On the morning of 1 August 2026, at Campus II of Can Tho University, the Mekong Institute held its 50th Anniversary Celebration. The event provided an opportunity for generations of leaders, staff, lecturers, researchers, students, alumni, and partners to reflect on the Institute’s notable achievements, express gratitude for the contributions of previous generations, and discuss its strategic direction for the next stage of development.

Over the past 50 years, the Institute has gradually evolved from a focus on rice research and agricultural production towards a systemic and interdisciplinary approach encompassing rural development, natural resources, the environment, climate change, socio-economic issues, and policy. Building on this foundation, the Mekong Institute now aims to become an interdisciplinary centre for research, education, and policy engagement, contributing to solutions for the development challenges facing the Mekong Delta and the wider Mekong Basin.

From Rice Research to Systems Research

At the ceremony, Dr Nguyen Thanh Tam, Director of the Production Ecosystems Programme, presented key achievements in scientific research, particularly in relation to rice and farming systems.

Beginning with rice breeding and production techniques, the Institute gradually developed farming systems suited to the natural and socio-economic conditions of the Mekong Delta, including rice–fish and rice–shrimp systems, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Three Reductions–Three Gains, One Must–Five Reductions, the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP), and VietGAP. Its research has also expanded into agricultural value chains, climate change adaptation, and sustainable agricultural development.

Over the past 50 years, the Institute has contributed to the breeding, selection, and release of more than 950 MTL rice varieties, together with over 600 farmer-participatory rice lines. Many of these varieties have been widely adopted in agricultural production, contributing to improved rice yields and resilience.

These achievements provide a strong foundation for the Institute to advance new research areas, including climate-resilient rice varieties, low-emission agriculture, nature-based farming, circular agriculture, green agriculture, and the application of digital technologies.

Education and Training – Connecting Knowledge Nationally and Internationally

Assoc. Prof. Dr Nguyen Thanh Binh, Senior Lecturer at the Mekong Institute, shared insights into the Institute’s teaching and training activities, which have been maintained and developed throughout its history.

From agriculture-related education at Can Tho University, the Institute gradually expanded its academic programmes into Rural Development, Agricultural Systems Development, and Public Policy at both the master’s and doctoral levels, while strengthening international cooperation in education and training.

One notable milestone has been Can Tho University’s participation in the International Master of Science in Rural Development (IMRD) programme since 2015. Over more than a decade of cooperation from 2015 to 2026, the programme welcomed 93 students from 34 countries across five continents, creating a multicultural environment for learning and academic exchange in the Mekong Delta.

In addition to educating students, these activities have helped bring the Mekong Delta’s real-world challenges into the international academic arena, while connecting the Mekong Institute with universities, researchers, and partners from many countries.

This provides an important foundation for the Institute to further develop a Mekong knowledge and human resource network, thereby linking education, research, and cooperation between the Mekong Delta and other countries across the Mekong Basin.

Community Engagement – A Long-Standing Mission

Dr Vo Van Tuan, Vice Director of the Mekong Institute, emphasised that community engagement has remained a central mission throughout the Institute’s development.

Initially focused on supporting farmers with rice varieties and cultivation techniques, the Institute’s activities have gradually expanded to include cooperatives, collaborative groups, women, young people, local officials, and vulnerable communities.

Through various programmes, approximately 150,000 farmers and 500 community-based seed production groups have received support in rice breeding, production, and seed multiplication. Around 6,000 farmers have strengthened their capacity in sustainable production, climate change adaptation, the One Commune One Product (OCOP) programme, and value-chain development. In addition, approximately 6,000 young people have participated in activities related to climate change, the green economy, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

The Institute has also contributed to policy advice on sustainable development and regional linkages, while supporting local authorities in applying science and technology, advancing digital transformation, and strengthening adaptive capacity.

From the Mekong Delta to the Mekong Basin

One of the key strategic directions highlighted at the anniversary celebration was the expansion of the Institute’s activities from the Mekong Delta to the wider Mekong Basin, building on the capacities accumulated over the past 50 years.

The Mekong Delta is where the Institute has established its strengths in research, education, data, practical models, community networks, and international cooperation. These experiences provide a basis for the Institute to connect with partners throughout the Basin, jointly conduct research, and share solutions to transboundary challenges such as food security, water resources, climate change, ecosystems, livelihoods, and sustainable development.

Under its new strategic direction, the Institute will strengthen interdisciplinary research across priority areas such as sustainable development governance; production ecosystem systems; green and low-emission agriculture; water resource governance; climate change adaptation; digital transformation and modelling; human resource development; and policy advisory services.

The Institute’s expansion therefore follows a logical progression: from rice to farming systems, from production to communities, and from the challenges of the Mekong Delta to the shared challenges of the entire Mekong Basin.

Building on 50 Years and Looking Towards the Future

Speaking at the ceremony, Assoc. Prof. Dr Van Pham Dang Tri, Director of the Mekong Institute, acknowledged the contributions of generations of leaders, staff, researchers, learners, and partners. He affirmed that the Mekong Institute’s current organisational model creates favourable conditions for integrating its strengths in farming systems, socio-economic development, policy, natural resources, the environment, and climate change.

Building on this foundation, the Institute will focus on developing interdisciplinary research programmes, strengthening education and human resource development, expanding international cooperation, promoting policy engagement, and translating scientific findings into practice.

The goal is not merely to produce more research, but to connect knowledge with communities, science with policy, and the Mekong Delta with the entire Mekong Basin, thereby making meaningful contributions to a greener, more resilient, more inclusive, and more sustainable region.