Scoping Mission to investigate innovation in cooperatives in Vietnam

Sustainable Food Systems Ireland in welcome meeting with Vietnam University of Agriculture Representatives at their innovation centre

In July 2025, Michael Murphy, Michael Barry and Aoife Roche embarked on a scoping mission to Hanoi to engage in consultations with cooperatives in Vietnam, facilitated by the Vietnamese Cooperative Alliance (VCA) and the Hai Phong Provincial Cooperative Alliance. This scoping study aimed to validate, conceptualise, and plan for upcoming activities to ensure IVAP support are responsive to the needs of VCA and cooperative community, aligned with Vietnam’s context and policies as well as the overall objectives as well as available resources of IVAP. 

During this productive, informative visit, the team was also able to meet the 2024-2025 IVAP fellows who recently completed their master’s at the University of Galway showcasing a good example of synergies across work packages and establishing relationships with future agri-food leaders in Vietnam.

SFSI team alongside IVAP fellows

This visit culminated in more concrete steps in working with both VCA and VNUA on improving co-operation and innovation within the agri-food cooperative sector.  In principle, these target aiding these cooperatives to progress and realise exports, particularly to the European union. Preparation for an upcoming partnership with VCA is underway and we have initiated a series of webinars focused at showcasing the best of the Irish ideas, the first of which covered Bord Bias FoodWorks programme in addition to awards for developing innovation for cooperatives reflecting IVAPS key priorities

Cooperative manager from SONG GIA INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT COOPERATIVE , one of the scoping mission farms in discussion with Tu Hoang, IVAP resident programme manager.