The event was attended by international delegates including Mr. Vinod Ahuja – FAO Representative in Vietnam; Dr. Nguyen Quang Tan – Country Coordinator of CIFOR Vietnam; and Ms. Sanne Hoj Andrén – Counsellor, Embassy of Denmark.
Vietnamese representatives included Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao The Anh – President of the Vietnam Rural Development Science Association; Mr. Tran Dinh That – Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology of Thai Nguyen; Mr. Nguyen My Hai – Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Thai Nguyen Province; Ms. Cam Thi Phong – Former Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Son La Province; and Mr. Mai Anh Khoa – Head of Science, Technology, and External Affairs Division.
Representing TUAF were Dr. Nguyen Chi Hieu – Party Secretary; Prof. Dr. Nguyen The Hung – Chairman of the University Council; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hung Quang – Rector; Dr. Phan Thi Hong Phuc – Vice Rector, together with faculty members, students, experts, and agribusiness representatives.
The event aimed to encourage youth innovation and highlight their role in building sustainable food systems, contributing to global efforts in food security, climate resilience, and green agriculture — as part of activities celebrating the 80th anniversary of FAO.
During the event, students presented innovative projects and models promoting sustainability, such as food processing from agricultural by-products, QR-based traceability systems, circular agriculture models, and AI applications in farm management.
In his opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hung Quang, Rector of TUAF, emphasized:
“Students are pioneers in innovation. The university is committed to supporting them in developing ideas and turning initiatives into real contributions toward sustainable agriculture and food systems.”
Speaking at the event, Mr. Vinod Ahuja, FAO Representative in Vietnam, expressed his sympathy for Thai Nguyen residents affected by Typhoon Matmo and praised the university’s resilience in recovery efforts. He highlighted that:
“Innovation begins with young people who dare to think differently — from classrooms and laboratories to communities experimenting with new ways to reduce food loss and waste. A small project at university can inspire change at a larger scale.”
The event also featured an intergenerational dialogue between youth and experts, exploring challenges and opportunities in sustainable agriculture, technological application, and food loss reduction. Six outstanding student teams advanced to the final round of the Youth Innovation Challenge, showcasing creative ideas for reducing food waste and promoting sustainability.
At the conclusion, the organizers honored and awarded the best projects, recognizing students’ creativity and commitment to community-oriented innovation.
The event served as both an intellectual playground and a meaningful platform, inspiring young people to take responsibility for a greener, more sustainable agricultural future.
📸 Below are some photos from the event.
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