, Naturland e.V.

Service & Expertise

This September, IFOAM Organics Asia organised the 8th Organic Asia Congress (OAC) in Ninh Binh, Vietnam. Co-hosted with the Vietnam Organic Agriculture Association (VOAA) and supported by Naturland as the main sponsor, the congress brought together stakeholders of the organic sector from across Asia, including farmers, researchers, policymakers, entrepreneurs and advocates.

A boost for organic farming in Vietnam

In Vietnam, agriculture is a key sector, making up 12% of GDP and employing 33% of the workforce in 2023. Although growing steadily, the area under organic cultivation in Vietnam is still small compared to the country’s potential. Many farmers lack access to the technology and knowledge needed to meet strict organic standards. The value chain for organic products - processing, trade and catering - is yet to reach its full potential. Due to past food scandals, consumers often distrust local products, which hampers domestic market growth. High production costs, limited skilled labour and unstable markets are further challenges.

Despite this, Vietnamese producers are successfully developing niches for internationally certified organic products such as rice, tea, spices, nuts and coffee. On the consumer side, Vietnam’s expanding urban middle class and a rising interest in a healthy lifestyle are driving the demand for organic food. At the policy level, the Vietnamese government has identified organic farming as a way to support rural development, food security and climate protection. It has launched a national plan (2020–2030) to expand organic agriculture and promote sustainable practices. It has also set national organic standards and supports local initiatives like the Vietnam Organic Agriculture Association (VOAA). The inclusion of VOAA’s organic standard in the IFOAM family of standards - announced at this year's the Organic Asia Congress - is a major milestone. If current trends continue, Vietnam could become a key player in the regional organic movement.

Drawing on national support and local strenghts

Looking at practical examples, one session of the congress highlighted an organic tourism farm in Ninh Binh that integrates organic production with cultural and ecological tourism. The model draws on local mythology and traditional herbal knowledge to create added value and promote rural development.

Beyond Vietnam, contributions to the congress from Japan, South Korea and China illustrated how coordinated national strategies and strong local networks can support organic development. A further key message throughout the congress was the value of regional cooperation and knowledge sharing to support long-term sector resilience.

Naturland program managers and trainers shared their experiences at the congress. (Image: author)

Naturland’s contribution: Collaboration, capacity building and digital tools

The congress marked an important milestone in the collaboration between Naturland and VOAA: A joint Vietnamese-language online learning platform was officially launched by during the event. The platform will offer self-paced online courses, expert-led programmes, videos and in-person learning opportunities. It will focus on both technical and ethical aspects of organic farming, including social responsibility and fair trade, covering topics such as agroforestry, organic rice and coffee production, guarantee systems and internal control systems (ICS).

Explore the VOAA platform here: https://daotaohuuco.vn

At the accompanying trade fair, the Naturland booth offered further information on our certification system and our commitment in the region. (Image: author)

Drawing from the experience of developing this platform - and the Naturland Academy platform - a session hosted by the Naturland explored how digitalization can enhance training and knowledge dissemination across the organic value chain, especially in emerging regions such as Southeast Asia. A panel of speakers representing different roles across the organic agricultural sector discussed their perspectives on knowledge transfer. A key challenge identified was the need to design accessible and practical training materials for farmers with varying educational backgrounds.

Ongoing commitment in the region

The 8th Organic Asia Congress reflected the ongoing commitment of participating organisations to support the organic movement through cooperation, knowledge exchange, and practical capacity building. Naturland will continue contributing to the development of organic agriculture in Vietnam and the wider region through long-term collaboration with partners such as VOAA.

The 9th Organic Asia Congress will be co-organised by the National Organic Agriculture Program (NOAP) in Negros, Philippines, in 2027. Just as in Vietnam, Naturland is actively engaged in advancing organic agriculture in the Philippines by working closely with local producers, policy makers and other relevant stakeholders.

Author

Liha Nguyen coordinates communication and social media for Naturland Vietnam, working to strengthen Naturland’s local presence and visibility through content creation and branding initiatives.

Image rights: Naturland / Liha Nguyen

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