In scientific research, a work is valuable not only in the published results but also in the ability to solve problems posed by production practice.
For Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Ngoc Anh - Deputy Head of the Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Vietnam National University of Agriculture - a member of the Trade Union of the Vietnam National University of Agriculture (under the Vietnam Agriculture and Environment Trade Union), that spirit is clearly shown through the process of researching and bringing technical advances to farmers.
The typical project is "Process of integrated management of Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) venomous green-skinned worm in some northern provinces", belonging to the Ministry-level science and technology project for the period 2022–2025, chaired by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Ngoc Anh.
After a process of research, testing and completion, the process is recognized as a technical advance in the field of plant protection.
The highlight of the initiative is that instead of mainly relying on pesticides, the research group developed a comprehensive management method, combining farming, physical-mechanical, biological and chemical methods.
Accordingly, producers are instructed to monitor pest developments in the fields, use pheromone traps to detect and forecast the occurrence of pests and determine appropriate prevention time. Plant protection drugs should only be used when necessary, at the right time and according to the prevention threshold.
This approach helps shift from the mindset of "seeing pests then spraying" to proactive pest management, with scientific basis, thereby reducing costs and limiting impacts on the environment and human health.
One of the notable new points of the project is that the research group for the first time identified the sex-specific pheromone components of liver-and-skin glue worms in Vietnam using the gas chromatography method of mass spectroscopy.
From this result, the group successfully mixed pheromone bait to serve pest management.
Not only stopping at detecting the appearance of worms, the process also provides scientific bases to determine the time of prevention based on the number of adults in the trap, egg nest density and young worm density in the field.
This is an important basis to help farmers be more proactive in pest control, limiting the use of pesticides as a habit or spraying when not really necessary.
The results of implementation in Phuc Tho (Hanoi) and Kinh Mon (Hai Duong) showed clear effectiveness. Compared to conventional farming methods, the number of times using pesticides decreased by 1–2 times in one onion crop.
Pest control efficiency reached 77% in Kinh Mon and 76.82% in Phuc Tho. Notably, profits of producers increased by 16.19% in Kinh Mon and 17.02% in Phuc Tho. The profit value of the initiative reached nearly 1 billion VND.
In the process of implementing the project, the group organized training and guidance on procedures for 100 turns of farmers and technical staff. The research results were also shown through 3 scientific articles, and contributed to training 20 engineers, 4 masters and 1 doctor in the field of plant protection.
These figures show the connection between scientific research, training and production services. From laboratories to fields, scientific knowledge is transformed into specific solutions, helping producers improve efficiency and move towards safer and more sustainable farming methods.
In addition to professional work, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Ngoc Anh also actively participates in trade union, social and community movement activities, completing assigned tasks well. Contributions in the working process are recognized by many forms of commendation, including Certificates of Merit from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the title of Emulation Soldier of the Ministry level.
In 2026, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Ngoc Anh was honored to be awarded the Creative Labor Medal by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor.
From a pest on the onion plant, a new technical process has been formed. And from those practical values, the image of union members - dedicated and responsible scientists, always finding ways to do their work better - has become a bright spot in the creative labor emulation movement.
