Opportunities for cooperation in the field of agri- and horticulture in Lam Dong Province

Major agri- and horticulture region in Vietnam Ideal growing circumstances -Climate (18-22° year round, rainfall: mm) -Fertile soil Year round production ± 40,000 hectares of agricultural production ± 2,500 – 3,500 hectares of greenhouse production (mainly used for flowers) Agri- and horticulture in Lam Dong

- Vietnam is in an early adoption phase of technology –Farms with limited technology / know how Low capacity to steer production (quantity and quality) High production variability (not stable) Pest and disease pressure Limited post harvest technology + Little attention for sustainability (important for export to EU & US) Challenges in Lam Dong

but recent transition to apply (high tech) technology - export driven (quality standards) willingness to apply quality accreditation systems (VietGAP, globalGAP) needed for export willingness to learn, invest and move forward research & knowledge centers present (all necessary equipment available!)

 Belgium as a traditional 'top player' in agriculture has the scientific and technological expertise to support this development Importance of quality and stable production Ability to steer the growth and production Ability to steer the cultivation climate High level know how on pest and disease prevention and control High level know how on post harvest treatment to preserve quality in commercialization With attention for sustainability

Cooperation opportunities Excellent opportunities exist to collaborate at –Entrepreneur level (e.g): –Greenhouse technology –Chemical and biological (organic) crop protection –Climate control and growth regulation –Advanced substrates and fertilizers –In vitro culture and plant breeding (e.g. cooperation between Denis Plants and Da Lat Flower Forest Biotechnology, since 2006) –... –Research level (e.g): –to set up joint research –to set up experimental field tests –to set up exchange of professors, staff and students

Basis of the cooperation between the two provinces is the signing of a general MOU in 2011 e.g. meeting between PC Lam Dong and Province of East Flanders (2014) Longstanding cooperation between East Flanders and Lam Dong

-People’s Committee of Lam Dong Province -Department of Agriculture and rural development (DARD) of Lam Dong Province -Dalat University -Lam Dong Research center for potatoes, flowers and vegetables -Private companies in Lam Dong  ! Ambition to enlarge this partnership Actual partnership in Vietnam

-Province of East Flanders -Gent University -Gent University College -Research Center of Vegetables -Research Center of Flowers -Institute of Agricultural Research -Consortium of Flemish companies  ! Ambition to enlarge this partnership Actual partnership in Belgium

Leading to benefits for both the Vietnamese and Belgian partners On Vietnamese side: gaining knowledge/ technology with positive consequences for profit and in the environmental / human sphere On Belgian side: creating additional possibilities for internationalization of knowledge centers / institutions and companies Main aim: to develop to an agricultural model in Vietnam that is economically, socially and environmentally sustainable

Official missions to develop the general strategy of cooperation Economic – scientific missions with the official level, companies and knowledge centers Organisation of a series of workshops and training sessions to increase the level of knowledge in Lam Dong By implementing specific projects by joint strategy and development

Knowledge translation through demonstrative experiments to introduce practical solutions for farmers (changing mindset of farmers to adopt technology) –Sustainable ways to avoid soil disease and increase yields –Sustainable pest and disease control & biocontrol –New seed varieties, … e.g. field test on strawberries

Knowledge translation by sending experts to Lam Dong to give advice on specific topics E.g.Pesticide use in strawberry and chrysantheum cultivation Knowledge translation through trainings of government representatives and experts of Lam Dong in East Flanders Field research and elaboration of a survey on the future cooperation possibilities between Belgium and Vietnam

Field project : to a higher yield and quality in the tomato cultivation sector in Lam Dong Province Demonstrating/showing to farmers how to grow tomatoes in a more sustainable way with positive consequences for the environment and public health Provide scientific and practical support to increase productivity / yield and quality (and profit) of tomato cultivation in Lam Dong Create cooperation opportunities for companies and knowledge centers in Vietnam and Belgium

Partnership : East Flanders – Lam Dong province Companies (consortium of Belgian companies) Knowledge centers (in Lam Dong, East Flanders) Timing: start second half of 2015

Vietnam – high potential to become an important producer -Small producer: located Ben Tre, Lam Dong, Dak Lak -High quality of beans -No mono culture: to be combined with other crops -Will (national level) to promote the production Belgium – strong partners -Ghent University – Cacao Lab (unique in EU) -Puratos – Grand Place: top chocolate maker (located in Binh Duong province) using Vietnamese cacao Cooperation in the field of cacao cultivation

Project “analyses of the potential of cacao production in Lam Dong ( )” -Province of East Flanders -Gent University -Puratos Grand Place -People’s committe of Lam Dong -DARD Lam Dong -Dalat University Aim : to support the development of high quality cacao production in Lam Dong Cooperation in the field of cacao cultivation

Aim of East Flanders to set up projects to support the durable development of coffee production in Lam Dong First project : analyses of the coffee berry disease problem in Lam Dong (2015) Molenbergnatie has established a distribution center in Binh Duong ( m2) for the export of coffee to Belgium, 30% of all processed coffee comes from Lam Dong Opportunites to develop (in partnership with local governments, companies and knowledge centers) a cooperation in this field Cooperation in the field of coffee cultivation

Vietnam –Shortage of meat and diary products in Vietnam  important import from abroad (Australia,..) Belgium –World know expertise and excellent breed: Belgian White Blue Less feed necessary / kg meat = economical (meat / fat ) Higher quantity of meat / carcass = production efficient Less manure produced, lower greenhouse gass production = ecological Cooperation in the field of cattle breeding

Aim : to cross breed (artificial insemination) Belgian White Blue cattle with local breeds and improve cattle farming conditions  more efficient/ environmental way of producing cattle meat in Vietnam  create cooperation opportunities for companies and knowledge centers in Vietnam and Belgium ( artificial insemination centers, medical equipment, food additives, …) Cooperation in the field of cattle breeding

East Flanders : longstanding partner of Vietnam

- Two structural international partnerships –China (special focus on Hebei – Ha Bac) since 1991 –Vietnam since Clear political choice to maintain a limited number of long-term strategic partnerships and cooperation alliances outside the EU -Working within existing broader frameworks, strategies and actions (Belgian and regional (Flemish) level) International policy of East Flanders

-Bringing added value both in East Flanders and Vietnam by JOINT strategies and cooperations -Based on a clear SWOT-analysis on both sides -Focus on cluster policy and multi-stakeholders approach (triple helix model) -Official authorities -Knowledge centers and institutes -Companies International policy of East Flanders

Organisation of 5 East Flemish economic scientific missions : –Multisectoral (2) –Agri, horticulture and cattle breeding (3) Privileged partner for Vietnamese authorities in the organization of activities, e.g. –Organisation of a number of important economic seminars –Reception of Vietnamese (high level) delegations –Organisation of the Vietnamese days in Belgium Vietnamese delegation of 180 participants : high ranked political delegation, important business people, cultural delegation and a Vietnamese press delegation Highlights of the cooperation between East Flanders and Vietnam

The establishment of the School of Excellence: 450 middle management employees and 1100 workers in Flemish companies active in Vietnam received practical training; Financing and set up of a number of projects in the field of –Aquaculture (RIA 2, Can Tho University, Gent University) –Agri- and horticulture East Flanders acts as a platform (in close cooperation with the Vietnamese Embassy in Brussels) for activities to convince Belgian actors about the potential in Vietnam Highlights of the cooperation between East Flanders and Vietnam

Because of the fast growing cooperation, East Flanders established the “Flanders Economic Office” : –integrated in the Belgian Consulate in HCMC –acting as a supporting platform for Flemish companies –co-coordinator of the activities organised by the province in Vietnam. Flanders Economic Office