DIALOGUE WORKSHOP WITH AQUACULTURAL CORPORATES UNDER BIODEV2030 INITIATIVE

Engage aquaculture private companies in transforming their production practices (by using new/advanced technologies) to efficiently use natural resources, reduce environmental pollution and minimise negative impacts on biodiversity.

Under the BIODEV2030 Initiative funded by AFD and coordinated by Expertise France, the workshop on Voluntary Biodiversity Commitment was organised on July 14th, 2022 in Can Tho City by WWF-Viet Nam in cooperation with Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VBCSD under VCCI). The main objective of this workshop is to engage aquaculture private companies in transforming their production practices (by using new/advanced technologies) so as to efficiently use natural resources, reduce environmental pollution and minimise negative impacts on biodiversity.

The workshop welcomed nearly 50 private companies working in agriculture and representatives from relevant institutions including the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), Department of Aquaculture, Agricultural Extension Centre, Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), and others. Some companies such as the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) and Shire Oak International also attended to introduce green financing and renewable power technologies which have been increasingly applied in production process.

Results of the second study on the impacts of aquaculture on biodiversity were shared in the workshop for awareness-raising among participants. In addition, a draft of the Voluntary Commitment was introduced to draw comments from companies and relevant agencies as well as open up opportunities to facilitate next steps of the initiative. This draft finally conformed with the DFCD project coordinated by the Food Practice of WWF-Viet Nam (an initiative providing green finance for production companies who are willing to and commit to practice sustainable production).

Workshop on Voluntary Biodiversity Commitment