VANJ-SPEC is a seminar series organized by VANJ. The series aims to connect professionals from different scientific disciplines and share knowledge. The fourth edition of VANJ-SPEC, called VANJ-SPEC4, focuses on a topic of great interest in today’s agriculture: “Current Status and Future Potential of Drone Application in Agriculture”. VANJ-SPEC4 was held online via Zoom from 11:00-13:15, October 8th, 2023 (Japan Standard Time), with 48 attendees participating directly via Zoom and an additional 40 viewers tuning in via the livestream on Facebook.

The event featured four esteemed guests including (an entrepreneur, academic experts, and an agricultural extensionist)

  • Mr. Nguyen Thai Viet Huy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of JSC Smart Mismart and CEO of Mitek Trade and Services Corporation, Technology Vice President of CSMO Vietnam Club
  • Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Khanh Hieu, a senior lecturer in the Department of Aeronautical Engineering at the University of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City. 
  • Assist. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Binh Minh, a lecturer from the Faculty of Advanced Energy at the University of Tokyo, Japan.
  • MSc. Vo Thanh Manh, Deputy Head of the Professional Engineering Department at the An Giang Provincial Agricultural Extension Center. 

The program was hosted by MSc. Ngo Duy Dong, a current master’s student majoring in Agricultural Economics at Kagoshima University, Japan. Mr. Dong is also a dedicated member of VANJ who actively connects experts to organize VANJ-SPEC4.

During the opening of VANJ-SPEC4, MSc. Vo Thanh Manh introduced the current drone applications in agricultural production and addressed the issue of agricultural mechanization in An Giang province. This introduction provided practical data and images that illustrated the agricultural production situation in An Giang province, which is a key agricultural region in the delta region along the Mekong River. The speaker also offered insights into future solutions and directions to enhance technological advancements in agricultural production in An Giang province.

The event continued with a captivating presentation by Dr. Nguyen Binh Minh, who talked about fundamental research on drones and presented a training model for interdisciplinary drone use for students. Dr. Minh shared captivating research on drone technology being conducted at the University of Tokyo, Japan. He also introduced an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary training model that allows research topics to be coordinated with professors or expert instructors from related fields. Moreover, he provided valuable recommendations for Vietnam’s future development of drone technology.

The third presentation, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Khanh Hieu, highlighted the benefits of using drones in agriculture. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between entrepreneurs, researchers, and farmers in order to achieve the best results. Dr. Hieu drew practical lessons and recommendations from his training experiences at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology. As an expert in researching and training drone applications for agriculture, Mr. Nguyen Khanh Hieu provided valuable insights into the current shortcomings and the potential for expanding drone applications within the Vietnamese agriculture industry.

The program was concluded with a presentation by Mr. Nguyen Thai Viet Huy, wherein he discussed the production and application of drones, with a particular focus on the integration of AI to enable widespread drone applications in various agricultural fields at Mismart company. Mr. Nguyen Thai Viet Huy has extensive experience in researching, manufacturing, and implementing drone applications in diverse sectors. He shared specific and highly relevant information regarding the substantial benefits of using drones in agriculture.

After the presentations, our speakers also provided clear and specific answers to the audience’s questions, creating a dynamic and engaging atmosphere throughout VANJ-SPEC4.

The success of the seminar can be attributed to the thorough preparation and informative presentations delivered by the experts on drone applications in agriculture. The enthusiastic participation of the audience not only fostered collaboration, research, and knowledge sharing in the field of drone application in agriculture but also served as a source of joy and motivation for the VANJ members as they plan future practical seminars.

Summarized by Nguyen Thanh Tung, Seminar-VANJ

Saitama University

Contact: nttungqnu@gmail.com