Plant & Food Research welcomes General Secretary of Viet Nam

Visit highlights opportunity for sustainable partnership.

Plant & Food Research was honoured to today receive a visit from His Excellency Mr Nong Duc Manh, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.

The General Secretary and other members of his delegation were welcomed to Plant & Food Research’s Mount Albert head office by CEO Peter Landon-Lane and General Manager International Dr Michael Lay-Yee. As part of a tour of the facilities, Dr Andrew Allan gave a presentation on the use of modern genomics techniques to speed up the natural breeding of new cultivars and Dr Allan Woolf spoke about the development of postharvest treatments and storage protocols required to successfully export horticultural produce.

Plant & Food Research has collaborated with science organisations in Viet Nam since 2000. Currently, the Institute is supporting the development of Good Agricultural Practice for Dragon Fruit production with the Southern Fruit Research Institute (SOFRI) and supporting development of sustainable research institute models for SOFRI and the Sub-Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Postharvest Technology (SIAEP).

Mr Landon-Lane said the visit demonstrated the high relevance of New Zealand science to Viet Nam.

“Plant & Food Research has a focus on supporting the horticultural industry in developing new cultivars, sustainable production systems and bioprotection technologies. Our ongoing relationships with SOFRI and SIAEP apply our knowledge to support long term, sustainable development of the agricultural industry in Viet Nam. We welcome the opportunity to showcase our capabilities to the General Secretary.”