By Amanda Lim

Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) has released two new protocols to guide the production of high-quality, low-emission rice in the Mekong Delta.

The Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection introduced the High-Quality, Low-Emission Rice Production Protocol, while the Institute of Agricultural Environment unveiled the Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) Protocol for low-emission rice cultivation.

Both protocols, part of Vietnam’s one million hectares program, will be piloted for the 2025-2026 winter-spring crop. According to MAE, there are plans for full regional adoption from 2027.

The ministry highlighted that these protocols represent more than just technical requirements but will be the start of shifting Vietnam’s rice sector towards a “green, smart, circular, and low-emission model”.

The High-Quality, Low-Emission Rice Production Protocol provides detailed guidance on varietal selection, land preparation, sowing, fertilisation, water management, pest control, harvesting, storage, and market linkage.

It aims to lower production costs, improve yields, enhance grain quality, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The rollout also includes tools to track both emission reductions and economic benefits for farmers.

On the other hand, the MRV protocol establishes a system for measuring, reporting, and verifying greenhouse gas reductions in rice farming.

It will underpin the certification and validation of agricultural carbon credits and is the first time the country has issued an MRV protocol for the rice sector.

MAE said it was based on extensive field data and developed in collaboration with research institutes, universities, local authorities, and international experts.

Vietnam plans to pilot a domestic carbon trading scheme before 2028 to prepare for international markets.

Vietnam advances ambitions

Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam said the MRV protocol sends a clear message internationally that Vietnam is advancing its COP26 climate commitments, offering a measurement and verification system aligned with global standards and grounded in real-world data.

Vietnam has ambitions to cut agricultural emissions by 15% by 2035 and transition all major crop areas to sustainable practices, positioning itself as a regional leader in climate-responsible farming.

Previously, AgTechNavigator reported that Vietnam’s key low-emission rice project has delivered higher yields and profits while cutting costs and carbon, earning further support from the government.

Results from the models showed yield increases of 5 to 10% and profit gains of VND3m to VND5m (US$114 to 190) per hectare.

Last month, Singapore and Vietnam formally established a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Rice Trade.

“Singapore is a leading economic partner and an important market of Vietnam. The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on rice trade cooperation is a concrete step to implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to strengthening the connection between the two economies, creating a foundation for stable and sustainable cooperation in the field of rice trade in the context of unpredictable fluctuations of the global market,” said Vietnam’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Nguyen Hong Dien.

Published Date: November 26, 2025