The sugar industry plays an important role in Vietnam’s agriculture, not only contributing to food security but also promoting economic growth in many localities. However, sugarcane cultivation is still facing many challenges related to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impacts.
Developing sustainable sugarcane raw material areas
The use of synthetic fertilizers increases N2O emissions - a greenhouse gas that is 300 times more powerful than CO2. In addition, the method of burning sugarcane fields after harvest also creates a large amount of CO2, causing serious air pollution.
To address this issue, Vietnam has committed to reducing emissions, moving towards sustainable agriculture with a target of net zero emissions by 2050. In this context, carbon credit initiatives in agriculture are increasingly attracting attention, opening up opportunities for sugarcane farmers to optimize production and benefit from selling carbon credits.
Lam Son Sugarcane Joint Stock Company (Lasuco) is one of the pioneers in developing sustainable sugarcane raw material areas. With a large raw material area, Lasuco is gradually converting traditional farming methods to modern agriculture, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing economic value.
Lasuco has implemented a 500ha pilot project in Thanh Hoa in the 2025-2026 period and plans to expand to 8,000ha from 2027. This is the first time in Vietnam that an agricultural land management project according to Verra's VM0042 standard has been applied in the sugarcane industry, helping to reduce N2O emissions and increase soil organic carbon (SOC).
Recently, the signing ceremony to implement the carbon emission reduction project in Lam Son sugarcane growing area marked the strategic cooperation between Lasuco and two Japanese partners, Idemitsu Kosan Company and Sagri Company, once again affirming the important role of carbon emission reduction in Vietnam's agriculture. Mr. Le Van Phuong, General Director of Lasuco, emphasized: "All profits from the project will be paid to farmers, helping them increase sugarcane productivity and significantly improve their economic life. This is how we accompany farmers, creating sustainable value".
Mr. Egashira Hideaki, General Director of Idemitsu Vietnam, commented: “The project to reduce carbon emissions in Lam Son sugarcane growing area is an important step forward in the field of environmental regenerative agriculture in Vietnam. We are committed to continuing to promote this field in parallel with the clean and renewable energy projects we are implementing”. Meanwhile, Mr. Hiroya Ishitsubo, Global Finance Director of Sagri, shared: “Vietnam is not only an agricultural powerhouse, but also an ideal destination for developing carbon credit projects. We expect to expand the model to other crops such as rice, bringing sustainable agriculture to a new level”.
Solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in sugarcane cultivation
The overuse of chemical fertilizers not only degrades the soil but also produces N2O gas. To overcome this situation, Lasuco has implemented a model of using organic and microbial fertilizers combined with improved farming techniques to reduce N2O emissions while still ensuring crop productivity. One of the main causes of CO2 emissions in the sugar industry is the habit of burning sugarcane fields after harvest. Lasuco is promoting methods of collecting and reusing bagasse and sugarcane leaves as raw materials for biomass energy production or organic fertilizer, instead of burning them, causing environmental pollution. Increasing the organic carbon content in the soil helps improve fertility, maintain moisture and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Lasuco's project applies the technique of growing sugarcane with green soil, using cover crops to increase the amount of carbon stored in the soil, creating favorable conditions for the development of a carbon credit system in agriculture.
Carbon credits - an opportunity to increase income for farmers
Carbon credits are one of the sustainable economic solutions that help businesses and farmers earn additional income from reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By registering and certifying the project according to Verra's VM0042 standard, Lasuco is not only a pioneer in the field of sugarcane production but also creates the first carbon credits in Vietnam applying this method.
Farmers participating in the project can receive dual benefits: improved sugarcane yield, reduced production costs thanks to sustainable farming techniques, and can also sell carbon credits to increase their income. This helps improve their economic life and at the same time encourages them to participate in green agricultural production models.
Lasuco's sustainable sugarcane raw material area development project is being implemented according to a strict roadmap: January 2025, training farmers and testing a sustainable farming model on an area of 500 hectares in Thanh Hoa; in the period of 2025-2026, collecting data, assessing the impact of greenhouse gas emission reduction solutions; in 2027, expanding the model to the entire production area, aiming for 8,000 hectares applying emission reduction techniques and creating carbon credits.
In the long term, Lasuco aims to expand this model nationwide, aiming to build a green, sustainable and modern sugar industry. The application of technology and environmentally friendly farming methods will help minimize the negative impact of agricultural production on the global climate, while increasing the economic value of Vietnamese sugarcane in the international market.
Developing sustainable sugarcane growing areas is not only an inevitable trend, but also a strategic solution for Vietnam to achieve its goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and greening agriculture. With Lasuco’s pioneering role in implementing the first carbon credit project in the sugar industry, Vietnamese farmers not only have the opportunity to increase their income but also contribute to building an environmentally friendly agricultural ecosystem.
The project not only brings economic benefits but also creates sustainable values for the community, promotes the development of modern agriculture, and contributes to realizing the commitment of the Vietnamese Government in the roadmap to net zero emissions by 2050.
Article and photos: Ngoc Lan
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/tu-cay-mia-den-tin-chi-carbon-239040.htm
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