The Advancement of Vietnamese Agriculture in the Digital Era

On August 12, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, in collaboration with Griffith University (Australia), organized the scientific workshop “Digital Transformation and Application of Artificial Intelligence in Sustainable Agriculture.”

During the workshop, participants shared a vision for greener, smarter, and more efficient Vietnamese agriculture, contributing to global efforts to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and combat climate change.

For a Green Agriculture

At the opening session, representatives from HUST, Griffith University, the Aus4Innovation program, and Thanh Hoa provincial leaders shared a common vision for a greener, smarter, and more sustainable Vietnamese agriculture—one that aligns with the global effort to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 in response to climate change.

Assoc. Prof. Huynh Dang Chinh, Vice President of HUST emphasized that sustainable agriculture cannot rely on a single discipline but requires the synergy of multiple fields including data science, AI, chemistry, biology, and automation.
  “HUST has been working hand in hand with international and domestic partners, notably Griffith University and Thanh Hoa province, on the project ‘AI-Driven Carbon Farming and Digital Twin for Sustainable Agriculture in Thanh Hoa.’ We are committed to providing resources, infrastructure, and an enabling environment to ensure that research outcomes truly reach the farmers, rather than remaining on paper,” Assoc. Prof. Chinh stressed.

He also expressed his hope that the data and research results shared at the conference would be openly disseminated, paving the way for smart agriculture models developed in Thanh Hoa to be scaled to other provinces.

Representing Griffith University, Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Quoc Viet Hung, project leader, described his personal connection: although working in Australia, he takes pride in bringing cutting-edge technologies back to his homeland.

The digital platform developed under the project enables more precise quantification of greenhouse gas emissions and advances carbon farming practices. Importantly, it also opens opportunities for farmers to generate new revenue streams through carbon credits. Assoc. Prof. Hung underlined that research only holds true value when commercialized and integrated into real-world production.
  From an international perspective, Dr. Kim Wimbush, Director of Aus4Innovation and Counselor at CSIRO (Australian Embassy), affirmed the timeliness of the dialogue on the intersection of digital transformation, AI, and sustainable agriculture. He noted that Vietnam–Australia relations are now at a historic high with the upgrade to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, in which science, technology, and innovation are key pillars.

“Australia’s partnership with Vietnam has never been stronger. Together, we are delivering practical solutions to global challenges,” Dr. Wimbush highlighted.

He praised the project in Thanh Hoa as an effective response to urgent challenges of climate-adaptive smart agriculture, with its core being a state-of-the-art AI-powered digital twin platform jointly developed by Griffith University and HUST.
  Ms. Nguyen Thi Vi, Deputy Head of the Thanh Hoa Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, expressed gratitude for selecting Thanh Hoa as the pilot site. From February 2025, AI-based emission monitoring systems have been installed in Hoang Loc (Hoang Hoa district) and Ha Long (Ha Trung district). These systems help digitalize agricultural emissions data, enhance carbon management accuracy, and bring advanced technologies closer to farmers—boosting productivity, lowering costs, and promoting green farming.
  Thanh Hoa authorities pledged to provide necessary data, and engage local cooperatives and farmers in supporting the project. They also expect the initiative to help train local experts in technology, thereby enhancing the province’s long-term capacity for agricultural carbon management.

Solutions for the Future of Vietnamese Agriculture

In the technical seminar, Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Kien Trung (School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, HUST) presented on the development of an IoT-based multi-sensor device for monitoring soil, water levels, and emissions.

The system is self-powered, capable of continuous operation for up to 48 hours, and can transmit data via 4G or LoRa. In case of connectivity loss, data is stored locally and automatically uploaded when reconnected. This ensures that farmers and managers can monitor their fields remotely from anywhere with internet access.
  Assoc. Prof. Trung emphasized the importance of developing locally manufactured, cost-effective devices to make smart farming solutions more accessible to Vietnamese farmers.

Following that, Dr. Vu Duong Quynh (Institute of Agricultural Environment) presented methods to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in rice cultivation. 

He highlighted practices such as AWD water management, compost and biochar application, deep fertilizer placement, and slow-release nitrogen fertilizers. These practices have shown significant reductions in methane (CH₄)—the largest contributor to rice cultivation emissions—while also saving on fertilizer use and limiting nitrous oxide (N₂O). He illustrated these with field experiments conducted in Thai Binh province.
  Concluding the session, Assoc. Prof. Jun Jo (Griffith University) introduced greenfarming.vn—a digital platform that integrates AI, IoT, and digital twin technologies to monitor carbon emissions and sequestration in agriculture. The platform supports local authorities, cooperatives, and farmers in tracking emissions and adopting optimal sustainable farming practices.
  The long-term goal is to expand the platform across Thanh Hoa and beyond to other crops and regions, paving the way for provincial-level carbon credit markets and, ultimately, a nationwide model—particularly for Vietnam’s key rice-producing areas.

The solutions presented at the conference are not isolated but complementary—demonstrating how digital transformation and AI are becoming indispensable drivers of Vietnam’s agricultural transition. This marks a decisive step forward for Vietnamese agriculture as it embraces a greener, smarter, and more sustainable future powered by technology.