Mr. Nguyen Nhu Tiep, the Director of the Department of Quality, Processing, and Market Development, highlighted the current challenges and situation. He pointed out the absence of effective strategies, campaigns, and specialized programs to educate and communicate about the importance of food safety culture.
To address the problem, it is essential to devise and execute a strategy for education, communication, and fostering a food safety culture by 2030 and promptly launch an annual specialized campaign and program on education and communication related to food safety culture.
The conference also featured presentations and discussions by representatives of agencies, departments, and businesses on education, communication, and food safety culture in the agro-forestry-fishery sector in Vietnam. The Canadian expert, Mr. Brian Bedard, also shared international practices in food safety education, communication, and culture.
Before that, the participants of the workshop visited two models of safe agricultural product production and business and an educational model with content on food safety education.
The Government of Canada Canada’s International Development – Global Affairs Canada funds the Safe Food for Growth project (SAFEGRO) with 15 million Canadian dollars. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is the implementing agency in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and relevant agencies on Vietnam’s food safety in 2021 – 2025. The Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development serves as the Project’s permanent agency. Alinea International joins forces with the University of Guelph – Canada as the project implementation agency.
SAFEGRO strives to enhance the access of Vietnamese people to safe, affordable, and competitive agricultural products, which contributes to improving the well-being of Vietnamese consumers.