Minister Martin Heydon TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for Research and Development, Farm Safety and New Market Development at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) announced the development this week in Hanoi, where he is leading a trade mission. Ireland will work with Vietnamese and international counterparts to support Vietnam’s journey in transforming its food system.
Announcing the cooperation, Minister Heydon said: “Ireland is committed to becoming a global leader in sustainable food systems, as outlined in the Food Vision strategy. This underpins our relationship with Vietnam. We will work with our counterparts to help Vietnam realise its own goals around economic, environmental and social sustainability in agri-food. This co-operation programme will feature knowledge sharing, innovation, education and joint research activities. It is an important part of Ireland’s political, trade and economic relationships with this dynamic and fast-growing nation.”
The co-operation programme, funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs, will involve a series of relationships between Irish and Vietnamese partners, including State agencies, universities and private sector over a five-year period. The objective is to support the country’s food system transformation journey through joint research, capability-building, training and educational linkages. It will involve participation by Irish State agencies, universities and private sector.
The programme will be managed by Sustainable Food Systems Ireland (SFSI), the technical co-operation provider established by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and four other government agencies active in agri-food – Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and Teagasc.
Additionally, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, through its support to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN, will provide funding support for a pilot project on resilient livelihoods for rural women in the Northern Mountainous Region of Vietnam. This project will contribute to increasing access to resilient and sustainable agriculture value chains for ethnic minority women.
Minister Heydon commented: “In Ireland, our Food Vision 2030 strategy calls out the need to support the central role of women in our farming and food communities. I am very pleased that, building on our strong partnership with FAO, funding from my Department will support the participation of rural women in farming and food businesses in Vietnam. The project has the potential to leave a lasting legacy by empowering rural women for generations to come.”