Final Round Competition and Awarding Ceremony of the GenZ Biotech Challenge 2023

Final Round Competition and Awarding Ceremony of the GenZ Biotech Challenge 2023

On 17 Jan 2024, The Faculty of Agricultural Technology - University of Engineering and Technology - Hanoi National University organized the final round and award ceremony for the best videos of the contest "GEN Z Biotech Challenge 2023" at the US Embassy in Hanoi. The contest is open for all Vietnamese students aged from 16 to 24 years old with aims to explore views and ideas from the youth on the academic topic that links to the broader theme of sustainable development. CropLife Asia and the Office of Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi are two partners to support organizing the contest and this event.

The contest encourages participation of all students to create and submit short video clips (under 3 minutes) on the topic "Application of Biotechnology in Agriculture". This will be an interactive playground for young people who are passionate about science and eager to explore their personal potential to share personal view on the topic of biotechnology as well as applications of this technology in modern agriculture. As biotech is not a popular topic of interest for the majority of the local community due to its complex scientific information, the contest is also expected to unlock new ideas and suggest new ways of communication from the way of story-telling of "GenZ".

Speaking at the award ceremony, Professor - Dr. Le Huy Ham - Head of the Faculty of Agricultural Technology, University of Engineering and Technology, Hanoi National University - and Chairman of the Judging Panel, stated: "The development of research and application of biotechnology is a consistent policy of Vietnamese Government. Most recently, at the beginning of 2023, the General Secretary endorsed a resolution on the development of biotechnology research and application until 2030, with a vision extending to 2045. This will be an opportunity for the field of biotechnology to make even greater contributions to the socio-economic development of the country. We hope that the young generation who are still in school today will soon be exposed to and learn about biotechnology, understanding its potential for socio-economic development and preparing themselves with a mindset ready to contribute to the development of biotechnology as society expects. On the other hand, there are different, even opposing, views on biotechnology products. Therefore, the younger generation needs to be exposed to, learn about, and equip themselves with the necessary scientific knowledge to make science-based choices and develop biotechnology in a direction that maximizes the potential of these technologies”

USDA Agricultural Couselor Mr. Ralph Bean of Embassy of the United States to Hanoi – one of the two sponsors of the contest, shared in his speech: "The United States has a long-standing collaboration with Vietnam to facilitate the adoption of agricultural biotechnology and innovation towards sustainable development. We really appreciate the Contest as an excellent opportunity to promote dialogue and communication to share knowledge and facilitate science-based approaches for the adoption of biotechnologies to support Vietnam’s goals of sustainable agriculture, emissions reduction and adaptation to climate change."

Ms. Dang Ngoc Chi – Chair of Biotech – Seeds Committee, CropLife Vietnam shared: “Agriculture has been alwasy a key economic sector of the Vietnam. However, with the high attractiveness of other rising economic and technical sectors, agriculture is not yet the prioritized choice of the young generation in the modern era. We hope this contest will create an additional interactive playground for GenZ to explore different angle stories on agricultural biotechonology, helping them have more motivation to learn applied science and technology in the agricultural industry."

Launched in early October 2023, the contest has received more than 100 video entries from students from 20 high schools and universities across the country. After the preliminary round and two competition rounds on social platforms, the organizer has selected the top 6 best videos to attend the Final Round & Award Ceremony in Hanoi. These videos received highest scores from the advisory panel and attracted impressive online views and engagement. These videos also explores new topics and creative ideas with high scientific content and impression presentation. Student who join Round 2 of the contest had chance to attend tutorial sessions with video-making professials and leading experts of biotechnology to receive advice on improving the content and to edit their submission.

At the final round competition, the contestants of the top 6 best videos had the opportunity to introduce and show their videos, present their ideas and answer direct questions from the judges. Judge members who are leading experts in the field of biotechnology and communications evaluated and gave score right after each video competition. The winning videos are as followed:

• First prize goes to video: “The secret behind GM corn” of Nguyen The Ngoc Phuong and Hoang Thi Hong Nga from Faculty of Agricultural Technology, University of Technology, Hanoi National University;
• The second prize belongs to video: “Saving money while enhancing egg production predictability in ducks” of Do Chi Hieu from Biological Science Faculty, Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City
• The second prize belongs to video: “Saving money while enhancing egg production predictability in ducks” of Do Chi Hieu from Biological Science Faculty, Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City
• 3 consolation prizes were given to videos:
  1. “What is GMO crops? How to make it” developed by Le Thu Thao, Pham Van Tuan, Mao Saven, and Dao Khanh Van from Faculty of Agronomy, Vietnam National University of Agriculture
  2. “Gene modifing” of GENtle team from University of Engineering and Technology, Vietnam National University
  3. “Cold lesions on bananas” of Do Ngoc Anh from The School of Chemical and Life Science, Hanoi University of Science and Technology.

In addition, the organizers also awarded “Creative” prizes to 19 videos participating in round 2 and a “Most favourite” prize to the video which receives highest votes from the audience participating the event. All videos will be published on CropLife Vietnam YouTube Channel in the coming time. Shared by the organizer, they will extend the idea of ​​this competition to organize more activities to attract and encourage the participation of students who are major in plant science and agricultural biotechnology in public communication campaigns on this topic.

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About the Faculty of Agricultural Technology - University of Engineering and Technology - Hanoi National University (FAT)

FAT was established in December 2018 that a division under the direct management of the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Vietnam National University (VNU). FAT is a division that educated undergraduate, and graduate to delivery of the human resources in high-quality technology, and high level. It is a division where studies, improvement, and application of advanced science and technology in the agricultural field to contribute to the development of advance agriculture, produce for goods with high quality, efficiency, and great competitiveness. Thereby, it contributed strongly to the development of the country's economy and increase knowledge in the trend of the 4.0 industrial revolution. More information at http://fat.uet.vnu.edu.vn/

About CropLife Asia

CropLife Asia is the not-for-profit association and regional organization of Croplife International - representing the voice of the plant science industry. CropLife advocates for a safe and sustainable food industry, and aims to develop the application of scientific innovation in agriculture to ensure food security. CropLife Asia supports the activities of 15 associations across the continent and is led by 6 leading member corporations in the development of pesticides, seeds and/or biotechnology research and development. In Vietnam, CropLife and its members are always committed to supporting and implementing long-term strategies to help more than 25 million farmers effectively apply scientific solutions in agricultural farming to promote growth, improve crop yields, produce high- quality agricultural products while minimizing negative impacts on the environment. More information about CropLife Asia at www.croplifeasia.org and CropLife Vietnam at www.croplifevietnam.org.

Media contact:

Ms. Vinh Dao – CropLife Vietnam Coordinator – E: vinh.dao@croplifevietnam.org

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