On March 31, 2026, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnamese Society of Agricultural Engineering (VSAGE) and the Ho Chi Minh City Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment, in collaboration with Minh Vi Exhibitions and Advertisement Services Co. Ltd. – the organizer of Agri Vietnam Exhibition, co-hosted the seminar titled “Vietnam Agriculture in the Digital Era: Restructuring for Sustainable Breakthrough.” At the seminar, Mr. Nguyen Huu Hung, Consultant at FPT Digital, FPT Corporation, emphasized that digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) in agriculture should not be viewed as a “luxury” or a short-term trend. Instead, they represent a core operational foundation to address specific economic challenges, improve profit margins, and ensure sustainable development through the close integration of technology, data, and human capabilities.
Amid the dual pressures of climate change, market volatility, and increasing demands for productivity and quality aligned with international standards, Vietnam’s agricultural sector is facing an urgent need for restructuring toward a more modern, sustainable, and technology-driven model. ESG standards, traceability requirements, and expectations for supply chain transparency are accelerating the transition from traditional production models to data- and technology-based operations. In this context, digital transformation and AI adoption are emerging as key enablers to address core challenges such as cost optimization, production efficiency, and risk adaptation.
The seminar served as a specialized forum focusing on three strategic pillars of modern agriculture: ESG-oriented development, mechanization of production, and the application of AI in management, forecasting, and value chain optimization. The event brought together policymakers, experts, scientists, enterprises, and organizations across agriculture, technology, and environmental sectors to share diverse perspectives, update industry trends, and propose practical solutions to shape the future of Vietnam’s agriculture in the digital transformation era.
AI in Agriculture: The Need for a Structured Roadmap to Avoid “Transformation Traps”
Speaking at the seminar, Mr. Nguyen Huu Hung, Consultant at FPT Digital, FPT Corporation, emphasized a key point: artificial intelligence (AI) in agriculture has moved from the experimental stage to gradually forming digital infrastructure and governance platforms. According to him, AI is demonstrating effectiveness across three main areas, including precision farming (irrigation and fertilization), operational optimization through automation, and market support with functions such as supply–demand forecasting and traceability. However, for small enterprises and cooperatives, adoption needs to follow an appropriate roadmap. Specifically, organizations should begin with basic data digitization to gain visibility into key operational metrics, then select use cases directly linked to economic efficiency such as cost reduction, loss minimization, or product value enhancement, before progressing toward a model that integrates digital tools, human resources, and partners, using simple solutions as a foundation for AI application in subsequent stages.
Mr. Hung also pointed out several common mistakes in the digital transformation process of agricultural enterprises, notably investing in technology before clearly defining business problems. According to him, digital transformation only truly delivers value when it is directly linked to core objectives such as increasing revenue, reducing costs, or controlling risks, rather than following trends. In addition, fragmented implementation, lacking integration across stages of the value chain – such as optimizing production while neglecting market output – will make it difficult to achieve overall effectiveness. He also emphasized the importance of implementing quick-win initiatives in the early stages, enabling enterprises to achieve measurable short-term results, thereby strengthening confidence and maintaining implementation momentum.
Warning of medium-term risks, the FPT Digital expert noted that without accelerating digital transformation, agricultural enterprises may in the near future face several consequences, including a decline in their ability to forecast and respond to market and weather fluctuations; shrinking profit margins due to high operating costs and planning inaccuracies; the risk of being excluded from export markets with strict requirements on traceability and sustainability standards; and continued reliance on individual experience instead of operating based on data-driven systems.
Expanding AI access and redefining the role of ESG in agriculture
At the seminar, the FPT Digital expert also emphasized the role of collaborative models in expanding technology adoption among smallholder farmers and small-scale enterprises. Accordingly, the cost of AI implementation becomes more reasonable when accessed through shared platforms, outsourcing services, or cooperative models, rather than through isolated investments. This approach not only optimizes costs but also broadens access to advanced technologies for a wider population, contributing to narrowing the digital gap in agriculture.
In addition, digital transformation and ESG practices are recommended to be viewed as long-term investments rather than mandatory costs. The application of technology and compliance with sustainability standards can help enterprises mitigate risks, optimize resource usage, and enhance opportunities to access high-demand export markets. At the same time, digital transformation is also considered an important solution to address the “bumper crop, falling price” issue through supply–demand coordination, product segmentation, and logistics optimization. Experts also affirmed that technology does not replace humans but plays a supporting role, reducing heavy workloads and thereby improving productivity and income for workers. In the long term, digital transformation needs to be implemented in parallel with mechanization, in which technology plays a guiding role in identifying investment points that deliver the highest efficiency across the agricultural value chain.
The seminar showed that digital transformation in Vietnam’s agriculture is currently a comprehensive restructuring process from production to market. In the context of increasing competitive pressure and tightening international standards, delayed transformation may cause enterprises to lose opportunities to participate in global value chains. Conversely, those that adopt the right approach – starting from clearly measurable ROI-driven problems, implementing appropriate roadmaps, and leveraging collaborative strengths – will have the opportunity to improve operational efficiency, increase product value, and gradually build sustainable competitive advantages for Vietnam’s agriculture in the coming period.
