In the last week of February 2025, the workshop Evaluation of CGIAR-Related Innovations in Vietnam’s Agriculture took place in Hanoi, Vietnam. Part of a series of dissemination events from Phase 1 of the Country Studies reports. Professor Travis Lybbert, Chair of SPIA, opened by highlighting that the current work was the result of four years of effort while also marking a transition to the next phase. He emphasized the importance of gathering feedback on how the report’s findings would be used by decision-makers and stakeholders ensuring alignment with SPIA’s mandate and work plan. Dr. Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, Director General of the International Cooperation Department at MARD, enhanced this sentiment, stressing the need to identify next steps and the value of long-term research on innovation adoption for MARD. He also expressed gratitude to CGIAR Centers for their role in promoting agricultural innovations.
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Setting the ground for a rich panel discussion, Dr. Frederic Kosmowski, Senior Scientist at SPIA, opened the panel by presenting key findings from the SPIA Vietnam Report 2024: Global Ambitions, Sustainable Pathways. Using data from the Vietnam Household Living Standards Survey (VHLSS), he delivered new insights regarding the reach of CGIAR-related innovations, their geographical distribution and the socio-economic characteristics of adopters.
Key highlights included evidence on the adoption of Genetically Improved Farm Tilapia (GIFT), Improved Rice varieties , improved cassava varieties;Climate Adaptation Innovations such as Agro-Climatic Bulletins (ACB) and Climate-Smart Mapping and Adaptation Planning (CS-MAP); Mechanization and Sustainable Intensification practices including technologies such as 1M5R, Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD), drum seeders, off-field straw management, and sustainable water use for coffee production. Overall, the reach of the CGIAR was estimated between 3.7 and 3.9 million households in Vietnam.
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Expert discussion: Tracking Agricultural Innovations - Utilizing Results for Decision-Making
The discussion gathered experts from key institutions, including the General Statistics Office – GSO (Nguyen Cong Thang), MARD (Dr. Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, Mr. Le Thanh Tung), IPSARD (Dr. Tran Cong Thang), the World Bank (Dr. Guo Li), and Can Tho Department of Agricultural and Rural Development (Ms. Pham Thi Minh Hieu). In general, panelists recognized SPIA’s extensive and valuable research efforts, while backing up the results as relevant ground-setting evidence for shaping future agricultural strategies in Vietnam. As noted by Nguyen Cong Thang (GSO), this study was“an opportunity to learn and strengthen collaborative efforts.” However, they also stressed the need for deeper analysis regarding impact and evidence-based inputs for policymaking. As Dr. Guo Li, Senior Economist from the World Bank mentioned: “the goal is not only scientific progress but also serving farmers by increasing their income and welfare”.
Other key discussion points included improving data collection to better measure policy outcomes and enhance productivity and climate resilience. For instance, Dr. Guo Li emphasized the importance of supporting farmers' livelihoods through programs like 1M5R. Similarly, Ms. Pham Thi Minh Hieu highlighted the need for greater investment in mechanization, rice straw management, and digital water sensors. Meanwhile, Mr. Le Thanh Tung underscored the importance of reducing losses and improving packaging for MARD. Lastly, Dr. Tran Cong Thang stressed the need to integrate these findings into policymaking, particularly in food systems, nutrition, and climate adaptation.
Open Discussion: All Participants
Participants emphasized the importance of national and international cooperation in assessing Vietnam’s agricultural innovation landscape, highlighting CGIAR’s valuable support. They agreed that the report's findings can guide policymakers in crafting and evaluating policies. Additionally, they stressed the need for a comprehensive review of science and technology’s role in sustainable development, improvements in GSO surveys, and diversification of data sources, including satellite data and merged databases from MARD and Ministry of Natural Ressources and Environment. . Enhancing survey methodologies to better capture innovation’s impact on farmers was also recommended, along with a broader approach that considers both biotic and abiotic factors, including diverse gene varieties and their sources. It was suggested that the SPIA team expand the scope of research to make a more comprehensive assessment of policy impacts.
Moving Forward for 2025-2027
Prof. Matin Qaim, Center for Development Research (ZEF) Director, talked about ZEF and how its interdisciplinary approach has been successfully approved by SPIA through a new phase of the project, known as Diffusion and Impact of Innovations in Vietnam (DAIV), which aims to expand and deepen efforts related to identifying relevant CGIAR innovations, tracking their adoption, and developing innovative research approaches.
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The project involves 4 key areas: updating the overview of relevant innovations, extending adoption work and understanding dynamics, analyzing the impacts of selected innovations, and further developing approaches to adoption and impact research. The project will include capacity-building components, mutual learning, and annual workshops to discuss preliminary findings.
It consists of 3 stages: (i) updating the SPIA stocktake of CGIAR innovations in Vietnam through document reviews, website analyses, and stakeholder interviews to understand their status, rollout, and constraints, (ii) data Collection and integration of CGIAR innovation-related questions into the 2026 VHLSS - in collaboration with the GSO - re-interviewing past survey participants, collecting genetic samples for DNA fingerprinting, and utilizing data from the 2025 National Rural and Agricultural Census; and (iii) impact analysis and methodological development, assessing the effects of selected innovations on yield, economic factors, input use, and sustainability while refining research approaches using panel data regression models and remote sensing techniques.
Final Remarks
Final remarks were made by Prof. Travis Lybbert, who highlighted the event as a testament to strong partnerships and institutional collaboration within CGIAR. He emphasized the importance of learning from both successes and failures, cautioning against self-deception in scientific research. Stressing the need for reliable measurements and replicable methodologies, he acknowledged that CGIAR innovations are part of a broader landscape of institutional efforts. He also pointed out a key limitation—insufficient focus on non-producer beneficiaries, such as urban populations. Lastly, he clarified that SPIA’s role is to provide evidence, not recommendations, but noted that the report offers valuable insights for policymaking.
Dr. Cao Duc Phat, IRRI Board of Trustees Chairman, commented on the report’s rigorous methodology and its role in shaping agricultural policies. He highlighted Vietnam’s evolving policy landscape, the increasing role of technology, and the proactive stance of farmers in adopting innovations like 1M5R. He also recognized PFES as a crucial mechanism for forest protection and called for further research and collaboration to enhance efficiency and impact.
