Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Agriculture Forum with the theme of promoting circular economy in agriculture" directed by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), organized by the Business Forum Magazine on the afternoon of July 16, 2025, Mr. Hoang Quang Phong, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), emphasized that Vietnam is a country with an agricultural tradition and is currently a country with strengths in agriculture.

 The 2025 Agriculture Forum with the theme "Promoting the circular economy in agriculture" was directed by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), organized by the Business Forum Magazine on the afternoon of July 16, 2025.

The driving force towards green agriculture

According to the Vice Chairman of VCCI, the Party and the State always pay attention and regularly have policies, guidelines and strategies for the development of agriculture, farmers and rural areas. Along with that, Vietnam participates in many new-generation free trade agreements (FTAs) with many countries and economic regions, including commitments on ecological and environmental safety standards. In the context of the increasingly strong impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the opportunity and pressure to prioritize the application of advanced technology in smart agricultural production are more urgent. Therefore, developing a circular economy in agriculture is an inevitable step for Vietnam.

The Vice Chairman of VCCI affirmed that circular agriculture is both a mandatory requirement and a driving force towards green, low-cost agriculture, increasing the value chain, changing outdated farming habits, limiting resource use, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing environmental pollution...

 Mr. Hoang Quang Phong, Vice Chairman of VCCI, emphasized that Vietnam is a country with an agricultural tradition and is currently a country with agricultural strengths

Implementing the directions of the Party and the State, the agricultural sector is currently applying solutions to shift from production thinking to economic thinking, from linear economic thinking to circular economic thinking with the goal of green agriculture and green environment in a green economy.

In which, linear economic thinking follows the model of "Exploitation - Production - Consumption - Disposal", leading to the consequence of overexploitation of natural resources, increased waste, and environmental pollution. Circular economic thinking follows the model of "Reduce - Reuse - Recycle", or "By-products of this production process can become the main raw material of the next production process", helping to reduce resource exploitation, reduce waste, save production costs, promote innovation, optimize short-term profits and long-term benefits.

Accordingly, circular economic thinking is not only an agricultural production strategy, but also a philosophy of resource optimization management, environmental protection and sustainable development. With the goal of minimizing waste and maximizing the value of diverse resources, circular thinking not only brings economic benefits, brings additional income to farmers, but also contributes to protecting the ecosystem and building a modern agriculture.

With such benefits, however, according to Mr. Hoang Quang Phong, the transition to a circular economic model in agriculture still faces barriers regarding land, which need to be removed soon. Specifically, access to land and production and business planning of enterprises and cooperatives are limited, requirements for collateral and credit access procedures are still complicated; credit along the agricultural chain has not been widely applied; the ability to handle credit risks is low, not yet linked to agricultural insurance.

 VCCI leaders commented that the transition to a circular economic model in agriculture still faces barriers in terms of land and capital that need to be removed soon.

In addition, small-scale production is a "barrier" to the application of closed, concentrated production with large cultivation areas; consumers do not really trust organic products; the level and capacity to access science and technology are still limited...

Orientation and support platform

"If farmers are ready and businesses are involved, state management agencies and local authorities must be the ones to lead, orient, build policies, support resources, and create incentives to attract organizations and individuals to invest in circular agriculture", said the Vice Chairman of VCCI.

In particular, the first support platform needed is a complete legal framework to support businesses and farmers to access land and capital more conveniently, encouraging farmers to convert to this sustainable model.

The State and local authorities must be the ones to lead, orient, build policies, support resources, and create incentives to attract investment.

At the same time, research and pilot the model of mortgage lending using contracts linking production and purchasing agricultural products between enterprises and cooperatives. This is a model of lending based on a 3-party contract between: Bank - enterprise leading the chain linking agricultural products - cooperatives, farmers.

In particular, the State needs to have a higher incentive policy mechanism than current policies to attract enterprises to invest in circular agriculture.

And most importantly, there needs to be a long-term solution to bring enterprises to farmers to build linkages along the value chain. To realize the aspiration of circular agriculture, sustainable agriculture, and ecological agriculture, it is necessary to correctly recognize, enhance, and promote the role and mission of enterprises and entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector.

“The shift from a linear economy to a circular economy in agriculture has become an inevitable development trend, an opportunity for Vietnam to gradually build and develop a green growth economy, bringing sustainable benefits to farmers, cooperatives, and agricultural enterprises, demonstrating Vietnam's commitment to the international community,” affirmed the Vice Chairman of VCCI.

The social responsibility of enterprises in leading the restructuring of the agricultural sector is to persistently inspire, inspire, and accompany farmers, and must create an ecosystem and create value to help farmers go further, more closely, more sustainably, and more effectively.

Appreciating the proposal of the Business Forum Magazine in organizing the 2025 Agriculture Forum with the theme "Promoting circular economy in agriculture", on behalf of VCCI and the organizing unit, Mr. Hoang Quang Phong suggested that the Leaders, representatives of Ministries, Business Associations, experts as well as enterprises will frankly exchange and discuss proposed support solutions from the State management agencies, cooperation between enterprises - Cooperatives - farmers in developing circular economy in the agricultural sector. Your opinions will be compiled by VCCI and reported to the Government and relevant agencies to further improve the legal framework for sustainable agricultural development, creating conditions for enterprises and farmers to enjoy the results.