Speaking at the National Assembly (NA) Committee on May 31st, Mrs Nguyen Thi Lan, a member of Hanoi’s NA delegation, raised the issue of developing a circular economic model in agricultural production.
According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan, in the circular economic model, the process of production is in a closed cycle so that most of the waste is returned as raw materials for production. Circular economic model creates safe and high-quality products and minimizes waste and loss of production, especially the waste dumped into the environment. She emphasized that this was a big difference between this economic model the traditional economy which exploits natural resources to maximize production, discards after consumption, consequently, causes environmental pollution. Therefore, she affirmed that the circular economic model is particularly important and necessary for the agricultural sector.
NA delegate Nguyen Thi Lan raises the issue of developing a circular economic model in agricultural production.
In the past period, Vietnam’s agricultural sector has achieved many significant results but still needs to have better solutions for the following issues. Firstly, in production, the sector is focusing too much on productivity and quantity but neglecting sustainable development, using excess production inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, which leads to many environmental risks. Besides, while pre-harvest stages are much concerned, the harvest, post-harvest, and consumption stages haven’t received enough attention for an optimal use of food waste.
Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA)’s students practice at VNUA’s nursery.
In a circular economy, nothing is wasted and all the factors in the value chain will benefit. NA delegate Nguyen Thi Lan suggested that high technology can be applied in recycling and reusing waste and by-products of aquaculture, processing of agricultural, forestry and fishery products to create high added value.
“Especially, if it is possible to research and apply high technology, biotechnology, physicochemical technology in treating dead animals and animal waste into safe fertilizer products, we will be able to avoid inadequacies in animal destruction and burying, and therefore save costs and avoid environmental pollution” said Mrs. Nguyen Thi Lan.
In this connection, Mrs. Lan suggested that the Communist Party, the State, and the Government should issue synchronous policies to develop circular agriculture with the participation of the whole society in the agricultural chain. Moreover, there should be policies to raise people’s awareness on circular agriculture through training programs from high school to higher level and through agricultural extension programs. Research and investments in resources to develop management systems, production management, and compatible technology for circular agriculture also need to be encouraged. Additionally, as this model can spread to other economic sectors, it will contribute significantly to the reorientation of the agricultural sector in the period of agricultural restructuring and the transformation of the models of economic growth so that Vietnam are ready to actively participate in the revolution of quality and efficiency.