The Australian Government, in partnership with the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), on August 1 offically announced the awarding of substantial grants to three cutting-edge agricultural technology projects as part of Aus4Innovation Partnership Grants under the Aus4Innovation Program, with a total of AUD1.45 million ($946,670).

These grants aim to support the uptake of advanced technologies capable of enhancing agricultural efficiency and promoting sustainable practices in Vietnam.

This is the latest round of the Aus4Innovation Partnership Grants, managed by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, focused on the pressing theme - high tech innovation to address challenges in agriculture for sustainable development. With the complexities of modern agriculture in mind, this round sought proposals that leverage high-tech solutions to enhance agricultural productivity, market development for agricultural outputs, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and social inclusivity.

The three successful projects highlighted the importance of collaboration between the research innovation ecosystems in Australia and Vietnam to make technological advancements in sustainable agriculture.

They include:

1. “Improving crop monitoring and access to information by smallholder farmers and government decision-makers in Vietnam,”  with a funding of AUD487,719 ($318,492). This project is a collaboration between the University of Southern Queensland and the Vietnam National Space Center, aims at harnessing geospatial technologies to provide vital crop information, and boosting productivity.

2. “Proactive carbon farming with AI and digital twins for sustainable agriculture in Thanh Hoa province (Vietnam),” with a funding of AUD480,658 ($313,876). Through this project, Griffith University in Australia and Hanoi University of Science & Technology in Vietnam will develop an AI-driven platform to better quantify greenhouse gas emissions and enhance carbon farming, ultimately contributing to sustainable agricultural practices and revenue opportunities through carbon credits.

3. “Empowering smallholder farmers through AI-powered certification and traceability for sustainable agriculture in Vietnam,” with a funding of AUD480,134 ($313,505). This project is the collaboration between Griffith University  (Australia) and the Commission for the Standards, Metrology and Quality of Vietnam (STAMEQ) under the Ministry of Science and Technology,  aiming  at elevating standards in agriculture through an AI and digitalisation system that ensures effective farm monitoring and product traceability.

According to H.E. Andrew Goledzinowski, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, these initiatives embody the spirit of innovation and collaboration between Australia and Vietnam.

“Through the Aus4Innovation Partnership Grants, we are not only tackling evolving challenges but also investing in the long-term sustainability of Vietnam’s agricultural sector. This shines a light on our broader commitment to support Vietnam through targeted funding for technology-driven projects that address both emerging and long-standing challenges,” Ambassador Andrew Goledzinowski said.

Mr. Bui The Duy, Vice Minister of Science and Technology, for his part, noted that the successful implementation of these projects will mark a significant leap in Vietnam’s ambitions to become a pioneer in the application of high-tech solutions in agriculture.

“This collaboration underlines our commitment to embracing innovative technologies that drive significant socio-economic benefits, laying the foundation for a more resilient and prosperous future,” the vice minister said.

“Recipients of Aus4Innovation Partnership Grants will also benefit from CSIRO’s support through connections to our network of innovators and industry partners, guidance on gender and disability responsiveness and social inclusivity, and access to partnership brokering experts to ensure the success of projects and fortify the collaboration between Australian and Vietnamese entities within each project,” Dr. Kim Wimbush, Counsellor of Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) to Vietnam and Director of the Aus4Innovation Program shared.