A taste of tradition and tech

By  Sarah-Jane Stevenson 8 August 2024 3 min read

Pho’s warm, wholesome goodness wards off cravings during the bone-chilling cold of winter. With Vietnamese-born people making up the sixth largest migrant community in Australia, Vietnamese cuisine has firmly established itself in our restaurant scene. That’s why, when it comes to supporting Vietnam’s sustainable agricultural practices, we’re wholeheartedly invested!

Through our Aus4Innovation program in Vietnam, we awarded $1.45 million to three cutting-edge agricultural projects. This funding is aimed at boosting agricultural efficiency and promoting sustainable practices in the country.

In this latest round of partnership grants, we focused on high-tech solutions to address the complexities of modern agriculture. These solutions aim to improve productivity, develop markets, adapt to and mitigate climate change, and foster social inclusivity.

A Pho-nomenal partnership

Aussie universities and Vietnamese innovators are leading the way to enhance farming practices. These advancements will benefit both Vietnamese and Australian agriculture industries. The three projects supported by the latest Aus4Innovation Partnership Grants are:

Geospatial tech for enhanced farming

Imagine every farmer having access to real-time data about their crops. Thanks to the University of Southern Queensland and Vietnam National Space Center, this vision is becoming a reality! This initiative will harness geospatial technologies to provide vital crop information, aiming to boost productivity.

AI for carbon farming

Griffith University and Hanoi University of Science and Technology are transforming carbon farming in Thanh Hoa Province. The project aims to create an AI-driven platform to more accurately quantify greenhouse gas emissions and improve carbon farming techniques. This initiative will support sustainable agricultural practices and generate revenue opportunities through carbon credits. Their work empowers farmers to combat climate change with every seed they plant.

Digital traceability and certification for sustainable farming

Griffith University and the Commission of Standard, Metrology, and Quality in Vietnam are assisting smallholder farmers with AI-powered certification and traceability for sustainable agriculture to meet global standards. This collaboration aims to build trust and enhance sustainability in the agricultural sector. The project will use AI and a digitalisation system to ensure effective farm monitoring and product traceability.

Through the Aus4Innovation program, these organisations are seeding the future of innovation and partnership.

Secrets from our Hanoi team

While we’re on the topic of innovation, our Hanoi team spilled the tea on their top tips for making authentic pho at home.

• It’s all in the broth: Using oxtail instead of beef can make your pho broth much more flavourful.
• Charring the onion: Charred aromatics can make or break your pho, so don’t skip charring the onion, ginger, cinnamon stick and star anise.
• Don’t be afraid of daikon: Daikon, a white root vegetable that’s spicy and tart like a radish, is often considered a secret (now, not so secret) ingredient in pho.
• Fresh or dried – it matters: Fresh noodles always taste better! Oh, and after blanching and rinsing your noodles under cold water, let them dry for 10 to 15 minutes. This will allow them to rehydrate in the broth and absorb extra flavour.

About the Aus4Innovation Program

The Aus4Innovation Program is a ten-year (2018-2028), $33.5 million flagship program aimed at strengthening Vietnam’s innovation system to support inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development. The program is funded by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), co-funded and managed by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, and delivered in a strategic partnership with Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology.