Final article: Innovation for development

“Previous generations have devoted their efforts to building the brand, bringing Binh Phuoc cashew nuts to geographical indications (GI). The next generation of cashew businesses and farmers need to promote the GI values of Binh Phuoc cashew nuts. Our company believes in, protects and promotes this brand” - Vice Chairman of Binh Phuoc Cashew Association, Director of Vinahe Company Limited Nguyen Hoang Dat affirmed.

Need "leverage" from the mechanism

The development speed of the cashew industry market is increasingly fast, diversifying deeply processed products to meet consumer tastes is an inevitable trend. In fact, businesses have developed dozens of deeply processed cashew products such as: cashew milk, roasted cashews seasoned with garlic and chili, honey, wasabi, burnt garlic and chili... However, the products granted with CDDL of Binh Phuoc cashew nuts are only raw cashew nuts, cashew kernels and salted roasted cashew nuts, which have not kept up with market trends.

Customers carefully research cashew nut brands before deciding to buy products at Co.opmart Dong Xoai Supermarket

Along with that, the personnel in charge of the field of geographical indications of Binh Phuoc cashew nuts is also a matter of concern today. On August 29, 2018, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 2065/QD-UBND on the regulations on management, use and control of Binh Phuoc geographical indications for cashew products. Accordingly, management agencies, such as the Department of Science and Technology (KH&CN), Binh Phuoc Cashew Association, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Department of Industry and Trade and People's Committees of districts, towns and cities coordinate to manage the geographical indications of Binh Phuoc cashew nuts. However, these agencies are facing difficulties in terms of personnel. The personnel in charge of geographical indications management at these agencies are thin, often change the person in charge, and have not been regularly trained in professional work, causing the management of geographical indications of Binh Phuoc cashew nuts to lack coordination, continuity and inheritance.

Maintaining and developing the geographical indications of Binh Phuoc cashew nuts is the key step to building and developing a sustainable brand for the Binh Phuoc cashew industry, contributing to the successful implementation of Resolution No. 11-NQ/TU of the Provincial Party Committee on developing the Binh Phuoc cashew industry in the period of 2020-2025 and vision to 2030. To support the development of geographical indications for the province's key products in general and cashew nuts in particular, Director of the Department of Science and Technology Bui Thi Minh Thuy said: At the workshop "Intellectual property, innovation for sustainable development" held on June 6, the department proposed the Ministry of Science and Technology to direct the implementation and consider including a number of national-level tasks on: "Researching legal regulations on geographical indication protection and supporting the registration of geographical indication protection in China for Binh Phuoc cashew products" under the approved Intellectual Property Development Program to 2030; “Promoting and developing the geographical indication of Binh Phuoc cashew nuts” belongs to the Intellectual Property Development Program until 2030, to be implemented from 2025.

From the business perspective, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Dat, Vice President of Binh Phuoc Cashew Association, Director of Vinahe Company Limited (Phuoc Long Town) said: To develop and promote the geographical indication, it is necessary to review and study to simplify the dossier and procedures for registering the geographical indication of Binh Phuoc cashew nuts for people and businesses; regulations on management, use and control of the geographical indication of Binh Phuoc for cashew products, ensuring strictness and science. It is necessary to review the granting of geographical indications for cashew products produced and processed intensively with the origin of Binh Phuoc cashew nuts from the raw material areas in localities in the growing areas that have been granted geographical indications. Because the raw material areas, households and cooperatives that have been granted geographical indications have strictly followed the regulations and met the standards and regulations set forth such as nutritional quality, flavor, nut types, etc.

Currently, cashew trees are facing fierce competition from other crops in the province. To maintain a stable cashew material area in the current situation, farmers hope to soon have policies such as: credit support for cashew growers, linking and consuming cashew products; deploying the Binh Phuoc cashew nut geographical indication to people more widely.

Sustainable development of Binh Phuoc cashew geographical indication

To promote the value of the geographical indication of Binh Phuoc cashew nuts, in recent times, the Department of Science and Technology has focused on innovation in management, focusing on the field of traceability of cashew nuts with the geographical indication of Binh Phuoc through the application of information technology and other advanced technologies. Director of the Department of Science and Technology Bui Thi Minh Thuy said: Up to now, the whole province has 8 cashew nut production enterprises that have been granted the right to use the geographical indication. The unit has supported 10 enterprises, cashew nut production and trading establishments in the province to apply electronic stamp solutions to trace the origin of products. Of which, 7 enterprises have been granted the right to use the geographical indication of Binh Phuoc cashew nuts with 349,400 electronic stamps, compared to only more than 100,000 electronic stamps in 2020. At the same time, providing free login accounts to the VNPT Check software system to manage supported stamp codes. Through customers scanning the traceability stamp, businesses have more data to analyze the consumer usage situation of cashew products. At the same time, the Department of Science and Technology regularly coordinates with relevant units inside and outside the province to support businesses in promoting, promoting trade, and developing brands for products bearing geographical indications.

Mr. Duong Van Sinh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Van Sinh Long Investment Group (standing in the middle) studies in-depth cashew processing at Ha My Joint Stock Company (Dong Phu district) and is very confident in the product being granted the CDDL certificate of Binh Phuoc cashew nuts.

Regarding innovation activities to develop CDDL, the province has had a product applying artificial intelligence (AI) to identify Binh Phuoc cashew nuts, opening up a new research direction applying AI to trace the origin of Binh Phuoc cashew nuts.

To promote the geographical indication of Binh Phuoc cashew nuts, in the process of building and implementing the geographical indication management system, it is necessary to associate it with the registration of growing area codes, food safety, quality certification and authentication, and traceability of protected products. Exploit and develop geographical indications in the direction of cooperation and production linkage associated with the consumption of protected products according to the value chain. Maintain, manage and develop the quality of the province's native cashew varieties. Strengthen the application of technology in the management and control of the origin and quality of products bearing geographical indications. Invest in research and application of scientific and technological advances in stages of the production chain to create high-value products originating from cashew nuts bearing the geographical indication of Binh Phuoc. Enhance the capacity of the Binh Phuoc Cashew Association and its branches and cashew production cooperatives to participate in the control and management of products with protected geographical indications. Strengthen the post-inspection work of the competent authorities after granting the right to use geographical indications.

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