Measuring Impact

Research that works for developing countries and Australia

 

Technical support facility for commercialisation of protein bait production in north Vietnam

Project ID:
AGB/2007/187
Collaborating Countries:
Vietnam
Project Locations
Commissioned Organisation:
Markets, Development and Investment, Vietnam
Project Leader
Dr Dominic Smith
Phone: 84 4 7150498
Fax: 84 4 7150499
Email: dominic@mdivietnam.com
Collaborating Institutions:
  • Griffith University, Australia
  • Plant Protection Research Institute, Vietnam
Project Budget:
$120,000
Project Duration:
01/02/2007 - 30/04/2008
Project Extension:
01/05/2008 - 28/02/2009
ACIAR Research Program Manager
Mr David Shearer
Project Overview

Vietnam's system of agricultural research funding has recently moved from a centrally planned system to one where institutions bid for research money out of core-funding. But in the next three years, research institutes must become almost entirely self-funded or face closure. They are therefore moving to commercialise research results and generate income. This small research activity is supporting the pilot research commercialisation of a new company - a joint-venture of the Plant Protection Research Institute (PPRI), Hoa Binh Pesticide Company and An Thinh Brewery. The activity focuses on building a viable and sustainable market for the commercialised product - a fruitfly protein bait. A second part of the activity is to apply the lessons learnt from this pilot commercialisation for commercialising pro-poor research results in Vietnam's agricultural area.

Project Progress Reports
Year One

The protein bait commercialization project has been ongoing for just over 1 year, commencing with the inauguration of the Ento-pro production facility in Bac Giang province. The anticipated completion date of the project has been extended by six months in order to allow completion of a promising field demonstration and for extended media promotion of Ento-pro.
The majority of project activities have been completed, with the remaining activities proposed to be (i) field demonstration of Ento-pro in Hai Phong province (ii) training of distribution staff in three provinces and (iii) ongoing media promotion.
The commercialization of Ento-pro is proceeding relatively well, with production and sales of more than 14,000 kilograms (litres) of Ento-pro in 2007-2008, protecting an estimated more than 1000 hectares of fruit in the Northern and Central provinces from fruit fly infestation. This is delivering substantial economic, social and environmental benefits to smallholder fruit farmers.
The successful demonstrations, distribution staff training and media promotion have set a good base for the further expansion of Ento-pro production and use in fruit protection in the North and Centre of Vietnam.