On October 17, 2025, the KOICA-VNUA Project, in collaboration with Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA), successfully organized the International Conference on “Transformation to sustainable livestock production”, attracting the participation of leading scientists and experts from Korea, Australia, and Vietnam.
Delivering the opening remarks, Prof. Dr. Pham Van Cuong – Vice President of VNUA, underscored the vital importance of transforming livestock systems towards sustainability in the context of climate change, population growth, and increasing food security demands. He emphasized that sustainable livestock development is not merely a trend but an urgent necessity, requiring the integration of science, technology, management, and policy.
Highlighted Presentations
The conference featured a wide range of insightful and impactful presentations, opening up opportunities for international collaboration in research and technological innovation in the livestock sector:
Prof. Chung Ki-Yong (Konkuk University, Korea): “Current and Future Prospects of Precision Management in Korean Beef Cattle Production” – focusing on the use of big data and smart monitoring tools to enhance productivity and animal welfare.
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Trach (VNUA): “Overview of H’Mong Cattle – A Valuable Indigenous Genetic Resource” – emphasizing the need for conservation and effective utilization of native Vietnamese livestock breeds to develop high-value, specialty products.
Prof. Mehar S. Khatkar (University of Adelaide, Australia): “Developing a Climate-Resilient Buffalo Business Model through Precision Agriculture, Artificial Intelligence, and Genetic Selection” – introducing a comprehensive approach to livestock systems adapted to tropical Asia.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Do Duc Luc (VNUA): Shared an update on animal breeding and genetic selection in Vietnam, proposing the development of a unified genetic evaluation system and national database to support farmers and enterprises in breed improvement.
Prof. Roh Seung-Hee (Konkuk University, Korea): “Hanwoo Breeding and Genetic Improvement System in Korea” – presenting a successful model for improving beef cattle quality, with potential applications in Vietnam.
In addition, the conference welcomed contributions from several other renowned scholars and researchers, including Prof. Lee Jun-Heon (Konkuk University, Korea), Prof. Farhid Hemmatzadeh, Dr. Do Thi Hue (University of Adelaide, Australia), Dr. Le Thi Thu Huong (VNUA), and MSc. Dinh Thi Yen (VNUA, currently PhD candidate at Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia).
Closing Remarks
The conference concluded with a closing speech by Prof. Soo Ki Kim – Project Director (Korea), who expressed his sincere appreciation for the strong collaboration between international and Vietnamese partners. He commended VNUA’s pivotal role as a coordinator and affirmed that the outcomes of the conference would significantly contribute to the modernization and sustainability of Vietnam’s livestock sector.
📌 About the KOICA-VNUA Project
This conference is part of OD 3.6 “Korea–Vietnam Joint Conference” under the project titled: “Higher Education program for Vietnam National University of Agriculture to enhance human resources specialized in animal husbandry of Vietnam”, coordinated by VNUA (referred to as the KOICA-VNUA Project).
The project, implemented from 2021 to 2030, aims to support the sustainable development of Vietnam’s livestock industry by establishing a foundation of advanced livestock technologies and a high-quality training system within the Faculty of Animal Science at VNUA.
🌐 Project Website: https://vkli.vnua.edu.vn