Viet Nam's livestock breakthrough: Que Lam pioneers biosecure farming

Strict to '5 Nos' strategy

The biosecure, organic, circular pig farming process implemented along a value chain was meticulously researched by Mr. Nguyen Hong Lam - a farmer-scientist and Chairman of Que Lam Group. To date, the model has been widely adopted by millions of farming households across many provinces and cities nationwide.

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This is a livestock farming model that follows the “Five Nos” standards: no use of antibiotics, no use of growth promoters, no disease outbreaks, no discharge of waste into the environment, and no waste of any by-products.

With breakthroughs in science and technology, in which microbial technology serves as the core value, Que Lam Group’s biosecure, circular livestock farming model operated along the value chain provides a comprehensive solution. This includes an integrated housing system recognized as intellectual property by the Ministry of Science and Technology, along with solutions for feed and drinking water, and a biological bedding system based on proprietary microbial technology imported from Japan.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Lam, Chairman of Que Lam Group, said that the most evident effectiveness of this solution was proven during the African Swine Fever outbreak in 2019. While the epidemic devastated the pig farming sector, Que Lam’s model remained safe. Since then, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (now the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) has instructed its specialized agencies to consolidate the model into a formal solution and promote its replication across localities.

As of the first quarter of 2026, in Northern Vietnam, there were 37,000 pigs raised under these farming models, with an average profit margin of VND 1.3 - 1.8 million per pig per production cycle, while reducing water use by 1,750 liters per pig per cycle. In the Central region, profit margins ranged from VND 1.5 to 1.9 million per pig per cycle. In the Southern and Central Highlands regions, the profit ranged from VND 1.1 to 1.35 million per pig per cycle.

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The outstanding advantages of Que Lam Group’s biosecure, circular livestock farming model include helping pig herds withstand disease outbreaks and ensuring high-quality pork with a selling price 15-20% higher than the market average.

In addition, thanks to the biological bedding solution, this farming model helps save approximately 85% of water resources compared to conventional farming, reduces labor and electricity costs, cuts feed use by 10-12% compared to traditional farming, and causes no pollution to soil or air.

Notably, by applying microbial technology across all stages of the value chain, Que Lam Group’s model creates a closed-loop circular system that enables farmers to remain profitable while promoting circular agriculture and sustainable development.

Having proven its effectiveness in practice, Que Lam Group’s biosecure livestock farming solution package has been guided, appraised, and processed through administrative procedures by the Department of Animal Health and Production in coordination with relevant units under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. This has created a legal basis for applying products and technical processes serving organic and circular agriculture in practice.

Specifically, 10 microbial products and 2 animal feed products for organic-oriented pig farming have been licensed, and the improved process using the 403 Alfa Lacto microbial product in biosecure pig farming has been officially recognized. Authorities have also coordinated the implementation of a black soldier fly farming project using agricultural by-products, in which larvae are used as animal feed and waste is recycled as fertilizer for crops, in line with circular economy principles.

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From 2020 to 2025, the National Agricultural Extension Center, in collaboration with Que Lam Group and local authorities, developed and implemented organic and circular pig farming models with a total scale of over 8,600 pigs. This included organic pork production models in six provinces and cities with 5,600 pigs, and circular organic pig farming models in five provinces with 3,000 pigs, achieving about 70% of organic farming criteria.

In localities such as Phu Tho, Ha Tinh, Hue, Dong Thap, and Ho Chi Minh City, initial biosecure livestock farming models have successfully evolved into integrated value chains linking crop production and livestock. Many households that once “learned pig farming to escape poverty” have now become prosperous.

A notable example is Mr. Nguyen Van Lich in Hue City. A former commune chairman who left public service to become a farmer, Mr. Lich is now the Director of Phong Thu Thanh Tra Cooperative. His closed-loop agricultural model operates on a scale of about 20 sows, 300 fattening pigs, and 3 hectares of land for Thanh Tra fruit. “Now, this model is not just about an annual income of VND 400-500 million; it has also become a school teaching farmers how to practice circular agriculture,” he said enthusiastically.

According to Mr. Lich, raising pigs under the “Five Nos” system of Que Lam Group delivers clear benefits across economic, social, and environmental dimensions. Each farming model following Que Lam’s methods allows farmers to earn a profit of VND 1.3-1.9 million per pig (10–15% higher than traditional methods) while improving the environment by saving an average of 1,300-1,700 liters of water per pig. Notably, these models maintain biosecurity, prevent disease outbreaks, and build confidence among farmers.

In addition, organizing production linked with value chain-based product consumption has helped stabilize output, enhance the value of livestock products, and laid an important foundation for replicating the model in the future.

Science and technology as foundation of breakthrough

Regarding Que Lam Group’s biosecure, circular livestock farming solution, in November 2025, after inspecting organic microbial fertilizer production models and biosecure livestock farming models in Phu Tho Province, Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang shared: "The practical results clearly reflect the contributions that Que Lam Group, and particularly the Chairman Mr. Nguyen Hong Lam, have made to society, the nation, and especially to farmers in many localities."

"In fulfilling my responsibilities, I sincerely thank them for these very thoughtful and humane contributions. The efforts of Que Lam Group and Mr. Nguyen Hong Lam have provided the Ministry with important practical evidence from a proven, effective development model," emphasized Minister Tran Duc Thang.

Drawing on the practical experience of Que Lam Group and in alignment with the state management functions of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Minister Tran Duc Thang has requested the National Agricultural Extension Center to promptly coordinate with Que Lam Group to review and evaluate these models comprehensively, with a view to scaling them up nationwide.

Affirming to the Minister a continued commitment to using science and technology as the foundation for breakthroughs. Mr. Nguyen Hong Lam, Chairman of Que Lam Group, stated:

“We have been working closely with farmers to build a circular agricultural economy ecosystem, placing people at the center and accompanying them in changing mindsets. Together, we aim to develop an agricultural ecosystem along the agriculture–environment–society axis, strengthen value chain linkages, and achieve sustainable development. Vietnamese farmers today are no longer just part of a poverty reduction story, they can truly become prosperous.”

Regarding science and technology solutions, the Ministry and local authorities have introduced policies to replicate Que Lam’s biosecure, organic, circular livestock farming process in pig farming areas of all scales from small to medium and large farms.

Regarding policy mechanisms for value chain development, it is necessary to adopt adequate and appropriate investment policies to develop biosecure and organic livestock value chains, promote product consumption, and ensure input supply from domestic resources. This would help reduce dependence on imported breeds and feed nutrition, increase domestic income, reduce imports, and mitigate environmental pollution.

Third, in terms of communication and training solutions, it is essential to strengthen coordination among the State, enterprises, social organizations, and international partners in human resource training and public communication to promote organic agriculture and the circular economy.

Que Lam Group has established the Que Lam Circular Organic Agricultural Economy Human Resources Training Co., Ltd., aiming to contribute to the development of organic agriculture and the circular economy, and to promote social responsibility for an ecological agriculture sector, modern rural areas, and civilized farmers.

"Que Lam Group is committed to working alongside the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to help realize the objectives of the Livestock and Veterinary Development Strategy for the 2020-2030 period, with a vision to 2045, as well as sustainable development goals," emphasized Mr. Nguyen Hong Lam.