The "Net Zero" ecosystem has gone beyond Viamilk's green farms

The roadmap to implement the Net Zero goal by 2050 of a typical enterprise, Vinamilk, is not only helping the enterprise take the first systematic steps, but has gradually created an impact on the entire "ecosystem" by changing the mindset about green production and sustainable agriculture outside the scope of factories and farms...

Answer by action

Mr. Le Hoang Minh, Executive Director of Production, Head of Net Zero Project Vinamilk, began his presentation at the Workshop "Solutions for applying circular economy in Vietnam's dairy industry" with the story of Green Farm Tay Ninh - where the land was given a 3-year break to purify, restore nutrients and return to its most natural state.

Thanks to a valuable resource - the waste of 8,000 dairy cows after being processed - the land is cared for with organic fertilizers, crop rotation methods, combined with technology from Japan. The 500ha of fields with 2 crops of corn and rice per year meeting European organic standards is now the result of that process.

Hệ sinh thái — 100% of Vinamilk's cultivated area is cultivated using organic methods and applying soil circulation.

After nearly 20 years of "white revolution", investing in building a modern farm system, developing dairy farming technology in tropical regions, Vinamilk has overcome the challenge of improving livestock productivity. Specifically, at the Vinamilk Green Farm ecological farm model (located in Thanh Hoa, Quang Ngai, Tay Ninh), the milk output produced is equivalent to the world average, which is 30-35 liters of milk/cow/day. This was once an impossible number, because Vietnam does not have the climatic conditions that are good for dairy farming like temperate countries.

"Now, the domestic dairy industry is continuing to conquer bigger challenges, which is sustainable agriculture, aiming towards the common goal of net zero emissions," said Mr. Minh.

Mr. Le Hoang Minh shared how Vinamilk applies circular economy to agriculture for sustainable development, towards Net Zero.

According to Mr. Minh, the practice of sustainable agriculture with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions is carried out with very specific actions at Vinamilk. In particular, the business representative emphasized the content of greenhouse gas inventory, which has been completed at 100% of factories and is being deployed on all dairy farms according to ISO14064. With a large system of 15 farms and 16 factories at home and abroad, the process of greenhouse gas inventory for businesses is very challenging, but it is necessary to determine the roadmap and ways to reduce emissions.

The amount of carbon neutrality of Green Farm is equivalent to 30,000 football fields covered with trees, the amount of circulating water is equivalent to 86 Olympic swimming pools...

Notably, Vinamilk carried out the above inventory very early. Data related to greenhouse gases and many other information have been recorded and systematized by the unit through sustainable development reports according to international standards over the past 12 years, before mandatory requirements on this issue were issued.

Present at the workshop, Mr. Tong Xuan Chinh, Deputy Director of the Department of Livestock Production (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), stated that sustainable development is a new field in Vietnam and the world. However, there have been Vietnamese enterprises that have dared to take the lead and achieved certain successes. Vinamilk's pioneering greenhouse gas inventory will be referenced to serve the process of building standards and regulations on the domestic carbon credit market in the future.

The "nucleus" that creates change

From a broader perspective, not only businesses benefit, Vinamilk's roadmap towards Net Zero 2050 has been promoting a large ecosystem revolving around this "giant". Accordingly, Vinamilk plays a "core" role in changing farmers' awareness in farming, supporting other businesses to develop sustainably.

Regarding the above story, Chairman of the Vietnam Dairy Association, Mr. Tran Quang Trung, recalled that many years ago, just by going to the beginning of Moc Chau town (Son La province), anyone could smell the smell of cow dung in the air. For 3 consecutive months, the group of leaders, experts, and engineers of Vinamilk and Moc Chau Milk researched and applied technology to treat cow dung and odor. This technology has been successfully applied at many Vinamilk farms, and the company has also popularized it to associated dairy farming households for pilot implementation.

"Now, in addition to selling milk to the company, Moc Chau farmers can also provide fertilizer to surrounding growing areas, helping to improve the land and environment and their own family income," said Mr. Trung.

Another example of Vinamilk helping farmers participate in a more sustainable production chain is that the farm allocates part of its organic fertilizer to help surrounding farmers improve their soil and increase crop yields. The crops are then fed back to the farm to feed the cows. This is a closed cycle, contributing to reducing emissions.

Vinamilk's total output of purchasing biomass corn from associated farmers across the country has reached more than 215,000 tons/year. Around Vinamilk farms, many billion-dollar corn fields of farmers have appeared.

From barren lands or places where people are struggling to find effective crops and livestock, farmers are now confidently attached to Vinamilk farms. Or in Thong Nhat, Thanh Hoa, many "billion-dollar" fields have appeared on once-deserted, low-yield farms.

Most importantly, the production mindset of the people has been changed from the circular economic circle of Vinamilk farm. They know how to use natural resources such as land and water more effectively and sustainably; do not use chemical fertilizers, pesticides... to ensure that the output products meet the standards for long-term supply to the farm.

Clearly, “sustainable” farming practices have extended beyond the farm’s boundaries and into the surrounding community. Through a rigorous roadmap of adherence to principles and commitments to emission reduction, businesses have spread awareness to every household in the chain.

With the orientation of "greening" production, Vinamilk's dairy farms are becoming the nucleus promoting the process of sustainable agricultural practices in the whole region.

"After implementing and succeeding, farmers continue to replicate and share Vinamilk's story with the surrounding community. I believe that is an important key to helping businesses achieve the Net Zero goal, because this goal is not only internal to the business," affirmed Vinamilk's Net Zero project leader.

The workshop "Solutions for applying circular economy in Vietnam's dairy industry" organized by the Vietnam Dairy Association on the occasion of World Milk Day (June 1) aims to promote sustainable development solutions for the dairy industry. Vinamilk is a pioneer in the dairy industry committed to achieving the Net Zero 2050 target and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 15% by 2027 and 55% by 2035.

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/he-sinh-thai-net-zero-da-vuot-ra-ngoai-nhung-trang-trai-xanh-cua-vinamilk-20240617113727341.htm