Trust from farmers, consumers, businesses, and authorities represents the tremendous values that PGS Vietnam has brought to society over its 15 years of establishment.
Review of the PGS development journey
Background and participants of the 7th Congress
On the morning of December 15, 2023, in Hanoi, PGS Vietnam (Participatory Guarantee System), an affiliate of the Vietnam Organic Agriculture Association, held its 7th Congress marking 15 years since its establishment (since 2008).
In her opening address at the Congress, Ms. Tu Thi Tuyet Nhung, Head of the PGS Vietnam Coordination Committee, spoke about the journey of establishing and developing PGS Vietnam with its numerous challenges and rough patches; yet she and her colleagues have never lost heart in steering the PGS Vietnam ship in the right direction.
Next, Mr. Tran Manh Chien, Deputy Head of the PGS Vietnam Coordination Committee and CEO of the Bac Tom clean food chain, reported to the General Assembly on PGS Vietnam's activities during the 2021-2023 term.
Accordingly, PGS Vietnam was significantly impacted during this period by the Covid-19 pandemic. There was a decline in production area and market size; inspection, monitoring, and certification activities were affected during the first half of the term; and the organisation experienced and adapted to new conditions while adjusting regulations accordingly.
Since the second half of 2022, PGS Vietnam's activities have gradually resumed. PGS Vietnam moved under the Center for Organic Agriculture Development and Support (CODAS) and actively participated in international events: Naturland – Germany; NIFAM – Germany; SHiFT – CIAT.
However, prominent challenges remain, such as: Reduced farming area and productivity due to Covid-19, climate change, and land acquisition/conversion; an aging workforce with no successors; underperforming internal inspections that still rely heavily on the Local Board; and weak communication and outreach systems.
During the past term, the Coordination Committee made efforts to manage the quality of Producer Inter-groups in Thanh Xuan (Soc Son), Luong Son (Hoa Binh), and Trac Van (Ha Nam) through rigorous inspection, monitoring, input management, and production environment control. In addition, to prevent fraud, PGS Vietnam employed digital QR code technology to ensure transparency across the PGS system.
Regarding the operational orientation for Term VII: Expand customer network by >50% and increase participating enterprise sector by >30% – Digitize from farm diaries to retail – Innovate operations towards ecological, lean, empowering, and customer-oriented practices – Finalize internal operating regulations and rules for farmer and enterprise members – Propose establishing a Field Monitoring Committee within PGS or VOAA to strengthen compliance.
The Congress was also an occasion to express gratitude and commend individuals and organizations that contributed to the development of PGS Vietnam over the past term, from Coordination Committee members to businesses and outstanding farmers.
Delivering his directing remarks at the Congress, Dr. Ha Phuc Mich, President of the Vietnam Organic Agriculture Association (VOAA), stated that after 15 years of establishment and development, Vietnam Organic PGS is still in its initial phase, having undergone many difficulties and challenges. It is a voluntary, autonomous organization founded on the realization that Organic Agriculture is an inevitable production trend for modern and future agriculture, benefiting both producers and the community. All delegates attending this Congress are pioneers laying the foundation for the cause of Organic Agriculture in Vietnam.
Therefore, Dr. Ha Phuc Mich hopes that delegates will make wise choices in electing dedicated and visionary leaders to foster the strong and sustainable growth of the Vietnam Organic PGS, always serving as "Organic PGS for the Future".
Following the approval of the amendments and supplements to the operating regulations of PGS Vietnam, the General Assembly elected the PGS Vietnam Coordinating Committee for the 2024–2026 term consisting of 10 members: La Ngoc Anh, Tran Manh Chien, Tran Thi Dung, Nguyen Le Thu Ha, Dang Thi Bich Huong, Do Quang Khai, Tran Thi Ngoc Mai, Do Duc Thuan, Thai Anh Tuan, and Vu Le Y Voan, with high consensus among delegates.
The newly elected Head of the Coordination Committee is Mr. Tran Manh Chien (Director of the Bac Tom clean food chain), alongside two new Deputy Heads: Ms. Vu Le Y Voan (Senior Advisor to the Forest and Farm Facility program of the Vietnam Farmers' Union) and Ms. Nguyen Le Thu Ha (Specialist in biological control and sustainable development, Regional Director of Igenomix Vietnam).
The 7th PGS Vietnam Congress was a great success and promises to usher in a brilliant new term that delivers tremendous value to society.
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