Rikolto launches video series to raise awareness on safe vegetables consumption

Ever wondered about the difference between organic, safe, and conventional vegetables? In this series of 9 videos we aim to promote a better understanding of why consuming safe vegetables matters for consumers, farmers, and the planet.

This series of videos was produced as part of our Safe and Organic Food Finder project, funded by Rikolto's Innovation Fund. It shares the triple purpose of promoting the SOFF app, encouraging consumers to buy more safe and organic vegetables, and informing consumers about some of the risks associated with unsustainable agriculutre. Where to find safe vegetables? How to recognise safe, organic, and conventional vegetables? What certifications are available? What are the motivations for farmers to produce safe vegetables? What practices can I adopt at home to improve food safety? These are some of the questions that are addressed in this video series.

Ever wondered where you could buy safe and organic vegetables around Hanoi? SOFF, The Safe & Organic Food Finder app and website, brings you an answer! SOFF aims to encourage consumers to buy safe vegetables by providing clear and transparent information on stores’ food safety certificates, location, opening hours, contact details, delivery options and much more. A new version of the apps and website, together with a new list of stores, was uploaded in February 2018 onto the platform. Visit SOFF's website: http://soff.vn to find your new favourite store. The app is available for download on Apple and Android’s app stores.

Nguyen Van Nghia is not like any other farmer. At only 30, this father is also the leader of Tu Xa cooperative in Phu Tho province. Although it was formed recently, the cooperative is already supplying quality safe vegetables to the minimart chain VinMart. In this video, Nghia shares his motivations and aspirations to keep bringing #SafeFood to consumers in the future.

Since 2016, VECO/Rikolto and Phu Tho’s Quality Assurance Department have supported Tu Xa cooperative to set up a Participatory Guarantee System to guarantee the safety and quality of their vegetables. You can read more about it here: https://vietnam.rikolto.org/en/project/participatory-guarantee-systems-safe-vegetables-vietnam

What does it mean for vegetables to be safe or organic? Mr. Trần Đức Thái, a safe vegetable farmer from Phu Tho, explains the difference in this video.

How can we distinguish organic, safe and conventional vegetables from one another? Dr. Nguyễn Thị Tân Lộc, Head of the Economics Department at the Fruit and Vegetables Research Institute under the Ministry of Agriculture gives some guidance on how to identify safe and organic vegetables.

Finding a reliable supplier of safe vegetables can be a struggle in Hanoi. Dr. Đào Thế Anh, Director at the Center for Agricultural Research and Development, introduces SOFF as a helpful source of information on where to find stores that sell safe and organic vegetables in Hanoi.

Navigating between the different food safety certifications and standards that are in use in Vietnam isn’t easy for consumers. That’s why we’re providing a short description of the main food safety certifications in use in Vietnam on our dedicated page on SOFF - The Safe & Organic Food Finder’s website: http://soff.vn/page/certification. In this video, Ms. Mai Thị Yến, manager of a safe and organic food store in Hanoi, talks about traceability and certification.

How can we all improve food safety at home? In the last video of our series on safe food, Mr. Nguyễn Song Hà, Assistant Representative at the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Hanoi, shares 5 good practices that everyone can adopt at home to improve food safety. More information about the practices mentioned by Mr. Hà in the video: http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/consumer/en/5keys_en.pdf?ua=1