NEWS

Students from Nutrition Club, Hanoi University of Public Health and Hanoi Medical University participated in a training program on Enhancing Knowledge and awareness of Food system transformation for nutrition students’ club

Publication date: 07 | 01 | 2025

With the support of the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) on behalf of Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, the Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, Faculty of Environmental and Occupational Health, Hanoi University of Public Health, is organizing the “Training Workshop on Enhancing Knowledge and Awareness of Food System Transformation for nutrition students’ club”.

The training program included phase 1: E – learning course hosted by HUPH website and phase 2: 2-day In-person Workshop from 14-15 December 2024. The training program including  successfully engaged students from Hanoi University of Public Health and Hanoi Medical University, providing them with an opportunity to understand the basic concepts of food system transformation and the core principles of sustainable healthy diets (SHD). Over the two days, a blend of theoretical and practical activities enabled participants to explore food systems from a multidisciplinary perspective, their integral roles within these systems, and the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships (MSP) in driving transformation.

Knowledge: Through this program, students developed a strong foundation in understanding key components of sustainable food systems, such as supply chains, production, processing, and consumption. They explored pressing global challenges like climate change, food security, and food waste while recognizing the need for innovative approaches to address these issues. The training emphasized the interconnectedness between human health, the environment, and the economy, equipping students with the skills to conceptualize and implement sustainable food transformation strategies. They also examined successful food system transformation models, paving the way for applying these insights to Vietnam’s journey toward SHD.

Students gained a grasp of the food system and determined their role in food transformation

Students presented group findings on challenges faced by consumers in transitioning to sustainable healthy diets

 

Attitude: Students gained practical skills in building networks of stakeholders essential for advancing sustainable food systems. By engaging in collaborative activities, they enhanced their abilities to facilitate dialogue, share ideas, and cultivate partnerships across the food value chain. The training also honed their capacity to design and execute effective education and awareness campaigns, aimed at promoting SHD through food system transformation.

Students participated in the power ranking game

Students made suggestions on how to enhance food safety and quality based on their information on food systems.

 

Practice: The program fostered a deeper sense of responsibility among participants toward food security and sustainable development. Students exhibited greater mindfulness in their food-related choices, striving to minimize waste and reduce environmental impacts. Through simulations of food supply chains, they acquired hands-on experience in analyzing, evaluating, and planning processes to enhance system efficiency. These practical exercises emphasized resource optimization, food waste reduction, and the application of new technologies to manage food systems effectively.

On the other hand, students gained valuable soft skills essential for both academic and professional success. Through activities such as presentations and group discussions, they developed effective communication skills, enabling them to articulate their ideas clearly and confidently in front of diverse audiences. Collaborative group discussions fostered teamwork, active listening, and critical thinking, as students engaged in analyzing complex challenges within food systems and brainstorming innovative solutions. These interactive exercises not only enhanced their ability to work cohesively in teams but also cultivated leadership skills, as students took turns facilitating discussions and managing group dynamics. Overall, the course empowered participants with the interpersonal skills necessary to navigate multi-stakeholder environments and contribute meaningfully to sustainable food system transformations.

Students avidly engaged in group discussions

Students confidently presented the results of group discussions.

 

By turning theoretical knowledge into actionable practices, the program inspired students to adopt positive changes in their daily habits and career aspirations. It equipped them with the analytical and strategic skills needed to tackle real-world challenges, preparing them to lead Vietnam’s transition to sustainable healthy diets through innovative and effective food system transformations.

Le Thi Thu Ha, HUPH

 

OTHER NEWS

Policy Forum: "Agroecology – Experiences from Partners and Implementation in Vietnam" on December 10, 2024

10-12-2024

Over the years, the transition to green and sustainable agriculture has become a strategic focus for many countries, aiming to address global challenges such as climate change, land degradation, and ecological imbalance. Agroecological models, which incorporate environmentally friendly farming methods, resource reuse, and minimizing negative impacts on ecosystems, are increasingly asserting their importance in building a sustainable food system.

Workshop on the Progress Review of the SHiFT Initiative on October 23, 2024

23-10-2024

Under the framework of the initiative “Sustainable Healthy Diets through Food Systems Transformation” (SHiFT), the Bioversity International Alliance and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (Bioversity & CIAT Alliance), in collaboration with strategic partners including the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS), the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development (IPSARD), the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), and other stakeholders, organized the “Workshop on the Progress Review of the SHiFT Initiative.” The workshop aimed to:

Meeting on “Identifying Issues, Partners, and Resources in the Food System” in Sơn La Province on November 29, 2024

29-11-2024

Within the framework of activities to promote the implementation of the “National Action Plan for Transforming Vietnam’s Food System Towards Transparency, Responsibility, and Sustainability by 2030” under Decision No. 300/QĐ-TTg by the Prime Minister at the provincial level, the Sơn La Department of Agriculture and Rural Development coordinated with the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS), the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development (IPSARD), and the National Institute of Nutrition to organize a meeting. The purpose was to share and discuss the current state of Sơn La Province's food system to identify priority issues, stakeholders, and both existing and future resources needed to address these challenges.

Meeting on “Identifying Priority Issues, Implementation Partners, Activities, and Resources in the Food System in Đồng Tháp Province” Held on November 25, 2024, in Đồng Tháp Province

25-11-2024

Continuing a series of activities to promote the implementation of the “National Action Plan for Transforming the Food System towards Transparency, Responsibility, and Sustainability in Vietnam by 2030” (NAP-FS) under Decision No. 300/QĐ-TTg of the Prime Minister at the provincial level, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Đồng Tháp, in collaboration with the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development (IPSARD), the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, organized the meeting on “Identifying Priority Issues, Implementation Partners, Activities, and Resources in the Food System in Đồng Tháp Province.” The meeting aimed to:

CONSULTATION MEETING FINALIZATION OF THE REPORT ON THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE FOOD SYSTEM IN SON LA PROVINCE ON NOVEMBER 19, 2024

21-11-2024

On November 19, 2024, a meeting titled "Consultation on the Current Status of the Food System in Son La Province" was organized by the Son La Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with the inter-agency task force (Biodiversity Alliance and CIAT, Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agricultural and Rural Development, National Institute of Nutrition). This event is part of a series of consultation activities aimed at developing the profile of the current status of the food system in Son La Province.

CONSULTATION MEETING “CURRENT STATUS OF THE FOOD SYSTEM IN SƠN LA PROVINCE” on 07/11/2024

7-11-2024

In a coordinated effort to promote the implementation of the “National Action Plan for a transparent, responsible, and sustainable transformation of the food system in Vietnam by 2030” under Decision No. 300/QD-TTg by the Prime Minister in 2023, an inter-agency working group consisting of the Bioversity and CIAT Alliance, the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development, and the National Institute of Nutrition, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Sơn La, organized a consultation meeting on the current status of the food system in Sơn La Province on November 7, 2024, in Sơn La City.

Workshop to Assess the Progress of SHiFT Initiative Implementation on October 23, 2024

24-10-2024

Within the framework of the initiative "Sustainable Healthy Diets through Food Systems Transformation" – SHiFT, the International Alliance for Biodiversity and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (Bioversity & CIAT Alliance) collaborated with strategic partners such as the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS), the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development (IPSARD), the National Institute of Nutrition, and related stakeholders to organize the “Workshop to Assess the Progress of SHiFT Initiative Implementation” with the objectives to: i) Share preliminary research results of the SHiFT initiative in Vietnam after nearly 3 years of implementation; ii) Discuss how these research results contribute to the transformation of the food system in Vietnam; iii) Provide general information on SHiFT's follow-up activities within the framework of the CGIAR Program on Better Diets and Nutrition for the 2025-2030 period, and how this program can support food system transformation in Vietnam in the future.

Celebrating the 44th Anniversary of World Food Day 18/10/2024

19-10-2024

On 18/10, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, along with the United Nations in Vietnam and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Vietnam, celebrated the 44th World Food Day; announced the “Scheme to Promote International Cooperation in Agriculture and Rural Development by 2030 with a Vision to 2050”; signed an Agreement to establish the Vietnam Food Systems Transformation Partnership; and launched the United Nations Joint Program in Vietnam on “Promoting Innovation in Partnerships and Finance for Food System Transformation in Vietnam.”

Sharing research results related to the food environment in Vietnam

17-9-2024

Specialized meeting "Sharing research results related to the food environment in Vietnam" on September 16, 2024, at the meeting room of the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agricultural and Rural Development. As part of the CGIAR initiative on Healthy and Sustainable Diets through the Transformation of Food Systems (SHiFT), the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agricultural and Rural Development (IPSARD) coordinated with the Bioversity International Alliance and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (Bioversity-CIAT Alliance) to organize a specialized meeting to share research results related to the food environment in Vietnam, thereby raising awareness and knowledge about the food environment for SHiFT's partner agency staff and research organizations and universities.

CGIAR Annual Report 2023: Science to Transform Food, Land, and Water Systems in a Climate Crisis

22-8-2024

The year 2023 marked significant strides by CGIAR in its mission to transform food, land, and water systems amidst the global climate crisis. This year’s report emphasizes nutrition, health, and food security, highlighting numerous innovations and collaborations that have driven positive change. The report also underscores the critical need for increased investment in agricultural research to achieve sustainable and scalable results.