HAPRI meets Australian Commission and Policy Advisory Council on International Agricultural Research

On the evening of June 14, 2022, at Victoria Resort Can Tho, HAPRI researchers met and connected with experts from the Australian Commission and Policy Advisory Council on International Agricultural Research (CIAR, PAC). These are two advisory bodies to the Australian Foreign Minister on international agricultural research. The meeting was part of the field trip program of the Delegation in the Mekong Delta, to understand the current situation and opportunities for agricultural development in Vietnam.

Attending the meeting, representatives of the Commission for International Agricultural Research (CIAR) included Mrs. Fiona Simson (Commissioner, Chair), Prof. Andrew Campbell (Commissioner, ACIAR CEO), commissioners Prof Lindsay Falvey, MS Su McCluskey, Dr Sasha Courville, Dr Beth Woods, and Mr. Tony York. These are leading experts in the Australian agricultural industry.

The Policy Advisory Council for International Agricultural Research (PAC) was represented by Prof. Wendy Umberger (President), Dr. Audrey Aumua Member, Dr. Nguyen Van Bo, and other commissioners. Especially, HAPRI also connected with Mr. Howard Hall, program manager of Agribusiness ACIAR (Australian Center for International Agricultural Research), manager of the food loss project in the Mekong Delta region by ACIAR/IDRC; as well as ACIAR Vietnam representatives: Ms. Thanh An, Ms. Lan Phuong, and Ms. Thu Huong.

Connecting with CIAR, PAC, and ACIAR (clockwise, Ms. Julia Checco, Mr. Lindsay Falvey, Prof. Wendy Umberger, Mr. Howard Hall, and Mr.Andrew Campell)

At the meeting, the Delegation connected with scientists who are implementing ACIAR projects to support the Mekong Delta, including the project conducted by HAPRI on food loss in the catfish value chain of the Mekong River Basin.

After a long time working online, the meeting was an opportunity for the Delegation to have friendly, face-to-face conversations with managers, scientists, enterprises and partners; and discuss research issues in the field of agriculture in Vietnam.

ACIAR is helping the Mekong Delta solve important issues such as climate change, connecting farmers to markets, and reducing losses in the value chain. The ultimate goal is to ensure people's livelihoods, effectively adapting to the challenges that exist in the current agricultural sector of Vietnam.

HAPRI, Ms. An - ACIAR Vietnam country manager (furthest left), and Andrew Campell - ACIAR CEO (middle)

After the visit to the Mekong Delta and many other activities, the delegation will identify necessary bilateral and multilateral research issues with Vietnam and Australia, then advise the Australian Foreign Minister on further investment programs in agriculture.