Overview

The Farm Animal Coalition: Vietnam Conference – Opportunities for Collaboration was held over one and a half days on June 23–24, 2023, at the Thang Loi Hotel in Ha Noi. Organized by the Farm Animal Coalition, the conference addressed the absence of a formal forum that brings together all stakeholders—government agencies, corporates, farmers, NGOs—working to advance farm animal welfare in Vietnam.

The event successfully convened 53 official participants from diverse sectors to discuss key challenges, opportunities, and next steps for improving farm animal welfare across the country.

Conference Focus Areas

The program centered on four core topics:
-General Information
-Policy Advocacy
-Consumption & Supply Chain
-Safety & Health

Leading experts presented insights into current challenges, policy gaps, and areas for collaboration.

Discussion Highlights

‍
• Panel 1 – Meeting Humane Standards
Representatives from Certified Humane, GLOBALG.A.P., and V-label emphasized the urgent need for Vietnam to develop science-based, locally relevant standards for farm animal welfare.

• Panel 2 – Transitioning to Higher Welfare (Producer Perspectives)
Speakers from HealthyFarm, CPV, Shrimp Welfare Project, and MCD discussed the importance of transitioning to higher-welfare systems driven by market demand and climate risks. The main challenges identified included:
-High investment costs
-Lack of committed purchasers
-Limited incentives for producers

Key Takeaways

Participants underscored several critical points:
-Improving animal welfare is a necessary long-term investment.
-Cross-sector collaboration must be strengthened to drive meaningful progress.
-Vietnam needs achievable, science-based welfare standards developed with broad stakeholder participation.

Discover the key policy discussions, transition challenges, and expert insights from the conference.