Horticulture Innovation Club takes root in Central Highlands
The expansion of the Horticulture Innovation Club (HIC) to Vietnam’s Central Highlands has been announced this week with the support of the DFAT-funded Aus4Innovation program. Characterized by the collaboration of researchers, businesses, farmers and local government, the club aims to utilize science &technology and innovation in addressing industry challenges and strengthening the resilience and efficiency of SMEs and cooperatives.
Building on successful operations in Northern and Southern Vietnam, the Central Highlands HIC applies lessons learnt to enhance the resilience and sustainability of this region’s export-oriented commodities with a focus on fruits. Priorities moving forward include capacity building activities for members to exchange knowledge and experiences, coupled with local study visits to exemplary farms and agri-models. The calendar also features enriching seminars, and expert advisory programmes on a variety of important topics.
Jointly implemented by the CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and the Western Highlands Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute-WASI, this initiative not only fosters continuous learning and innovation in agriculture but also symbolizes the strong partnership between Australia and Vietnam in innovation. Together, they are sowing seeds for a more sustainable agricultural future in the Central Highlands.
The Horticulture Innovation Club in Central Highlands is hosted by the Western Highlands Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute (WASI) with seed funding from Aus4Innovation program.
The Central Highlands ranks the 2nd in Vietnam in terms of horticulture production area, providing livelihoods for millions of farmer households, many of which are ethnic minorities.
The Club Executive Committee is composed of key representatives from WASI’s research departments, industry associations, private sector, local government and the media.
