Official opening of new Fresh Studio R&D farm in Dalat

DALAT – During Fresh Studio’s own company team event, the new 1.5 hectare vegetable R&D farm was opened.

Situated centrally in an important smallholder vegetable cultivation area of Dalat, Fresh Studio launched one of the few privately owned vegetable R&D farms of Vietnam. The farm features a variety of techniques including levels of irrigation, and open field and protected cultivation methods to test the agronomic and financial performance of a wide range of vegetable varieties.

Fresh Studio’s professional team of agronomists regularly conduct tightly monitored experiments, collecting data for analysis. These experiments are undertaken for clients ranging from seed, fertilizer and plant protection companies. The R&D farm also plays an important role in METRO’s farmer extension program for which Fresh Studio is contracted.

MDF & Fresh Studio’s Value Chain Development course in Bali

BALI – 14 participants from all over the world participated in the Value Chain Development training course which was organized by MDF and Fresh Studio.

During the one week course, participants analyzed value chains on which they were working in their own countries. These VC’s ranged from Cashmere wool in Mongolia, to cucumbers in Cambodia. One day of the course was spent analyzing an existing supply chain for vegetables on Bali.

In 2009, the course will be organized again in Hanoi (1-5th of June) and in Bali (19-23rd of October). Participants can register through the MDF website: www.mdf.nl

Successful Moc Chau R&D farm field day organized

DALAT – On the 8th of October a very successful field day was organized by Fresh Studio at the vegetable R&D farm developed by the collaboration of Applied Plant Research of Wageningen UR and Fresh Studio.

Funded with a grant from the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture program for International Cooperation, a R&D farm for vegetables was established to test varieties of vegetable seeds from a range of national and international companies for their agronomic and financial viability. Trials were executed year round with a focus on off-season feasibility.

The aim of the R&D program was to determine whether the highlands of Moc Chau (1000-1500 meters) may become an important supply area to booming urban areas in North Vietnam.

During our field day, over 50 farmers, cooperatives, vegetable traders, seed companies, representatives of the Moc Chau Agriculture Department and the Dutch Embassy participated. The results of one year of hard work were presented through an interactive poster exhibition and guided farm walk.

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