TH Group: A pioneer in organic agriculture in Vietnam

The 8th Asia Organic Conference, themed “For a better future”, took place on September 17–18, 2025, in Ninh Binh, hosted by the Vietnam Organic Agriculture Association.

Launched in 2012, this international event promotes sustainable agricultural development by rotating among member countries of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements—Asia (IFOAM Asia).

The 8th conference brought together nearly 600 delegates from Vietnam and abroad, representing 33 countries and territories. Participants included policymakers, experts, scientists, businesses, and agricultural development organizations. The aim was to exchange and share experiences and new knowledge on organic agriculture in Asia and globally.

Vietnam’s organic agriculture: Rapid growth, vast potential

Organic agriculture in Asia has made remarkable progress in recent years, with cultivated land expanding to 9.1 million hectares in 2023 - accounting for 9.2% of the global total - led by China, the world’s third-largest market. India and Vietnam stand out for their fast growth in both cultivated area and the number of producers, positioning organic farming as a strategic pathway for food security and the green economy.

Dr. Ha Phuc Mich, President of the Vietnam Organic Agriculture Association, citing IFOAM data, noted that Vietnam’s organic farmland has expanded rapidly in recent years, reaching about 194,000 hectares in 2023. However, this figure accounts for only 0.5% of the country’s total agricultural land and remains low compared to the global average. This also highlights the significant potential of Vietnam’s organic agriculture, as demand for organic products continues to rise both domestically and internationally.

According to Dr. Ha Phuc Mich, the history of organic agriculture in Vietnam can be traced back to 1998, beginning with several small production groups. In 2006, Vietnam issued its first organic standards, promulgated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (now the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment). The most important milestone came in 2018, with the issuance of Decree No. 109/ND-CP on organic agriculture.

Vietnam’s organic products are becoming increasingly diverse, ranging from agricultural produce to processed goods. They are now available in 180 countries; however, revenue remains modest, at around USD 335 million in 2022. Domestically, there are more than 17,000 organic farming establishments, over 500 processing facilities, and more than 90% of localities have shown interest, provided guidance, and encouraged the development of organic production laying an important foundation for future expansion.

In particular, Vietnam’s organic dairy sector has only emerged over the past decade, mainly driven by major enterprises investing in high technology and meeting international standards. Among these, TH Group, with its TH true MILK brand, has played a pioneering role as the leading fresh milk producer in Vietnam.

Pioneering the conversion of dairy herds to international organic standards

Mr. Ngo Minh Hai, Chairman of the Board of Directors of TH Group, stated: Following the fresh milk revolution, as early as 2013, TH began producing organic vegetables, fruits, and medicinal herbs, and later expanded into organic fresh milk. After meeting the necessary standards, in December 2015, TH’s organic vegetables and medicinal herbs were certified by Control Union as compliant with U.S. and EU organic standards. The company then signed further agreements with Control Union to apply European and U.S. organic standards to fresh milk products. Accordingly, TH became the pioneer in converting its dairy herd to organic farming in line with international standards.

“On the organic feed fields for our dairy herd, there are absolutely no genetically modified crops, no pesticides, and no chemical fertilizers. For the cows, every farming process strictly follows Europe’s organic ‘4 Nos – 1 Good’ standard, which includes: no pesticide or synthetic fertilizer residues; no growth hormones; no antibiotics; no genetically modified ingredients; and ‘1 Good’ - good veterinary care ensuring animal welfare,” said Mr. Ngo Minh Hai.

In April 2017, Control Union certified TH’s organic farming and production chain as compliant with European organic standards EC 834/2007 and EC 889/2008. Today, TH owns one of the largest organic dairy herds in Vietnam, with nearly 1,000 cows producing an average yield of about 33 liters per cow per day, supplying over 3 million liters of organic raw fresh milk annually.

On August 17, 2017, the TH true MILK Organic pasteurized fresh milk product line was officially launched on the market, followed by TH true MILK TOPKID formula milk - made from organic fresh milk. This marked a milestone affirming that Vietnamese consumers can fully enjoy international-standard organic milk right in their own country.

In December 2017, TH Group partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to organize the international forum “Vietnam Organic Agriculture - Development and Integration.” At the forum, many core issues of organic agriculture were discussed. In particular, TH Group emphasized transparency, integrity in production, traceability, and market building as vital principles for sustainable development.

The forum's recommendations and contributions became an important foundation for the Government’s issuance of Decree No. 109/2018/ND-CP on Organic Agriculture, marking a significant step forward in establishing a legal framework for the organic sector in Vietnam. TH’s pioneering role left a clear imprint.

The 4F model and the sustainable journey to Net Zero

TH Group currently cultivates about 20 hectares of organic vegetables and fruits, with 79 products certified organic under U.S. (USDA/NOP) and European (EU) standards. The company's maximum output is 200 tons per year. TH’s organic produce, under the FVF brand, is available at TH True Mart stores nationwide. Each product carries a barcode and QR code for traceability.

In the field of medicinal herbs, TH cultivates various species in Nghia Dan, Yen Thanh, and Muong Long, Na Ngoi (Nghe An), certified to European, U.S., and Vietnamese organic standards. These include gac fruit, perilla, ginger, adenostemma, chrysanthemum indicum, and other valuable endemic herbs. They provide a safe source of ingredients for natural tea bags, healthy beverages, and pharmaceutical products under the TH true HERBAL brand - contributing to healthcare and preventive medicine.

Over the past 15 years, TH has built an ecosystem of more than 200 clean food products, including many made from organic ingredients beneficial to health, ranging from fresh milk, plant-based milk, fruits and vegetables to medicinal herbs. TH-branded products have consistently been recognized as a National Brand and have won numerous prestigious awards, such as Best Food in ASEAN, the Food Award at the World Exhibition in Russia, Gulfood Dubai 2016, and the Asia - Pacific Quality Award.

In addition, TH received the Gold Cup for Organic Dairy Farming for Community Health in 2016 and the Gold Cup for Organic Products for Community Health in 2022, both awarded by the Vietnam Organic Agriculture Association.

The circular agriculture 4F model (Farm - Feed - Food - Fertilizer) has been implemented by TH under the principle of connecting cultivation, livestock, processing, and recycling in a closed-loop system. As a result, resources such as land, water, livestock, and waste are maximized, minimizing both waste and environmental emissions. A key highlight of the model is its ability to regenerate resources: manure and wastewater from cows are treated at plants using advanced microbiological technology; solid waste is converted into Greenma organic fertilizer for cultivation; methane gas is collected to produce biogas for electricity generation; and treated wastewater, meeting quality standards, is either reused or safely returned to the environment.

“TH remains steadfast in linking business with social and environmental responsibility, considering organic not only a trend but also a commitment to sustainable development, through building a transparent, internationally standardized circular agricultural ecosystem. At the same time, we aim to become a pioneering enterprise on the journey to Net Zero, affirming that our organic strategy is inseparably tied to green transformation and global responsibility,” shared the Chairman of TH Group’s Board of Directors.