CAN THO UNIVERSITY HOSTS MI FOOD SAFETY FORUM

Agricultural Development and Commercialization

Mekong Institute, in cooperation with the Biotechnology Research and Development Institute (BIRDI) and College of Agriculture (CA) of Can Tho University (CTU), organized a knowledge sharing forum last December 12 in Can Tho City, Vietnam.

Gathering around 70 participants, the forum served as a platform to share and discuss current food safety-related issues on fruit and vegetable production in the country’s Mekong Delta Region. Among those who attended were local government authorities from key food safety agencies; research institutions and universities; as well as agricultural cooperatives and companies.  

Delivering the welcome remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Thanh, BIRDI’s Director, emphasized the significant contribution of the fruit and vegetable sectors to regional and national economies. Dr. Thanh also highlighted pressing concerns regarding high pesticide residue, indiscriminate use of pesticides with prohibited ingredients, high volume of postharvest losses, increasing demand and stricter market requirements. He stated that “sharing knowledge among different food safety stakeholders is necessary to improve safety and quality of products serving both domestic and export markets.”

The forum also featured short presentations by representatives from the public and private sectors. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Nguyen Binh, Vice Dean of CTU’s CA, discussed the current food safety situation on fruit and vegetable production in the Mekong Delta; while Mr. Do Minh Hien of Fruit Republic Co., Ltd., talked about the challenges faced by the private sector especially in managing pesticide residue. New innovations and strategies in postharvest handling of fresh fruits and vegetables were presented by Dr. Nguyen Van Phong, Head of Postharvest Technology Department of the Southern Horticultural Research Institute. Two MI alumni, Mr. Chu Hong Chau and Mr. Giang Minh Tho, also shared their experiences on managing pesticide residue in fruits and vegetables to meet the requirements of importing countries.

Discussions after the presentations underscored the importance of transforming food safety attitude and behavior among producers and consumers. Producers should ensure compliance to updated standards and requirements of domestic and foreign markets. Conversely, consumers should be more aware, involved, and proactive in promoting a culture of safe food. Stronger cooperation among the government, academic, and private sector was also recommended. In line with this, a proposal was raised to establish CTU as a food safety learning center in southern Vietnam. This pilot initiative aims to link food safety experts and practitioners in the region through collaborative activities toward demonstrable changes in food safety.

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Mrs. Guohua Liu

Director, Sustainable Energy & Environment (SEE) Department

Mrs. Liu Guohua is the Director of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Department at the Mekong Institute. Prior to this role, she worked in the Department of International Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, where she played a key role in shaping and implementing China’s cooperation strategies with UN development agencies. During this time, Mrs. Liu was actively involved in advancing initiatives related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on climate change and green development. Additionally, she contributed to the evaluation of projects funded by various Chinese initiatives, such as the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund, etc.

In addition to her work in the Department of International Economic Affairs, Mrs. Liu has an extensive diplomatic background. She spent 7 years in the Department of African Affairs, followed by a 4-year tenure at the Chinese Embassy in Lao PDR, where she gained deep expertise in both Southeast Asian and African affairs. These diverse experiences have played a crucial role in shaping her approach to sustainable development and international collaboration, particularly in building regional partnerships and tackling global challenges like climate change.

She holds a Master’s degree in Economics, with a specialization in Finance, from the Central University of Finance and Economics, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, specializing in International Economics and Trade, from the Shanghai University of International Business and Economics.