Circular economy is no longer just a concept in agricultural production. In the context of rising input costs, dwindling natural resources, and increasingly complex climate change, Son La province has been actively promoting and guiding farmers and cooperatives to apply circular economy models to production in order to achieve the dual goals of economic growth and environmental protection.

Having raised livestock for many years, Mr. Dinh's family used to be among those who discharged waste directly into the environment. However, in the last two years, after receiving training on clean farming practices, everything has changed for him. Instead of discarding a few cubic meters of pig and cow manure each month, Mr. Dinh's family now collects it in a compost pit and processes it into bio-fertilizer for fruit trees and intercropped coffee plants.

Mr. Quang Van Dinh, Muoi Noi commune, Son La province: "We collect garbage and manure, compost it, and then take it back to the fields. Now, with the fertilizer applied, the coffee and other crops are very effective; the plants are thriving, and the coffee is absolutely fantastic. I also pump the liquid fertilizer into the pits, compost it for about 1-2 months, then pump it up to 500 meters for irrigation. It's incredibly effective!"

Not only are households utilizing waste to make organic fertilizer, but many are also building biogas digesters to replace fuel. Reducing pollution and costs, livestock waste, once considered "discarded," has now become a dual resource: serving as both fertilizer and a clean fuel source for the family.

Ms. Do Thi Loan, Muoi Noi commune, Son La province:“Before our family started using biogas, it had a significant impact on the environment and our neighbors. Since we started using biogas, we've reduced waste considerably. Besides reducing waste, we also use it as fuel for cooking. Now we're very happy that we don't have to spend money buying gas every year. In addition to daily cooking for the family, we also use the biogas to fuel our livestock.”

Also opting for a circular agricultural approach, Thanh Cuong Cooperative in Mai Son commune is implementing a model of plum cultivation using organic products, which is showing initial positive results. While traditional farming methods would eliminate weeds, the members of Thanh Cuong Cooperative allow the weeds to grow naturally instead of being pulled out. Once they reach a certain stage of growth, the weeds are harvested and mixed with straw and fermented manure to create a fertilized base for the trees.

Mr. Leo Van Lech, Director of Thanh Cuong Cooperative, Son La:"The simplest example of circular agriculture that our cooperative is applying is growing grass until it reaches a certain stage, then we cut it down to mulch the base of the plants, providing nutrients. Here, we say no to herbicides or any other intervention other than purely natural methods to retain our customers."

With over 8 million head of livestock and poultry and more than 85,000 hectares of fruit trees, Son La generates approximately 1.5 million tons of agricultural by-products annually. If utilized effectively, this would be a rich source of raw materials for a circular economy in the future.

Mr. Dinh Cong Thuy, Regional Agricultural Technical Center 3:“Through training and technology transfer, people have gradually applied and embraced these methods, showing some positive results recently. In the coming years, we will continue the circular economy production process. We will utilize livestock waste to raise earthworms, applying closed-loop models from input to output to ensure thorough collection for use in crop and livestock production.”

From a shift in perception to innovation in action, the circular economy is not just a solution, but is becoming an inevitable trend for Son La to move towards a green and sustainable agriculture.