Thoughts from the sunflower fields of Nghe An

(Baonghean.vn) - Anyone from Nghe An or who has ever visited this land of sunshine and wind will have intense emotions - a feeling of pride, admiration, and boundless sharing with the people who have made this miracle happen!

Gazing at the golden fields, shimmering like silk, of flowers proudly turning towards the sun in the early morning in Phu Quy, my heart overflows with the emotions of youth, forgetting all the hardships of the past years, forgetting all the worries and anxieties, forgetting all the calculations.

I paused for a long time and sat here, I had to sit here, writing this to convey as fully and sincerely as possible about a person, a path, and the transformation of my homeland, Nghe An, that I have witnessed, heard about, and read about from many perspectives in the media.

TH Group's sunflower field in Nghia Dan. Photo: Hai Dang

Perhaps, Ms. Thai Huong – the person who created this stunning setting – wants to convey the message: “TH True Milk has always tirelessly dedicated itself and meticulously cared for every detail of everyday life, ensuring the brand remains beautiful over time!”

I want to convey that TH, like that flower, is radiant and pure, embodying the fragrant essence of heaven and earth, giving us pride in Vietnam, pride in Vietnamese agriculture. Now, looking at this achievement, who can say that Vietnamese agriculture is fragmented and backward? Who can say that Vietnamese agricultural products are inferior to those of other countries?

Perhaps these vast fields of flowers are one of the secrets to the resounding success of TH - a young brand that is beloved by the Vietnamese people, a brand that has already achieved international recognition!

Israeli President Simon Peres, during his visit to TH, affirmed: "The TH milk project has initiated a revolution in clean fresh milk in Vietnam and the region."

Forbes magazine has honored Ms. Thai Huong, Chairwoman of TH Group, as one of the 50 most powerful female entrepreneurs in Asia for her contributions that have transformed the nature of Vietnam's dairy industry.

TH True Milk farm has been certified by the Asian Record Organization as the "Largest high-tech concentrated dairy farm in Asia".

Dr. Biswaroop Roy Chowdhury, Director General of the Asian Record Organization, affirmed: “Five years ago, Vietnam's dairy farming industry was never mentioned on the world dairy farming map until the establishment of a large-scale industrial dairy farm system in Nghe An, where today I have the honor of standing on the podium to present the record for “Largest High-Tech Dairy Farm Cluster in Asia” to you. To achieve this record, TH had to compete with many dairy farms, especially those in countries such as China, Mongolia, India, and the Middle East... You are the pride of Vietnam and of Asia's dairy farming and agriculture…”

The TH True Milk dairy farm viewed from above.

Also at the ceremony, Mr. Cao Duc Phat, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam, stated: “The success of this project is revolutionary for the dairy farming industry and the Vietnamese milk market today. TH Group's farm has been recognized as the largest in Asia, proving that Vietnamese people, despite their small stature, can achieve things of the greatest scale in Asia. We have also learned a valuable lesson from this project, which has demonstrated the possibility of successfully raising cattle even in the hot, windy climate of Nghe An province.”

TH True Milk's School Milk Program also receives support and collaboration from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). According to the FAO, this is a very effective and necessary nutrition program for preschool and primary school children. Many countries around the world have implemented national school milk programs and have achieved encouraging results in improving physical development.

TH Group's line of fortified fresh milk and school milk products (TH School Milk) was honored with the ASEAN Best Food Award at the ASEAN Food Science and Technology Conference held from June 24-26, 2015 in Manila, Philippines. This was the largest conference of ASEAN countries on food and food technology. In 2015, more than 1,500 delegates from various countries, including scientific organizations, research institutes, universities, food companies, and many other organizations and individuals, attended the conference.

Shortly after, TH True Milk won 3 gold medals, 3 silver medals, and 1 bronze medal at the Tasting Contest at the World Food Moscow 2015 international food exhibition held in Moscow, Russia.

Ms. Thai Huong decided to invest in a large-scale, high-tech, industrial-scale dairy farming and processing project right in Russia. When interviewed by major Russian news agencies and television stations with the question, "How many times have you been to Russia and why are you investing in Russia?", she clearly stated two reasons: "As a child, I witnessed my country's continuous wars and shortages in every way. The people of the Soviet Union and Russia provided immense help, both in terms of personnel and resources. Those favors are deeply ingrained in each of us; so now, seeing the shortage of milk, I want to contribute a part, as a way of sharing and showing gratitude. This is also the best time for business because the embargo (on milk imports) is also the time when the Prime Minister and leaders of Russia have to encourage domestic production and issue a series of policies for agriculture…"

The 2nd International Dairy Conference took place on November 18th and 19th, 2015, at the Moscow Oblast Government building, with the theme "Replacing Imported Milk: A New Direction for the Development of the Dairy Industry". The conference was attended by the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, the Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, the Deputy Governor of Moscow Oblast, the Minister of Investment, and other high-ranking leaders from Russia and participating countries.

With her frank perspective and confident delivery, Ms. Thai Huong presented a truly bold and proud paper on the topic of "Investing in Russia: Opportunities and Challenges," highlighting the country's successful application of high technology in agriculture.

Ms. Thai Huong speaks at the International Dairy Conference in Russia.

Her presentation received enthusiastic applause from over 1,500 guests from 39 countries. Before parting ways, right on the forum, Mr. Niko Van Belzen, President of the International Dairy Association, respectfully invited Ms. Thai Huong to participate in the World Dairy Forum, and she happily accepted.

Looking back in time, let's be objective about the path TH has taken for the consumer community. It's a truly valuable path! Before TH was established, consumers were lost in a maze of hundreds of confusing labels on reconstituted milk powder (also known as milk powder). Reconstituted milk was heavily advertised as being made from 100% fresh milk, and then there were vague claims about the benefits of different types of milk… I also remember that in 2008, imported milk powder from China accounted for up to 92%.

Through effective communication and international seminars on the dairy industry, TH has presented an accurate picture of the Vietnamese dairy industry; clearly showing where the Vietnamese dairy industry stands compared to advanced countries worldwide; helping consumers gradually distinguish and deeply understand that: Fresh, clean milk that meets standards is superior in quality to powdered milk that is liquefied using heat.

TH has sent official letters to ministries and agencies demanding transparency in the milk market; it has made an enormous contribution to consumers and relevant agencies by forcing manufacturers to publicly disclose the origin of raw materials on product packaging.

In the near future, when regulations on milk labeling and milk standards are issued, there will no longer be any ambiguity or confusion regarding product packaging, so consumers will be protected and can choose products based on quality, "you get what you pay for".

Regarding the school milk program for children in their crucial developmental stage, the first of its kind to be implemented systematically in Vietnam, Ms. Thai Huong stated: “National standards for school milk must be immediately issued; it's not simply a matter of supplying milk to schools. School milk must be developed based on the essential micronutrient needs of children, supported by clinical research, scientific controls, and rigorous testing to be successful…”

That alone cannot fully capture the humanistic value, the bold, courageous, creative, and resolute decision of an individual, and the collective effort and unity of a group that I have long wanted to talk about!

That admiration is clearly evident as I sit here – in this vast field of sunflowers that tens of thousands of people travel to admire every day. I believe that anyone who comes here will feel the same enchantment as I do: a yearning for a better life, less stressful, and more responsible.

TH Group is striving to bring about a revolution in social resources in the future.

I believe that in the future, our children and grandchildren, growing up on these fields filled with such sublime emotions, will have a future full of happiness and boundless gratitude to the people who have wholeheartedly dedicated themselves to life – not only by providing the products of nature but also by giving a valuable path for Vietnamese agriculture as it enters integration!

The golden key has been found here: To produce internationally standardized products, to achieve high yields in the fields, to free up labor for farmers, and to make Vietnamese agricultural products competitive internationally, high technology must be introduced into agriculture, and management science and technology must go hand in hand.

And to succeed, the prerequisite remains institutions and transparency; a standard brand must be built; and an indispensable element is its focus on public health. And the integrity of the brand will endure over time.

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