PART 1: HISTORY, MISSION, AND DEVELOPMENT OF AAAP
Formation, Mission, and Early Stage (1980)
The Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies (AAAP) was officially established in 1980. At a time when the Asia-Pacific region faced major food security challenges due to rapid population growth. Today, Asia accounts for over 50% of the global population and produces more than 60% of the world’s food.
The core mission of AAAP is to promote “efficient animal production” in the region through international cooperation and academic exchange. AAAP serves as a bridge for sharing scientific resources between countries with advanced livestock industries (such as Australia, New Zealand, and Japan) and developing countries with high production demands in Asia.
Membership Expansion and Organizational Structure
AAAP began with 8 founding members in 1980: Australia, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Thailand.
Since then, membership has expanded to 19 countries, reflecting deeper regional integration:
- Taiwan (1982), Bangladesh (1987), Papua New Guinea (1990).
- Vietnam and India (1992): Vietnam joined during the early Economic Renovation period, marking a milestone in the international integration of its livestock sector.
- China (2006): The entry of the world’s largest pork-producing nation significantly expanded the Association’s scale.
AAAP’s governance structure includes the AAAP Council, where the President is nominated by the country hosting the next Congress. This mechanism ensures that authority is tied to responsibility, motivating the host nation to lead effectively.
Academic Pillar: Animal Bioscience Journal
Alongside its Congresses, AAAP has built a strong scientific foundation by publishing the Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences (AJAS) since 1988. In 2021, the journal was renamed Animal Bioscience (AB) and is now recognized as one of the world’s leading journals in animal science, indexed in SCI/Scopus.
PART 2: VIETNAM’S ROLE AND CONTRIBUTIONS AT AAAP CONGRESSES
Hosting History and Theme Trends
Pic caption: In 2024, the Animal Husbandry Association of Vietnam received the flag to host the 2026 Asian-Australasian Animal Science Congress.
The AAAP Animal Science Congress (ASC) is held biennially. TheIts themes over the years reflect the evolving priorities of the global livestock industry:
- AAAP 8 (Japan, 1996): “Development and productivity“.
- AAAP 13 (Vietnam, 2008): “Animal agriculture and the role of smallholder farmers in a global economy“.
- AAAP 19 (South Korea, 2022): “Animal production for human and nature“.
- AAAP 20 (Australia, 2024): “Embracing disruption as an opportunity for animal science“.
Vietnam’s Milestones: From Hanoi 2008 to Melbourne 2024
Vietnam joined AAAP in 1992 through the Animal Husbandry Association of Vietnam (AHAV).
2008 (AAAP 13 Hanoi): Vietnam hosted the Congress for the first time. With its theme “on smallholder farmers”, the event drew significant international attention to the characteristics of livestock production in developing countries. Over 1,200 international delegates attended, affirming Vietnam’s organizational capacity and global standing.
2024 (AAAP 20 Melbourne):
At the 20th Congress, the Vietnamese delegation, led by Dr. Nguyen Xuan Duong (President of AHAV), participated actively.
- At the closing ceremony, Vietnam officially received the flag to host the 21st AAAP Congress in 2026, a testament to international confidence in Vietnam’s livestock sector, 18 years after its first hosting.
PART 3: THE 21ST AAAP CONGRESS IN HANOI (2026): CONTEXT AND STRATEGY
Official Information on AAAP 21
According to AAAP Council and the National Organizing Committee:
- Host Organization: Animal Husbandry Association of Vietnam (AHAV)
- Tentative Date: October 28–31, 2026 (Hanoi Autumn)
- Venue: Hanoi, Vietnam
- Main Theme: Sustainable Animal Production
Structure of Scientific Sessions
To comprehensively address modern livestock sectors and regional challenges, the AAAP 21 Organizing Committee has outlined 14 Scientific Sessions. These cover traditional technical spillars while expanding into emerging areas such as animal welfare, companion animals, and digital transformation.
List of Scientific Sessions
| No. | Scientific Session | Content Orientation & Discussion Focus |
| 1 | Genetics and Breeding | Genomic selection applications, conservation of indigenous genetic resources, and breeding for climate change adaptation. |
| 2 | Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology | Alternatives to imported ingredients, precision nutrition to reduce emissions, and utilization of agricultural by-products. |
| 3 | Animal Physiology and Reproduction | Advanced reproductive technologies (ART), physiological mechanisms adapting to heat stress and environmental conditions. |
| 4 | Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health | Transboundary animal disease control (ASF, Avian Influenza), “One Health” strategy, and mitigating antimicrobial resistance (AMR). |
| 5 | Swine Science | Herd recovery solutions post-disease, high-biosecurity swine farming models, and optimizing sow productivity. |
| 6 | Poultry Science | Sustainable poultry production, egg/meat quality, and waterfowl farming models specific to Asia. |
| 7 | Ruminant Science | Developing beef/dairy cattle farming models in tropical regions; reducing enteric methane emissions. |
| 8 | Production of Other Animal Species | Research on goats, sheep, buffaloes, bees, silkworms, and high-value specialty livestock. |
| 9 | Animal Product Technology | Processing technologies for meat, eggs, and milk; ensuring food safety and traceability. |
| 10 | Livestock Environment Control | Waste management, biogas technology, odor control, and minimizing environmental impact (Net Zero). |
| 11 | Digital Governance and Smart Agriculture | Applications of AI, IoT, and Big Data in farm management; digital transformation in state management of livestock. |
| 12 | Smallholder Farming | Sustainable livelihood models, value chain integration for smallholder farmers (inheriting the 2008 AAAP theme). |
| 13 | Pets and Companion Animals | Nutrition, veterinary care, and the booming pet industry trend in Asia. |
| 14 | Animal Welfare | Animal welfare standards in farming, transport, and slaughter; meeting technical requirements for international trade. |
Conclusion and Recommendations
The 14 scientific sessions reflect Vietnam’s comprehensive vision for AAAP 21:
- Inheritance: Maintaining core scientific pillars (Genetics, Nutrition, Veterinary Medicine).
- Modernity: Integrating global trends such as “Digital Governance”, “Pets”, and “Animal Welfare”.
- Practicality: Retaining the “Smallholder Farming” session, reflecting realities in Vietnam and other developing countries.
Recommendation: The Organizing Committee should promptly appoint Session Chairs leading experts in each field — and connect with international speakers to ensure the highest academic quality for the Congress in October 2026.
Dr. Tong Xuan Chinh
Standing Member of the Animal Husbandry Association of Vietnam (AHAV)
