Search Results (227)

Soil testing has long been used to optimize fertilization and crop production. More recently, soil health testing has emerged to reflect the growing interest in soil multifunctionality and ecosystem services. Soil health encompasses physical, chemical, and biological properties that support ecosystem functions and sustainable agriculture. Despite its relevance to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 13, and 15), comprehensive soil health testing is not widely practiced due to complexity and cost. The aim of the study presented here was to contribute to the further development, implementation, and testing of an integrated procedure for soil health assessment in practice. We developed and tested a rapid, standardized soil health assessment tool that combines near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and multi-nutrient 0.01 M CaCl₂ extraction with Inductive Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy analysis. The tool evaluates a wide range of soil characteristics with high accuracy (R² ≥ 0.88 for most parameters) and has been evaluated across more than 15 countries, including those in Europe, China, New Zealand, and Vietnam. The results are compiled into a soil health indicator report with tailored management advice and a five-level ABCDE score. In a Dutch test set, 6% of soils scored A (optimal), while 2% scored E (degraded). This scalable tool supports land users, agrifood industries, and policymakers in advancing sustainable soil management and evidence-based environmental policy. Full article

The aim of this research is to identify policy and practice interventions that support a just transition towards resilient practices for resource-dependent communities. We focus on Thai Nguyen and Phu Tho, two provinces in the Northern Midlands and Mountains of Vietnam. The region is reliant on agriculture but is assessed as highly vulnerable to climate change. We surveyed 105 farming households. A Likert-type questionnaire asked respondents to self-assess their experiences of weather extremes and of changes they had made to their farming practices. Our results show that for both Thai Nguyen and Phu Tho, farmers see the effects of climate change on their crops. Respondents in Thai Nguyen were more likely to report technically driven adaptation and engagement with extension services. Respondents in Pho Tho were more likely to continue traditional practices. For both, use of traditional knowledge and practices was related to taking measures to adapt to climate change. Our main conclusion is that at least three actions could support a just transition to resilient livelihoods. First is incorporating natural science and traditional knowledge into decision-making for just transitions. Second is considering long-term implications of interventions that appear to support livelihoods in the short term. Third is tailoring messaging and engagement strategies to the requirements of the most vulnerable people. The main message of this study is that a just transition for resource-dependent communities will inevitably be context-specific. Even in centralized and authoritarian contexts, flexibility to adapt top-down policies to locals’ own experiences of changing climates is needed. Full article

The present study investigates Vietnam’s economic structural transformation from 2007 to 2023, identifying key sectors contributing to output growth and poverty reduction. The study is situated within the broader context of industrialization and sustainable development in emerging economies. It employs structural decomposition analysis using Vietnam’s national input–output tables for the years 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023. The analysis decomposes changes in total output into technical effects and final demand effects, allowing for an evaluation of the relative contributions of sectoral productivity and demand side factors. The findings of the study indicate that the manufacturing and services sectors have been the primary drivers of economic growth, with the electrical and optical equipment, food, beverages and tobacco, and basic metals sectors demonstrating particularly strong performance. The factor of final demand, which is derived from consumption, investment, and exports, has played a dominant role in driving output. Notably, export-led manufacturing has experienced significant benefits due to Vietnam’s engagement in free trade agreements. It is noteworthy that the agriculture sector demonstrated a period of recovery between 2019 and 2023, driven by an increase in final demand. This study underscores the pivotal function of sectoral adaptability, trade openness, and strategic policy in maintaining inclusive economic development. It is evident that the phenomenon under scrutiny is not only indicative of vulnerabilities and opportunities but also shaped by global shocks, for example, the coronavirus pandemic. Full article

This study evaluates the impacts of Solar Radiation Management (SRM) on precipitation-related climate extremes in Southeast Asia. Using simulations from the Geoengineering Large Ensemble (GLENS), we assess spatial anomalies and differences in extreme precipitation indices—number of wet days (RR1), very heavy precipitation days (R20mm), maximum 5-day precipitation (Rx5day), consecutive dry days (CDD), and consecutive wet days (CWD)—relative to historical (1980–2009) and Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 (RCP8.5) baselines. The results reveal that SRM induces highly heterogeneous precipitation responses across the region. While SRM increases rainfall frequency in parts of Indonesia, it reduces the number of wet days and lengthens dry spells over Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines. Spatial variations are also observed in changes to heavy precipitation days and multi-day rainfall events, with potential implications for flood and drought risks. These findings highlight the complex trade-offs in hydrological responses under SRM deployment, with important considerations for agriculture, water resource management, and climate adaptation strategies in Southeast Asia. Full article

The Mekong Delta, an important agricultural and economic hub in Vietnam, has suffered from severe water quality issues caused by both natural and anthropogenic forces. This paper aims to conduct a rational statistical approach to evaluate the current situation of surface water quality in the Mekong Delta, applying Factor Analysis (FA), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering (AHC) to a database of 3117 samples collected by national and provincial monitoring stations. The results revealed significant contamination with organic pollutants (BOD5: 3.50–172.870 mg/L, COD: 6.493–472.984 mg/L), pesticides (e.g., DDTs: n.d to 1.227 mg/L), trace metals (As: 0.006–0.046 mg/L, Cr: n.d–1.960 mg/L), and microbial indicators (Coliforms: n.d–45,100 MPN/100 mL), often higher than the WHO drinking water threshold. PCA/AHC analysis identified the following five major pollution components: (1) organic pollution and sewage/industrial and deposited chemicals (PCA1—23.08% variance); (2) pesticide and agricultural runoff derived contamination with Hg (PCA2—15.44%); (3) microbial pollution of the water was found to correlate positively with Zn and Cu content (PCA3—8.90%); (4) salinity was found to mobilize As and Cr (PCA4—8.00%); (5) nutrient/microbial pollution presumably from agricultural and sewage inputs (PCA5—7.22%). AHC showed some spatial variability that grouped samples in urban/industrial (Cluster 1), rural/agricultural (Cluster 2), and a highly contaminated one, where water was toxic and presented with microbial and Cd contamination (Cluster 3). Levels of pesticides, Cr, and microbial pollution were higher than reported in previous Mekong Delta studies and exceeded regional trends. These results emphasize the importance of holistic water management strategies, including better wastewater treatment, pesticide control, sustainable farming, and climate-adaptive measures to reduce saltwater intrusion and safeguard drinking water quality for the Mekong Delta. Full article

This paper critically examines the consequences of land grabs for livelihoods and agrarian change, based on a case study of rubber plantations in ethnic minorities in the uplands in Northwest Vietnam. Building upon Scoones’ agrarian political economy of livelihood framework, an integrated conceptual framework of a ‘livelihood pathway’ is developed to analyze the impact of rubber plantation land grabs on livelihoods and the agrarian political economy. Drawing on qualitative analysis and survey data from 205 households across six villages inhabited by Thai, Hmong, and Kho Mu communities, this study finds that rubber plantation land grabs have led to differentiated livelihood strategies—ranging from subsistence farming and wage labor to commercial agriculture—shaped by each group’s socioeconomic status, political connections, and access to resources. Consequently, the land grabbing undertaken by a domestic state-owned enterprise has caused the emergence of a set of distinctive livelihood pathways within a complex web of intersections across class and ethnicity in the upland area. This study concludes by arguing that an integrated conceptual framework of a ‘livelihood pathway’ offers a useful tool for analyzing the long-term socio-political consequences of land grabbing in similar contexts across developing countries and beyond. Full article

To facilitate the adoption of a food safety standard by producers, it is essential to understand their perception of it. However, few empirical studies have examined how livestock farmers perceive food safety standards in Vietnam. This research examines sheep farmers’ attitudes towards Vietnamese Good Agricultural Practices (VietGAP), a type of a food safety standard in Vietnam. A sample size of 109 farmers was selected for interviews and a structured questionnaire was generated to collect data. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were employed. The study results show that sheep farmers were well aware of most VietGAP requirements. They perceived that adopting VietGAP requires practical changes in sheep farming systems, including: selecting breeding stock from clear sources to ensure sheep product traceability, collecting and treating wastes daily to protect the environment, and frequent sterilization of sheep cages. The farmers were changing several practices to comply with VietGAP. Key changed practices identified included: bought breeding stock from clear and reliable sources, frequent collecting and treating of sheep wastes, and used veterinary medicine according to instructions of veterinary medicine producers. Statistically significant relationships existing between the sheep farmers’ perceptions and their education level (Pearson = 0.229, p = 0.017), farm size (Pearson = −0.193; p = 0.049), gender (Eta = 0.173, p = 0.060), practice of using labours (Eta = 0.202, p = 0.028), training participation (Eta = 0.211, p = 0.022), credit participation (Eta = 0.177, p = 0.050), community-based organisations (Eta = 0.153, p = 0.087), and veterinary/extension contacts (Eta = 0.217, p = 0.019) were found. This means that a male sheep farmer who had a higher education level, possessed a smaller farm, practiced hired labours, participated in training/credit programs, was a member of community-based organisation, and had contacts with veterinary/extension workers likely perceived VietGAP better than their counterparts. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that the promotion of VietGAP for livestock farmers should be developed and carried out as joint attempts along the value chain actors. New food marketing practices and legal framework and policy for using safe food certifications are required to address to promote farmers’ adoption of VietGAP and facilitate transition towards a sustainable agri-food system in Vietnam. This study provides significant insights into safety food standard adoption by livestock farmers and highlights aspects that require to be considered when developing policies to improve the adoption of safety food standards in developing countries. Full article

Soil salinization, a major challenge caused by climate change over the past century, critically affects cultivated land and consequently reduces agricultural production worldwide. Recently, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria have been collected and utilized to enhance plant growth and mitigate the effects of salt stress in different plant species including rice. In our current study, the Serratia marcescens strain VIRS2 with remarkable salt tolerance was successfully isolated from the saline soil in the Mekong River Delta of Vietnam. This isolate exhibited diverse plant growth-promoting properties, especially the production of a high indole acetic acid level. Treatments under both in vitro and greenhouse conditions indicated that VIRS2 could enhance growth and salt tolerance in rice. The VIRS2-inoculated rice plants exhibited biochemical profile alterations including proline, malondialdehyde, and relative water contents. In addition, the expression of genes involved in the plant stress response pathways was upregulated in the VIRS2-inoculated rice under salt treatments. Importantly, the whole genome sequencing data of VIRS2 also showed the presence of different genes associated with plant growth-promotion and stress-tolerance mechanisms. These results indicated the potential of the VIRS2 isolate for enhancing growth and salt tolerance in rice as well as other important crops. Full article

Forest cover changes monitoring in Vietnam has been conducted using remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS). Given Vietnam’s diverse climate, this study focused on the Thanh Hoa, Kon Tum, and Dong Nai provinces due to their distinct natural conditions and forest structures. Land cover was classified into five categories: broadleaf forests, mixed forests, shrubland/grassland/agricultural land, non-forested areas, and water bodies. RS data processing was performed using Google Earth Engine (GEE), with land cover classification conducted via the Random Forest algorithm. The findings revealed significant changes in forest cover between 2010 and 2020. In Thanh Hoa, broadleaf forests expanded by 51.15% (91,159 ha), while mixed forests declined by 19.68% (105,445 ha). Kon Tum experienced reductions in both broadleaf forests (20.05%, 26,685 ha) and mixed forests (4.06%, 20,501 ha). Meanwhile, Dong Nai recorded increases in broadleaf forests (29.15%, 23,263 ha) and mixed forests (12.17%, 20,632 ha). The study’s reliability was confirmed by a Kappa coefficient of 0.81–0.89. To predict forest cover changes, two methods—the CA-Markov model and the MOLUSCE module—were compared. Results demonstrated that the MOLUSCE module achieved higher accuracy, with deviations from actual data of 1.61, 1.14, and 1.80 for Thanh Hoa, Kon Tum, and Dong Nai, respectively, whereas the CA-Markov model yielded larger deviations (8.79, 6.29, and 5.03). Future forest cover projections for 2030, generated using MOLUSCE, suggest significant impacts from agricultural expansion, deforestation, and restoration efforts on forest area. This study highlights the advantages of remote sensing and GIS for complex forest monitoring and sustainable management in Vietnam. Full article

The overwhelming amount of cassava residues and okara are a foremost challenge for the food processing industry environmental loading. The purpose of this article is to utilize Pleurotus ostreatus mycelium to ferment solid cassava and soybean residue, resulting in mycelial biomass with nutritional values and promising prebiotic activities from fermented waste sources. By blending a ratio of 80% cassava and 20% soybean residues, the mycelium spread rapidly after 3 days of culture, from 1.73 mm on the first day to 13.32 mm on the third day, and completely covered the surface after 9 days of culture (120 mm). Using the solid-state fermentation (SSF) method allowed us to improve the content of substances isolated from mycelium biomass, where polysaccharide content rose by 2.1 times to 3.44 mg/g, and the protein content increased by 1.84 times over the initial substrate. The prebiotic activity of extracted PS was greatest in P. acidilactici NBD8 (1.58); for L. pentosus NH1, L. argentoraten NH15, and L. plantarum WCFS1 strains, the indices were 0.11, 0.17, and 0.3, respectively. The SSF process with P. ostreatus mycelium has the potential to be an effective method for improving the nutrition and digestibility of soybean and cassava residues for application in the production of nature-derived animal feed, as well as contributing to fully utilized agricultural residue, agriculture’s circular economy, reducing environmental issues, and achieving the net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050, as the Vietnam government committed to achieving during the COP26 World Leaders’ Summit in 2021. Full article

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) provides consistent long-term satellite observations that are valuable for rice mapping and production estimation through phenology extraction. This study evaluates the effectiveness of three MODIS products, MOD09GQ (1-day), MOD09Q1 (8-day), and MOD13Q1 (16-day), for mapping rice phenology in An Giang Province, a key rice-producing region in Vietnam’s climate-sensitive Mekong River Delta (MRD). The analysis focuses on rice cropping seasons from 2019 to 2021, using time series of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to capture temporal and spatial variations in rice growth dynamics. To address data gaps due to persistent cloud cover and sensor-related noises, smoothing techniques, including the Double Logistic Function (DLF) and Savitzky–Golay Filtering (SGF), were applied. Thirteen phenological parameters were extracted and used as inputs to an unsupervised K-Means clustering algorithm, enabling the classification of distinct rice growth patterns. The results show that DLF-processed MOD09GQ data most accurately reconstructed NDVI time series and captured short-term phenological transitions, outperforming coarser-resolution products. The resulting phenology maps could be used to correlate the influence of anthropogenic factors, such as the widespread adoption of short-duration rice varieties and shifts in water management practices. This study provides a robust framework for phenology-based rice mapping to support food security, sustainable agricultural planning, and climate resilience in the MRD. Full article

In the face of rapid infrastructure expansion and escalating anthropogenic activities, it becomes imperative to prioritize the examination of long-term transformations in land cover and ecological quality within the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). We developed an ecological evaluation system integrating the land cover data assimilation framework (LCDAF) with the InVEST model to accomplish this goal. The LCDAF compensates for the disadvantages of weather interference, difficulty in recognizing complex scenes, and poor generalization in remote sensing image classification, and also adds temporal continuity that other fusion methods do not have. The synthesized land cover dataset demonstrates superior overall accuracy compared to five existing global products. This enhanced dataset provides a robust foundation for comprehensive analysis and decision making within the ecological evaluation system. We implemented a rigorous and quantitative assessment of changes in land cover and habitat quality spanning 1980 to 2020. The land cover analysis unveiled a noteworthy trend that surfaced in the dynamic interplay between forested areas and croplands, highlighting simultaneous processes of forest restoration and agricultural expansion, albeit at varying rates. Further analysis of habitat quality showed that the GMS generally sustained a moderate level with a slight downward trend observed over the period. Significantly, Laos attained the highest ranking in habitat quality, succeeded by Myanmar, China, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand. In human factors, land use intensity and landscape fragmentation emerge as contributors with detrimental effects on habitat quality. Substantial progress was achieved in implementing forestland conservation measures, exemplified in regions such as Cambodia and Guangxi Province of China, where these endeavors proved effective in mitigating habitat degradation. Despite these positive endeavors, the GMS’s overall habitat quality did not significantly improve. It emphasizes the enduring challenges confronted by the region in terms of ecological management and habitat conservation. Full article

Contract farming has become a sustainable strategy in agriculture around the world. Formal farming contract in pig production is one of the priorities of the Vietnamese Government for livestock development. Due to the differences in husbandry methods, a comparison of the technical efficiency between contract and noncontract pig farms has not been studied in Vietnam yet. This study attempts to do so and proposes implications for the sustainable development of pig production in Vietnam. In this study, we surveyed 201 pig farms (63 contract farms and 138 noncontract farms) in Hanoi, Vietnam, and applied data envelopment analysis (DEA) with a meta-frontier. Under group frontiers, the technical efficiency of the contract and noncontract farms are 96.11% and 88.64%, respectively. However, the meta-technology ratios of the two groups are 82.30% and 99.99%, respectively, which means that contract farms’ technical efficiency is lower than noncontract farms. An interesting finding is that although the technical efficiency of contract farms is lower than noncontract farms, their annual pig income is significantly higher, making contract farming attractive to farmers. Results of Tobit regression models showed that land rent is one of the important factors that reduce the technical efficiency of both contract and noncontract farms. This result implies that the Vietnamese government should revise the land limit policy so that farms can own more land. Another finding is that the high feed price reduces the technical efficiency of noncontract farms. The policy implication from this finding is that the Vietnamese government should develop domestic raw material areas for feed production to lessen the dependence on imported raw materials from abroad, which contributes to reducing the feed prices in Vietnam. Full article

The intensification of economic globalization and the growing scarcity of global land resources have magnified the complexity of future land use and land cover (LULC) changes. In Mainland Southeast Asia (MSEA), these transformations are particularly pronounced, yet comprehensive, targeted, and systematic reviews are scant. This research employs bibliometrics and critical literature review methodologies to scrutinize 1956 relevant publications spanning from 1990–2023, revealing key insights into the contributors to land use studies in MSEA, which include not only local researchers from countries like Thailand and Vietnam but also international scholars from the United States, China, Japan, and France. Despite this, the potential for global collaboration has not been fully tapped. This study also notes a significant evolution in data analysis methods, transitioning from reliance on single data sources to employing sophisticated multi-source data fusion, from manual feature extraction to leveraging automated deep learning processes, and from simple temporal change detection to comprehensive time series analysis using tools like Google Earth Engine (GEE). This shift encompasses the progression from small-scale case studies to extensive multi-scale system analyses employing advanced spatial statistical models and integrated technologies. Moreover, the thematic emphasis of research has evolved markedly, transitioning from traditional practices like slash-and-burn agriculture and deforestation logging to the dynamic monitoring of specialized tree species such as rubber plantations and mangroves. Throughout this period, there has been a growing focus on the broad environmental impacts of land cover change, encompassing soil degradation, carbon storage, climate change responses, ecosystem services, and biodiversity. This research not only offers a comprehensive understanding of the LULC research landscape in MSEA but also provides critical scientific references that can inform future policy-making and land management strategies. Full article

The cactus Selenicereus undatus (S. undatus), known as pitahaya or dragon fruit, is one of the pitaya species of economic importance for different countries worldwide, particularly in China, Mexico, Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the United States, among other countries. On the other hand, Cactophagus spinolae (C. spinolae) is a pest insect found in Mexico, known as the cactus weevil or borer. This study reports, for the first time, C. spinolae feeding and damage to the vascular stem and flower bud of wild S. undatus plants in Jalisco, Mexico. Field sampling was conducted in wild populations of S. undatus between July and October 2024. The results of our study confirm that C. spinolae actively feeds on S. undatus, causing damage to the plant, primarily to the vascular cylinder of mature and immature stems, as well as to flower buds and tissues. During monitoring, we observed a total of nine eggs, nine larvae, and sixteen adults in different plant samples, confirming that S. undatus serves as a reproductive host for C. spinolae. The results highlight the threat of C. spinolae to S. undatus in the State of Jalisco, which highlights the need to incorporate new agricultural strategies to mitigate the impact that this insect has on pitahaya. Full article