On June 19, 2024, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 540/QD-TTg, approving the Science Development and Technology Transfer Programme to promote a circular economy in agriculture by 2030. The goal is for at least 20% of agricultural science research projects to focus on circular economy applications.
Many localities and farmers have embraced circular agricultural practices to optimise production processes.
The National Agricultural Extension Centre, in collaboration with local authorities and businesses, has implemented several projects encouraging the use of microbial fertilisers made from rice straw and livestock waste. Additionally, organic rice and vegetable production models have helped cut fertiliser costs while improving economic efficiency compared to conventional farming.
A notable initiative involves the mechanised collection of rice straw for mushroom cultivation, animal feed, and organic fertiliser production in provinces such as Tien Giang, Hau Giang, and Dong Thap.
Accordingly, the construction and development of a mechanised service supply chain for collecting straw and stubble to make raw materials for producing straw mushrooms, organic fertilisers, and animal feed have contributed to increasing income from rice production by about 15% compared to mass production.
Additionally, low-emission rice farming models are being implemented to promote sustainable rice-growing regions for export in Can Tho, Dong Thap, Kien Giang, Sac Trang, and Tra Vinh.
Furthermore, a circular livestock farming model for buffalo and beef cattle has been established, incorporating product consumption linkages in Thai Binh, Hoa Binh, Nam Dinh, Vinh Phuc, Yen Bai, Dien Bien, and Ha Giang. This approach utilises biological products to process livestock waste. Animal feed is sourced from agricultural byproducts such as corn stalks and rice straw, which are fermented and preserved using silage methods. As a result, feed costs are reduced, increasing economic efficiency by 10-15%. Livestock waste is composted with biological agents to produce organic fertilisers, creating a closed-loop agricultural production system.
The circular economy is an inevitable trend for modern, sustainable agriculture. However, implementing circular agricultural practices faces several challenges due to incomplete policies, limited value chain integration, and the inefficiency of many cooperatives, which hinders investment, technology adoption, and the application of advanced processes, particularly in circular production.
Promoting circular farming remains limited in many regions, lacking tailored solutions for different geographical areas, product groups, farm sizes, and enterprises. Additionally, a shortage of highly qualified experts prevents the effective development of circular agriculture and the resolution of issues from production to final processing.
Moreover, research, application, and technology transfer for processing agricultural waste and byproducts remain underdeveloped. Many farmers, businesses, and farm owners continue to focus on resource exploitation for maximum output, leading to significant post-harvest waste.
To implement the "Development of Science, Technology Application, and Transfer to Promote Circular Economy in Agriculture by 2030" project, key tasks and solutions include: Developing and updating a database on technological applications for the circular economy in agriculture. Prioritising research and investment creates closed-loop technologies and processes within the agricultural value chain.
Expanding agricultural extension programmes to promote recycling technologies, particularly for rice production byproducts, such as straw, husks, and bran, to generate value-added products like fertilisers, animal feed, mushroom substrates, and bio-bedding materials.
Developing market programmes for circular agricultural products and organising promotional campaigns to increase awareness and adoption. Establishing policies and regulations to support certification of circular agricultural products based on domestic and international standards for export. Defining criteria and standards to integrate circular production from cultivation and livestock farming to harvest, storage, and processing, ensuring a closed-loop, multi-value system.
