i) Share the current status of the food system in Đồng Tháp following provincial consultations and data collection;
ii) Identify priority issues within the food system based on a commonly agreed evaluation framework;
iii) Determine existing resources, potential synergies, and integration of resources, as well as identify the necessary resources to address priority areas and issues in the province, thereby promoting the implementation of Đồng Tháp’s Food System Transformation Plan in the near future.

The meeting was co-chaired by Ms. Trương Thị Thu Trang, Deputy Director of IPSARD, and Mr. Nguyễn Văn Vũ Minh, Director of the Đồng Tháp Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The meeting was attended by 40 local officials and experts from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Đồng Tháp’s Technical Task Force, relevant provincial departments, and representatives of the inter-sectoral working group, including the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development (IPSARD), the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS), the Center for Agrarian Systems Research and Development (CASRAD), the Institute of Agricultural Environment, and the National Institute of Nutrition.

According to Ms. Trang, the inter-sectoral working group collaborated with the Đồng Tháp Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to conduct consultation rounds to develop a profile of the food system in Đồng Tháp Province and a set of indicators describing the current status of the system. To date, the profile of the current food system in Đồng Tháp Province is being finalized, marking a significant milestone in implementing the province’s National Action Plan for System Transformation. This result serves as a critical foundation for Đồng Tháp to develop specific plans, strategies, and actions to achieve the goals of transparent, responsible, and sustainable food system transformation in the future.

At the meeting, Mr. Minh emphasized that identifying priority tasks within the food system is crucial as it directly contributes to building the province’s agricultural sector action plans in the coming period. Currently, the province is formulating a proposal titled “Building Đồng Tháp as a Pioneer Province and Model for Ecological Agriculture, Modern Rural Development, and Civilized Farmers.” He noted that the priority tasks in food system transformation can be integrated and incorporated into the implementation of this proposal. He also praised the methods and approaches employed by the inter-sectoral working group and local officials in identifying priority tasks and stakeholders for implementing these tasks.

Following the presentation by Ms. Huỳnh Thị Thanh Tuyền, representative of the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, on the current status of Đồng Tháp’s food system, and by Mr. Trần Văn Thể, representative of VAAS, on the methodology and steps taken, the participants were divided into three discussion groups to address specific questions and requirements.

At the end of the discussion session, three key priority groups of issues that require attention and focused efforts to address in the food system of Đồng Tháp Province were identified:

1. Unsustainable food production practices, including the improper and inappropriate use of pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilizers, and antibiotics; soil and water pollution; biodiversity loss; waste of agricultural by-products; high greenhouse gas emissions; lack of ecological farming practices; and insufficient application of circular and sustainable economic models.

2. Governance of the food system and limited inter-sectoral coordination mechanisms, including a lack of inter-sectoral collaboration mechanisms; overlapping policies; inadequate awareness of the Food System Transformation Action Plan; and limitations in the management of relationships between state-owned and private enterprises.

3. Inadequate food safety measures, which pose health risks, lack sufficient consumer information, and erode consumer trust (especially in traditional and small-scale market channels). Additionally, weak enforcement mechanisms fail to effectively address food safety and hygiene violations.

These are critical issues that require prioritized resource allocation for resolution. Furthermore, another issue highlighted by many participants is the rising prevalence of overweight, obesity, and chronic diseases across age groups, caused by a combination of subjective and objective factors.

To address these priority issues, it is necessary to strengthen the role and coordination among inter-sectoral agencies, such as Agriculture and Rural Development, Industry and Trade, Natural Resources and Environment, Health and Nutrition, and community organizations, as well as professional associations in implementation efforts. At the same time, it is important to mobilize resources for implementation by integrating them into existing programs and proposing key projects supported by central and local budgets, as well as resources from international organizations. Specifically, priority issues need to be incorporated into provincial and national plans and programs to ensure the efficient and effective use of resources.