Arabfields, Meriem Senouci, Correspondent, Hanoï, Vietnam — In the heart of Vietnam’s rural landscapes, a transformative approach to farming is taking root, one that reimagines waste not as a burden but as a valuable resource. Circular agriculture, a closed-loop system where by-products and waste from one process become inputs for another, is emerging as a cornerstone for safe, environmentally friendly, and economically viable farming. This model builds on centuries-old traditions while incorporating modern technologies, offering a pathway to address rising input costs, environmental degradation, and the need for sustainable development in a rapidly changing world.
At its core, circular agriculture operates on the principle of resource optimization, where nothing is discarded unnecessarily. Livestock waste, for instance, is collected and processed into organic fertilizers through composting or biogas digestion, then applied back to fields to nourish crops. Crop residues and by-products, in turn, serve as animal feed, creating a seamless cycle that minimizes external inputs like chemical fertilizers and imported feed. This approach not only reduces production costs but also curtails pollution, preserves soil health, and lowers greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to a healthier ecosystem and safer food production.
One vivid illustration of this model in action comes from farms where large-scale livestock operations integrate crop cultivation. A farmer managing hundreds of cattle might face daily challenges in handling vast amounts of manure, which, if mismanaged, could lead to severe environmental contamination. By constructing biogas systems and composting facilities, however, this waste is converted into energy and nutrient-rich fertilizer. The same farm expands its land use to grow feed crops like corn and grasses, while fruit orchards benefit from the organic amendments, improving yields and soil structure over time. Partnerships with neighboring farms further extend the cycle, where excess fertilizer is shared or sold, turning potential pollutants into profitable commodities. Such integrated systems demonstrate how circular practices can transform operational headaches into opportunities for cost savings and additional revenue streams.
This modern circular model evolves from Vietnam’s longstanding traditional practices, particularly the integrated garden-pond-livestock system that has sustained rural households for generations. In that earlier framework, household gardens provided vegetables, ponds supported fish farming with nutrient-rich water used for irrigation, and livestock waste fertilized the entire plot, forming a self-sufficient loop at a small scale. Today, with advancements in science and technology, these principles are scaling up to medium and large operations. Waste treatment technologies now play a pivotal role, capturing methane for biogas energy, composting at industrial speeds, and ensuring that emissions are drastically reduced. This evolution allows for greater efficiency, enabling farmers to handle larger volumes while maintaining environmental integrity.
The potential resources available in Vietnam’s agricultural sector are immense, providing a strong foundation for widespread adoption. Annually, vast quantities of agricultural by-products, exceeding ten million tons in certain provinces alone, remain underutilized. These materials, ranging from rice straw to crop stalks, can be repurposed as high-quality animal feed or processed into organic fertilizers. Similarly, the nation’s numerous livestock farms produce millions of tons of waste each year, a figure that represents both a challenge and an opportunity. When channeled through circular models, this waste could yield millions of tons of organic fertilizer annually, significantly decreasing dependence on synthetic chemicals that degrade soil over time.
The benefits extend far beyond individual farms. By reducing the need for chemical inputs, circular agriculture enhances soil fertility, restoring degraded lands and promoting long-term productivity. It mitigates water and air pollution, safeguards biodiversity, and protects human health by limiting exposure to harmful residues in food chains. Economically, farmers experience lower costs amid fluctuating global prices for feed and fertilizers, leading to higher profitability and stabilized incomes. Communities benefit as well, with cleaner environments fostering healthier living conditions and new job opportunities in waste processing and fertilizer distribution emerging.
Companies specializing in waste management are already demonstrating the model’s scalability. Enterprises that collect manure from multiple farms, process it centrally into high-quality fertilizer, and redistribute it to crop producers achieve notable economic success while substantially curbing local pollution. These operations highlight the importance of linkages between livestock and crop sectors, where collaboration ensures steady supply chains and mutual benefits. Extension services play a crucial role here, guiding farmers on best practices and facilitating connections that strengthen the overall system.
Looking ahead, the trajectory for circular agriculture in Vietnam appears promising, grounded in current data and ongoing initiatives. As models like those in integrated livestock-crop farms are replicated across more regions, the annual production of organic fertilizers from waste could reach millions of tons nationwide, fundamentally shifting away from chemical dependency and revitalizing vast areas of farmland. This expansion would likely result in measurable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to national climate goals and positioning agriculture as a net positive for environmental stewardship.
Policy support is poised to accelerate this growth in the near future. With guidance from agricultural authorities, specific incentives for livestock-waste recycling and crop-livestock integration are expected to emerge soon, encouraging both smallholders and larger enterprises to invest in circular practices. Ecological models that prioritize using crop outputs as feed and returning livestock by-products to fields will become more commonplace, adapted to local conditions and climate vulnerabilities. Advanced technologies for waste valorization will see broader application, further minimizing emissions and maximizing resource recovery.
Over the coming years, these developments could lead to a proliferation of sustainable farming systems resilient to climate change, where organic and circular methods dominate production landscapes. Prioritization of green processes and cooperative value chains will foster prosperous rural economies, generating livelihoods for underserved households and driving sustained poverty reduction. As communication efforts highlight successful, high-profit examples, more farmers will adopt these approaches, creating a ripple effect that transforms entire provinces.
In the longer term, if current trends and projected policies hold, Vietnam’s agricultural sector could achieve a profound shift toward safety and sustainability. With millions of tons of by-products and waste repurposed annually, soil health would improve dramatically, yielding higher-quality crops and safer food supplies. Reduced pollution and emissions would preserve ecosystems, supporting biodiversity and human well-being for generations. Economically, enhanced profitability and cost efficiencies would bolster rural incomes, narrowing urban-rural divides and building resilient communities.
Ultimately, circular agriculture represents more than a production method, it embodies a vision for harmonious coexistence between farming and nature. By closing loops and valuing every resource, Vietnam is charting a course toward an agriculture that is not only productive but profoundly safe, ensuring food security, environmental protection, and economic vitality in the face of future challenges. This path, rooted in practical successes and forward-thinking strategies, holds the promise of a greener, more secure tomorrow for the nation’s farmers and beyond.
