Circular economy paves the way for shrimp-rice-coffee chain linkages

In An Xuyen Ward, Ca Mau Province, the Provincial People's Committee recently coordinated with the Viet Nam Sustainable Shrimp Alliance (VSSA) to organize a workshop on promoting inter-sector circular economy: shrimp - rice - coffee in Viet Nam. The event also marked the launch of the "Promoting the Circular Economy in the Shrimp, Rice, and Coffee Value Chains" project.

In addition to utilizing by-products or reducing waste, the circular economy is regarded as a key solution for sustainable development of Viet Nam's agriculture amid the impacts of climate change and increasingly stringent green standards.

Viet Nam's three key export commodities, including shrimp, rice, and coffee, currently hold leading positions in international markets. The country is one of the world's largest rice exporters, the second-largest shrimp exporter, and the world's leading producer of Robusta coffee. However, alongside these achievements, the sectors are facing mounting challenges from climate change, natural resource depletion, and import markets’ requirements on greenhouse gas emissions reduction and product traceability.

According to Ms. Kristina Buende, Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Viet Nam, the circular economy not only enables more efficient use of resources but also transforms discarded by-products into new raw materials. Thereby enhancing production efficiency, protecting the environment, and improving people’s livelihoods.

Against this backdrop, the "Promoting the Circular Economy in the Shrimp, Rice, and Coffee Value Chains" project, funded by the EU for the 2026–2030 period and implemented in Ca Mau, Dong Thap, and Dak Lak provinces, is expected to create linkages among the three sectors, which have traditionally developed in relative isolation.

Rather than supporting each sector individually, the project's distinctive feature lies in building an integrated ecosystem in which production models, management experiences, technologies, and market opportunities are shared and mutually reinforced under a circular economy approach.

As Viet Nam's leading province in shrimp farming and exports, Ca Mau is assessed as well-positioned to advance the circular economy. The province currently has more than 450,000 ha of shrimp farming, accounting for over half of the country's total shrimp farming area, while its annual seafood export turnover reaches approximately USD 2.5 billion. In particular, the province’s ecological shrimp–forest and shrimp–rice farming models have been certified by several international organizations, providing a competitive advantage in premium markets.

According to Mr. Le Van Su, Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People's Committee, this advantage should be further leveraged by shifting development thinking. Instead of following the traditional linear model of extract–produce–discard, the province should optimize the use of all available resources by turning by-products from one production process into valuable inputs for another.

In particular, linking Ca Mau's shrimp sector with the rice region of Dong Thap and the coffee region of Dak Lak will expand opportunities for inter-sector collaboration, creating a green production ecosystem that contributes to Viet Nam's commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions (Net Zero).

According to Mr. Le Dinh Huynh, Secretary General of VSSA, despite its considerable advantages, Ca Mau's shrimp sector continues to face significant challenges. Nearly 80% of the province's shrimp farming area is managed by smallholder households, making it difficult to control disease outbreaks, organize production, and comply with international standards. Therefore, expanding shrimp–forest and shrimp–rice models and strengthening production linkages would help protect the environment and provide more stable incomes for farmers.

Beyond the shrimp sector, numerous circular economy models in Dong Thap and Dak Lak have also demonstrated tangible benefits. According to Mr. Thanh Hung, Deputy Director of the Dong Thap Sub-Department of Rural Development, the province has developed integrated production models such as rice–mushroom–organic fertilizer–fruit trees, rice–fish, rice–shrimp, and the production of organic fertilizer from agricultural by-products. These models have helped reduce input costs, improve soil quality, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, and increase product value.

Dong Thap is also implementing the Project on Sustainable Development of One Million Hectares Specialized in High-Quality, Low-Emission Rice Cultivation Associated with Green Growth in the Mekong Delta. The initiative is regarded as a solid foundation for advancing the circular economy in the rice sector.

Meanwhile, according to Ms. Trinh Nguyen Thanh Nguyen (Tay Nguyen University), the coffee sector is under increasing pressure to restructure toward green, low-emission production to meet new international market standards. Adopting a circular economy approach will enable the sector to improve resource-use efficiency, reduce environmental impacts, and strengthen its competitiveness.

To achieve these objectives, Ca Mau province has designated its Department of Agriculture and Environment as the lead agency to coordinate with VSSA and international organizations to integrate the project's activities into the province's development plans for the shrimp and rice sectors for the 2026-2030 period. The province will also study technical support mechanisms and facilitate access to green finance for businesses, cooperatives, and farmers to accelerate the transition.

The establishment of a network linking the country's three key sectors will not only create added value from agricultural by-products but also open up a sustainable development pathway for Viet Nam's agriculture, enabling it to meet the increasingly stringent requirements of global markets in the era of the green transition.