Vietnamese agriculture is heading towards circularity.

In a context where sustainability is becoming a global priority, Vietnam is actively engaged in transforming its agricultural sector. The Vietnamese government has shown strong political will to promote the circular economy in agriculture, a sector that accounted for 12% of GDP in 2023 but also generates 19% of the country's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, despite this clear commitment, the lack of financing for agricultural enterprises is a major obstacle to this transition. Industrial groups appear to be key players in this process of change, and collaboration with French expertise could greatly facilitate the transfer of the necessary technologies and innovations for this evolution.

The Vietnamese government has expressed a strong political will to develop the circular economy in agriculture, a sector that accounted for 12% of the GDP in 2023 but is also responsible for 19% of national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Despite this intention, the lack of funding for agricultural operations hinders this transition. Industrial groups are positioning themselves as drivers of this change, and cooperation with French expertise could facilitate technology transfer.

Vietnamese agriculture emits a significant portion of GHGs, mainly due to inefficient agricultural practices such as irrigation and fertilizer use, as well as soil degradation and water pollution. These problems are exacerbated by climate change, which impacts agriculture, particularly in the Vietnamese deltas. In response, the government released a plan in 2024 to promote the circular economy by 2030, aiming to recycle a wide range of agricultural by-products (straw, livestock waste, etc.) and improve circular practices on farms.

However, many by-products remain underexploited, especially rice straw and other agricultural residues, creating opportunities to enhance the valorization of these resources. Family farms, often limited by a lack of investment and technology, struggle to adopt more sustainable practices. In contrast, large agricultural industrial groups such as TH True Milk and T&T159 have the necessary capacities to drive change in collaboration with small producers.

Interconnected production systems, combining crops, livestock, and aquaculture, are already used but can still be optimized. Research projects, such as those by CIRAD, aim to improve resource efficiency and reduce emissions. There is also significant interest in technologies for valorizing by-products, such as the production of biofertilizers and biogas.

French expertise, particularly in biofertilizer production and water treatment, could meet these technological needs, and the energy valorization of by-products, such as bioenergy production from biomass, could also expand in the coming years. Furthermore, the growing demand for bio-based products in sectors like chemistry or cosmetics opens new opportunities for the valorization of Vietnamese agricultural by-products.

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