Bắc Ninh
Bac Ninh boosts technology to elevate agricultural product value
BAC NINH - In early winter, as orange, grapefruit, and apple orchards enter the new season, we visited the production and processing clusters of several major local enterprises to observe significant changes. Agriculture in Bac Ninh is undergoing a strong phase of restructuring, with a focus on increasing technological content in agricultural processing.
From automated processing lines and smart cold storage to indigenous microbial products and digitised cultivation codes, all these innovations are paving the way for a new direction - more sustainable, higher-value, and aligned with stricter international standards.
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Packing processed agricultural products at Global Food Import-Export JSC. |
To enhance the value of lychee, local companies such as Vifoco Import-Export Joint Stock Company (Tien Phong ward) and Global Food Import-Export Joint Stock Company or GlobalFood (Phuong Son ward) are exploring new approaches through the application of technology for preserving fresh lychee. This method extends shelf life and expands market reach, especially during periods of lychee scarcity.
At Vifoco, production follows a closed-loop system. After harvesting, lychees are washed and immediately placed in IQF quick-freezing chambers to maintain their original quality.
The company applies ISO 22000 and HACCP quality management systems, with an annual processing capacity of 8,000-10,000 tonnes.
| Currently, Bac Ninh has more than 184,000 hectares of agricultural land, including approximately 53,900 hectares of fruit trees, with a total value exceeding 7.4 trillion VND A(280.5 million USD) per year. The province maintains 404 growing area codes, including 94 for the domestic market and 310 for export, along with 43 others for fresh fruit packing facilities. Several local enterprises have successfully exported processed agricultural products to China, the US, Japan, Australia, the EU, and the Middle East. |
At GlobalFood, processing equipment is fully integrated. Sorting, sterilisation, and packaging run continuously, handling thousands of tonnes of lychee each year, primarily for export. Freezing technology at –20°C preserves the cellular structure of the fruit.
When ready for consumption, lychees are “awakened” at 0–5°C, retaining their natural sweetness, aroma, and colour. Mastery of deep-freezing technology allows consumers to enjoy lychees year-round while giving companies control over supply and market timing.
Recognizing the distinctive aroma of garlic in Gia Binh, Nguyen Binh Phuong, Director of Nanocare R&D Co., Ltd. (Gia Binh commune), teamed up with scientists from the Institute of Biology under the Vietnam National University of Agriculture to apply nanotechnology in production.
The goal is to create stage-specific nano-minerals to ensure proper nutrient absorption for garlic growth.
Since 2017, Phuong has leased about 6 hectares of local farmland to establish raw material zones and implement new technical processes.
Throughout cultivation and processing, nanotechnology plays a key role in producing single-clove Gia Binh garlic with high nutrient content and quality approaching premium Japanese varieties.
The company now operates two modern dryers, producing over 10 tonnes of black garlic annually for domestic supermarkets and retailers, as well as export to several Eastern European countries.
According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, Bac Ninh places technology at the centre of its strategy to upgrade the agricultural value chain.
The province has re-planned cultivation areas, identifying zones for crop restructuring and standardising cultivation codes for GlobalGAP compliance. It is also researching mechanisms to support investment in technology, including interest subsidies for processing enterprises, while promoting the expansion of agro-processing industrial zones linked to raw material areas.
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