In the context of increasingly competitive global agricultural trade and constantly fluctuating logistics costs, post-harvest preservation is becoming one of the key "bottlenecks" of Vietnamese agriculture.

Post-harvest losses remain significant.

According to statistics from the Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), post-harvest losses in many agricultural sectors in Viet Nam remain quite high. Studies show that fruit and vegetable production can be lost at 20-30%, seafood at about 15-25%, and rice at about 13-15%.

These figures reflect a significant gap in the post-harvest preservation system. Much of agricultural production remains small-scale and fragmented; many growing regions lack adequate cold storage, processing centers, or logistics infrastructure. This makes agricultural products susceptible to spoilage during harvesting, transportation, and distribution.

Many shipments of fruit and seafood have to be transported by air at high costs simply because of their short shelf life. Meanwhile, if preservation technology is improved, many goods could switch to sea transport – a much cheaper method – thereby enhancing the competitiveness of Vietnamese agricultural products in the global market.

According to Associate Professor Pham Anh Tuan, Director of the Institute of Agricultural Mechanization and Post-Harvest Technology, if advanced preservation technologies are applied, the storage time of agricultural products can be extended by 1.5-2 times compared to the present. This opens up opportunities for many fresh produce items such as fruits, vegetables, and seafood to be transported by sea instead of relying on air transport, which is costly.

This assessment was made by him in a presentation at the conference summarizing the work on quality management, food safety, processing, and market development organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Viet Nam. According to him, Vietnamese agriculture is gradually shifting from the goal of increasing production to growth based on quality, value, and sustainability. In this process, post-harvest preservation and processing technology has become a key link in the agricultural value chain.

One of the biggest weaknesses currently is the cold chain supply. For fresh produce, the cold chain plays a crucial role in maintaining product quality from harvest to consumer. However, this system in Viet Nam is still lacking and unevenly distributed across production regions.

Meanwhile, the proportion of businesses investing in technological innovation in processing remains limited. Many agricultural products are still exported as raw materials or with only simple preliminary processing, resulting in low added value and limited competitiveness.

Towards a smart cold chain supply

One of the biggest benefits of modern preservation technology is reduced transportation costs. With many types of fresh fruit having short shelf lives, businesses are forced to transport them by air to maintain product quality. However, air freight costs can be 5–7 times higher than sea freight.

The stories of several fruit exporting businesses clearly illustrate this. In previous years, many shipments of fresh Vietnamese lychees exported to Europe had to be transported by air to ensure freshness. But with the application of post-harvest processing technology combined with packaging and cold storage, the shelf life has been extended by almost double. As a result, businesses can now transport them in refrigerated containers by sea, significantly reducing logistics costs.

Similarly, Viet Nam's mango export industry is also gradually improving its preservation methods. Several cooperatives in the Mekong Delta have invested in cold storage and post-harvest processing lines, helping mangoes maintain their quality for longer periods. This allows the product to access distant markets such as Europe and North America while still ensuring quality standards.

Associate Professor Pham Anh Tuan believes that if the preservation system is improved comprehensively, the logistics costs of many agricultural products could be significantly reduced. This is a very important factor in the context of increasingly fierce international competition.

With import markets increasingly imposing stringent standards on quality, traceability, and carbon footprint, the development of preservation technologies is becoming even more crucial.

One of the current priorities is building a smart cold supply chain. This system allows for the control of temperature, humidity, and microclimate throughout the storage and transportation process, from cold storage to containers and seaports.

New technologies such as functional packaging, biomaterials, or sensor systems that monitor storage conditions in real time are being researched and applied. These technologies help extend shelf life while maintaining the quality and nutritional value of products.

In addition, connecting data within the supply chain helps businesses better control the transportation process, reduce risks, and meet the traceability requirements of international markets.

Alongside preservation, the agricultural sector is also strongly shifting towards deep processing to increase the added value of agricultural products.

According to Mr. Ngo Hong Phong, Director of the Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), Viet Nam generates approximately 156.8 million tons of agricultural by-products annually, mostly from crop cultivation and livestock farming. If effectively utilized, these by-products could be processed into many high-value products such as functional foods, biomaterials, animal feed, or organic fertilizers.

Technologies for extracting and obtaining bioactive compounds from agricultural products and by-products – such as polyphenols, proteins, cellulose, and antioxidants – are opening up many new avenues for the processing industry. These products can serve fields such as food, pharmaceuticals, or cosmetics, contributing to increasing the value of the agricultural production chain.

Utilizing agricultural by-products is also an important step in promoting a circular economy in agriculture, helping to reduce emissions and use biomass resources efficiently.

According to Associate Professor Pham Anh Tuan, the demand for increasing added value and reducing post-harvest losses is becoming a direct driving force behind technological innovation in the agricultural sector.

As preservation technology improves, agricultural products not only reduce losses but also gain access to more markets, especially distant markets with high standards. This allows businesses to be more proactive in choosing transportation methods, reduce logistics costs, and enhance competitiveness.

In the long term, investing in preservation and advanced processing technologies will help Vietnamese agriculture shift from a raw material export model to an export model of high-value products. This is also a necessary direction for Vietnamese agricultural products to participate more deeply in the global value chain.

In the context of increasingly stringent international agricultural trade regulations, extending the shelf life of agricultural products through preservation technology is not only a technical solution but also a key to increasing value and reducing export costs. Once post-harvest bottlenecks are resolved, the doors to the global market will open wider for Vietnamese agricultural products.

Source: VGP

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