Bridging science, media, and society

The conference was attended by senior ministry officials, including: Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien; Mr. Trinh Xuan Quang, Deputy Chief of the Ministry’s Office; Mr. Nguyen Huu Ninh, Deputy Director General of the Department of Science and Technology; Mr. Tran Gia Long, Deputy Director General of the Department of Planning and Finance alongside leaders from various ministry-affiliated agencies.

Dr. Dao Xuan Hung, Editor-in-Chief of the Agriculture and Environment Magazine, delivered the mid-year report at the conference

Presenting the mid-year report, Dr. Dao Xuan Hung, Editor-in-Chief of the Magazine, emphasized that the Journal had maintained stable operations despite the evolving institutional context, while steadily improving its organizational structure and operational efficiency. With strong guidance from the Ministry’s leadership—particularly from Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien—the Magazine successfully secured a publishing license from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for eight publications, including both print and online editions. These cover a wide range of topics, from science and technology to theoretical discourse, English-language content, and thematic issues such as OCOP and agricultural tourism. “This license provides a solid legal foundation for the Journal to deepen its specialization in alignment with the Ministry’s strategic direction,” Dr. Hung noted.

A significant milestone came on July 11, 2025, when the State Council for Professorship recognized the Journal in its official list of scored academic journals. Nine Councils included the Journal in their scoring framework, with four awarding it the maximum score of one point. “This reflects not only the Journal’s academic quality but also its prestige within the Ministry’s scientific publishing system,” Dr. Hung affirmed.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien delivered a keynote address at the conference

In the first half of 2025, the Magazine published 12 issues on science and technology and 10 on theoretical matters, while also finalizing content for upcoming publications on OCOP and agricultural tourism. The Magazine has continuously improved its design and editorial quality, earning increased attention from scientists, policy experts, and academic institutions, and is now widely used as a reference in teaching and research.

In line with the Ministry’s requirements and the standards of the State Council for Professorship, the Journal has completed DOI indexing for 120 articles and is now an official member of Crossref, ensuring its compliance with international publishing standards.

The Magzine’s online platform is updated daily with news, features, and policy developments in agriculture and the environment. Its editorial content closely follows the Ministry’s priorities across 25 regulatory areas, with particular focus on the dissemination of key legislation such as the Land Law, the Water Resources Law, the Law on Geology and Minerals, and the Law on Environmental Protection.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Ninh, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, spoke at the conference

Additionally, the Magazine’s English-language portal plays a vital role in external communications for the Ministry, focusing on international cooperation, climate change adaptation, agricultural exports, green transition, Net Zero goals, and innovation in the agriculture and environment sectors.

To mark the centenary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day, the Magazine organized a commemorative gathering for former and current leaders in a warm and celebratory atmosphere. It also held a successful workshop titled “Application of AI in journalism, environmental culture, and marine tourism development” in Quang Binh province; launched the photo exhibition “Action for the Blue Ocean” featuring over 80 curated works; and initiated the photo contest “Journalism and Vietnam’s Seas and Islands.”

On this occasion, the Journal also conducted a series of community-focused activities in Quang Binh, including donating VND 100 million in social mobilization funds to build houses for disadvantaged households, providing water tanks for coastal fishermen, and planting 233 trees under the “Green Pagoda” initiative at Linh Son Dai Phuc Pagoda in Van Ninh Commune, Quang Ninh District.

Institutional consolidation amid financial constraints

The Magazine has completed personnel assignments across editorial departments and issued internal regulations to ensure clear accountability. However, it still faces difficulties due to the coexistence of two financial mechanisms following the institutional merger, which has impacted salary payments and the sustainability of daily operations. The editorial office—located on the 2nd and 3rd floors and attic of Building A7, Nguyen Cong Hoan Street—has deteriorated and requires urgent renovation.

Mr. Trinh Xuan Quang, Deputy Chief of Office, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, spoke at the conference

The Magazine also compiled and published a comprehensive proceedings volume to support the implementation of Resolution 57-NQ/TW, demonstrating its editorial and organizational capacity. Financially, it has followed proper budget management procedures, ensuring transparent and efficient disbursement in compliance with regulations.

Looking ahead, the Journal plans to continue publishing its full suite of scientific, theoretical, English-language, OCOP, and agricultural tourism issues. It will also accelerate digital transformation by adopting new editorial technologies and expanding its presence on digital platforms. The Magazine remains committed to promoting institutional reform, green transition, and international integration.

Dr. Dao Xuan Hung proposed that the Ministry formally approve a financial mechanism that classifies the Journal as a Group 3 public service unit—self-financing part of its recurrent expenditures. He also requested increased budget allocations for OCOP publications, infrastructure renovation, and a new content management system (CMS) for the digital platform. Furthermore, he called on the Ministry to allocate funding for a commemorative book titled “80 Years of Vietnam’s Agriculture and Environment”—a publication of significant political and historical importance currently being developed in coordination with the Ministry’s Office.

Constructive contributions from ministry departments

At the conference, senior officials from the Ministry provided candid and constructive feedback. Mr. Nguyen Huu Ninh, Deputy Director General of the Department of Science and Technology, noted: “The 2025 budget remains insufficient to cover all operational needs, especially salaries for staff following the merger. The Magazine should actively coordinate with relevant departments to secure funding and propose science and technology initiatives eligible for budget support.”

Mr. Tran Gia Long, Deputy Director of the Department of Planning and Finance, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, spoke at the conference

Echoing this, Mr. Tran Gia Long, Deputy Director General of the Department of Planning and Finance, affirmed: “We support reclassifying the Magazine as a Group 3 public service unit. The Magazine should complete the necessary paperwork to formalize publishing orders for OCOP and Agricultural Tourism issues. Facility repairs will be prioritized for budget allocation.”

Mr. Trinh Xuan Quang, Deputy Chief of the Ministry’s Office, commended the Journal’s post-merger adaptability: “The Magazine has quickly stabilized and maintained a high standard of professional output. Moving forward, it should focus on producing more in-depth articles on administrative reform, international cooperation, and poverty reduction.”

Accelerating towards regional leadership

Delivering closing remarks, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien acknowledged the Magazine’s impressive progress over the past six months: “Following the merger, the Magazine swiftly stabilized its operations. Though its staff structure remains largely unchanged, they have shown remarkable unity and innovation. Facilities are generally adequate, but most important is the proactive and responsible approach in producing high-quality scientific content.”

Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien acknowledged and highly appreciated the achievements of the Journal in the first half of the year

He urged the Magazine to focus on key tasks for the remainder of 2025, including the publication of 12 science and technology issues, 6 theoretical issues, 2 English issues, and dedicated OCOP and agricultural tourism editions. He also emphasized the importance of maintaining high-quality digital editions, advancing digital transformation, and upgrading the CMS.

On financial matters, the Deputy Minister instructed the Magazine to coordinate with relevant departments to ensure salary payments, finalize new order proposals, and expedite the renovation of its premises at 10 Nguyen Cong Hoan street. He placed special emphasis on the timely preparation of the “80 Years of Vietnam’s Agriculture and Environment” publication, stressing the need for quality in both content and design, as well as timely budget planning.

“The Magazine’s publications must reflect political depth, scientific rigor, and punctuality. I commend the recent issues of the Science and Technology Journal for their significant improvements in both content and presentation. The Journal must continue to assert its standing as a premier scientific and media institution in the agriculture and environment sector,” the Deputy Minister stated.

The mid-year review conference of the Agriculture and Environment Magazine was held in a spirit of professionalism, accountability, and innovation. With strong support from the Ministry’s leadership and active coordination across departments, the Magazine is poised to further strengthen its role—contributing meaningfully to agricultural development, environmental sustainability, and Vietnam’s digital and global integration efforts.

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