Advancing Regional Cooperation on Wild Rice Genetic Resources: Experts from Thailand and Malaysia Visit Viet Nam

March 25, 2026March 25, 2026 Hanh Doi 0 Comment

Hanoi, Viet Nam, 20 March 2026 – The Plant Resources Center (PRC), under the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS), successfully hosted a high-level technical visit by leading plant genetic resources specialists – Associate Professor Dr. Tonapha Pusadee of Chiang Mai University, Thailand, and Adjunct Associate Professor Dr. Song Beng Kah of Monash University Malaysia — from 19 to 20 March 2026.

The visit aimed to strengthen regional collaboration in the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources, with particular emphasis on wild rice – a genetic reservoir of growing significance for climate-resilient crop improvement.

Reaffirming National Commitment to Regional Partnership

Welcoming the delegation, Dr. Vu Linh Chi, Acting Director of PRC, underscored the Center’s role as Viet Nam’s national focal institution for plant genetic resources conservation. She reaffirmed PRC’s commitment to deepening regional and international partnerships to address pressing agricultural challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and food security.

Showcasing Genebank Capabilities and Strategic Priorities

During the visit, delegates toured PRC’s integrated genebank system, encompassing the seed genebank, in vitro collections, field genebanks, and the genetic resources information system. The PRC team presented key achievements in the conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources for the period 2020–2025, along with strategic priorities through 2030, highlighting ongoing efforts to modernize genebank operations and promote data-driven research.

Charting a Course for Joint Research on Wild Rice

Technical discussions centered on advancing collaborative research on wild rice within the framework of the Mekong–Lancang Cooperation. Key areas of engagement included:

Identification of joint research priorities on wild rice diversity and utilization;
Development of mechanisms for data sharing and co-analysis of genetic resources;
Design of collaborative research projects and capacity-strengthening initiatives;
Opportunities for integration into regional and global wild rice research networks.

On the second day, discussions further explored pathways for operationalizing joint initiatives, including the development of coordinated research proposals and enhanced participation of PRC in international scientific platforms.

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“Wild rice represents a critical genetic resource for future crop breeding, particularly under changing climatic conditions. Strengthening regional collaboration will be key to unlocking its full potential,” said Dr. Pham Hung Cuong, Deputy Director of PRC, who chaired the technical sessions.

A Shared Commitment to Action

The visit concluded with a mutual commitment to translate dialogue into concrete action, positioning Viet Nam as an active and strategic partner in regional efforts to conserve and sustainably utilize wild rice genetic resources — contributing to long-term agricultural sustainability and food systems resilience.

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About the Plant Resources Center (PRC) The Plant Resources Center, under the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS), is the national focal institution responsible for the conservation, documentation, and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture in Viet Nam.

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