MAE youth launches circular agriculture community garden model

On 5 July, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Viet Nam Food Bank Network, in collaboration with the Youth Union of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Embassy of Denmark in Viet Nam, and the Trade Union of the Sports Center at Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City, officially launched the Green Hero Garden, a community green space initiative.

The initiative is part of the Green Hero Solution Project, which is designed to integrate agricultural production, experiential learning, research, and community engagement. Rather than serving merely as a vegetable garden, the Green Hero Garden has been developed as a hands-on demonstration site for circular agriculture, incorporating organic waste treatment, fertilizer production, vermiculture, black soldier fly farming, vegetable and fruit cultivation, and circular aquaculture systems.

Speaking at the event, Ta Hong Son, Secretary of the Youth Union Executive Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, described the Green Hero Garden as a "living laboratory" where the principles of green agriculture, the circular economy, and sustainable development can be translated into practical action. He noted that amid the growing challenges of climate change, natural resource depletion, and food security, models that integrate research, education, and production are particularly valuable, especially for young people, students, and youth union members.

Representing the Viet Nam Food Bank Network, Nguyen Tuan Khoi said the Green Hero Garden was established with the goal of creating a green community model that combines the circular economy with efforts to reduce food waste and promote social welfare. According to him, the project's true value lies not only in producing safe agricultural products but also in mobilizing social resources to share its benefits with disadvantaged communities.

At the event, the organizers presented a symbolic sponsorship commitment to provide two tonnes of food over the next year, sourced from produce grown at the Green Hero Garden, to the Binh Trung Dong Charity Class. The initiative is expected to help improve the quality of meals for disadvantaged students while demonstrating the social value of circular agriculture.

Sanne Høj Andrén, Agricultural and Food Counsellor at the Embassy of Denmark in Viet Nam, said the initiative aligns well with the cooperation priorities between Viet Nam and Denmark in promoting the green transition, reducing food loss and waste, and developing sustainable food systems.

According to Sanne Høj Andrén, Ho Chi Minh City generates nearly 9,000 tonnes of waste every day, of which more than 60% is organic waste. If managed through circular approaches, this waste stream could not only reduce environmental pressures but also create additional economic and social value.

Beyond its production function, the Green Hero Garden is envisioned as an experiential learning destination for schools, social organizations, businesses, and the wider community. Through this model, the organizers hope to replicate similar initiatives across Viet Nam, promoting greener lifestyles, reducing food waste, and strengthening public awareness of environmental responsibility.