Department of Microbiology

Introduction

History

Historical Milestones

- April 1978: The Department of Microbiology was established under the Vietnam Agricultural Science and Technology Institute.

- January 2006: The Department of Microbiology was transferred from the Vietnam Agricultural Science and Technology Institute to the Soils and Fertilizers Research Institute.

Achievement

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGYCAL CONTRIBUTIONS

1. Microbial Genetic Resources Conservation and Management

- The Department has established and maintained a valuable collection of 689 agricultural microbial strains belonging to more than 30 genera of bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, and yeasts. These microbial genetic resources are systematically preserved, characterized, and utilized for research and agricultural applications.

- The microbial germplasm collection has supplied hundreds of microbial strains to research institutions and production enterprises throughout Vietnam, contributing significantly to scientific research and the development of microbial products.

2. Research and Development of Microbial Fertilizer Technologies

- The Department has developed numerous microbial inoculants and biofertilizers, many of which have been officially recognized as technical advances or registered in the list of fertilizers authorized for production and use by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

- Research activities have focused on the development of microbial products with diverse functions, including biological nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, multifunctional biofertilizers, mycorrhizal inoculants, foliar microbial fertilizers, disease-suppressive microorganisms, and biofertilizers for major crops such as rice, maize, soybean, peanut, sesame, tea, citrus, and chili.

- In collaboration with partners within and outside the Institute, the Department has also developed microbial products for plant protection, biological control of nematodes and soil-borne pathogens, and environmentally friendly alternatives to chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

 3. Microbial Technologies for Waste Treatment and Environmental Protection

- The Department has conducted extensive research on microbial technologies for environmental management and sustainable agriculture. Major achievements include:

- Development of probiotic products for poultry feed supplementation;

- Production of biological rodenticides, which have been officially registered for use in Vietnam;

- Development of composting technologies for converting peat, agricultural residues, and livestock wastes into organic fertilizers;

- Formulation of microbial products for rapid treatment of livestock waste, thereby reducing environmental pollution and producing organic fertilizers;

- Development and application of microbial products for decomposition of rice straw and post-harvest residues, contributing to improved soil health and reduced organic toxicity in paddy fields;

- Research on microbial technologies for remediation of heavy metal-contaminated agricultural soils.

4. Technology Transfer and Extension Activities

- The Department has successfully transferred microbial technologies and organic biofertilizer production processes to numerous enterprises, research centers, and local authorities across Vietnam, contributing to sustainable agricultural development and improving production efficiency.

- At present, microbial products and organic biofertilizer technologies developed by the Department are being transferred and evaluated for rice production in Sayaboury Province, Lao People's Democratic Republic, demonstrating their potential for regional application and international cooperation.

5. Scientific and Technological Contributions

- Contributed to the development of 11 Vietnamese National Standards (TCVNs) on microorganisms and microbial fertilizers, which have been officially adopted and applied nationwide within the agricultural sector.

- Based on its research achievements, technical infrastructure, and scientific capacity, the Institute's Agricultural Testing Laboratory (Laboratory No. 12) was officially recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as an authorized testing laboratory for the agricultural sector.

- Established and maintained international collaborations in the field of microbial fertilizers with leading organizations and universities, including ICRISAT (India), NIFTAL–University of Hawaii (USA), the All-Russian Research Institute of Agricultural Microbiology (Russian Federation), ACIAR (Australia), FNCA (Japan), the University of Hohenheim (Germany), the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, the University of Karachi (Pakistan), and the University of Dundee (United Kingdom).

- Faculty members and researchers have actively participated in national and international scientific activities in agricultural microbiology, regularly publishing research papers in peer-reviewed journals and presenting findings at scientific conferences and workshops.

Honors and Awards

- Second-Class Labor Order awarded by the Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic in 2012 (Presidential Decree No. 331 dated 26 October 2012).

- Third-Class Labor Order awarded by the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for the period 2005–2009 (Decision No. 2020 dated 23 November 2010).

- Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister of Vietnam for achievements during the period 2003–2005 (Decision No. 1470-TTg dated 8 November 2006).

- Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister of Vietnam for achievements during 1994–1995 (Decision No. 901-TTg dated 29 November 1996).

- Certificate of Merit from the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in 2010 (Decision No. 917/QĐ-BNN-TCCB dated 6 May 2011).

- Certificate of Merit from the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in 2007 (Decision No. 1507-QĐ/BNN-TCCB dated 16 May 2008).

- Certificate of Merit from the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in 2004 (Decision No. 1194-QĐ/BNN-VP dated 30 May 2005).

- Certificate of Merit from the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in 1998 (Decision No. 3379-QĐ/BNN-VP dated 30 August 1999).

- Certificate of Merit from the Trade Union of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for outstanding achievements in labor emulation and building a strong Trade Union organization in 2004 (Decision No. 137 dated 1 March 2005).

- Certificate of Merit from the Trade Union of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for outstanding achievements in labor emulation and strengthening the Trade Union organization in 2003 (Decision No. 20 dated 12 January 2004).

- Certificate of Merit from the Trade Union of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development awarded to the Women's Group of the Microbiology Department for achievements in the emulation movement “Good at National Tasks and Responsible for Family Duties” during the period 1995–2000 (Decision No. 412 dated 20 September 2000).

- Third Prize of the Vietnam Fund for Supporting Technological Creations (VIFOTEC) Awards in 1998 for the research project entitled “Application of MIROCA Microorganisms for Rodent Control under Vietnamese Conditions.”

- Utility Solution Certificate for Nitragin biofertilizer in 1987.

- Numerous staff members have received commendations from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and affiliated trade unions for their professional contributions and achievements.

Personnel

Name: MSc. Nguyen Viet Hiep
Position: Head of Department
Email: nvhiepnisf@gmail.com

Name: PhD. Le Thi Thanh Thuy
Position: Dep. Head of Department
Email: lethuysfri@gmail.com

Name: PhD. Nguyen Thu Ha
Position: Senior Researcher
Email: thuhavasi@gmail.com

Name: Tran Thi Thanh Thuy
Position: Researcher
Email: thuy5175@gmail.com

Name: MSc. Cao Thi Thanh Tam
Position: Researcher
Email: caotam910@gmail.com

Name: MSc. Tran Thi Lua
Position: Principal Researcher
Email: luasfri@gmail.com

Name: MSc. Tran Quang Minh
Position: Researcher
Email: minhcnsh2000@gmail.com

Name: MSc. Truong Thi Duyen
Position: Researcher
Email: duyenprc@gmail.com

Name: Dam Thi Thanh Ha
Position: Researcher
Email: thanhha040880@gmail.com

Name: MSc. Nguyen Thi Thu Hang
Position: Researcher
Email: thuhangsfri@gmail.com

Name: PhD. Nguyen Van Hien
Position: Researcher
Email: nvhien.sfi@gmail.

Name: Nguyen Hoang Thuong
Position: Researcher
Email: thuongnh.sfri@gmail.com