Nguyen Phuong Thao in her farm

After finishing an M.A on Environment in the UK, Nguyen Phuong Thao returned to Vietnam with concerns about rural environmental pollution and a desire to do organic agriculture. In 2017 Thao and her husband, Nguyen Luong Quyrt, a construction engineer, went to Yen Lap district, Phu Tho province, to open “Nguyên Khôi Xanh”, an organic farm and animal husbandry operation. 

The farm’s circular model creates inputs from recycling or renewable resources to obtain resource efficiency without any negative impact on the environment. The waste materials of one process are the inputs of other processes.

Every byproduct from animal husbandry and plantation are turned into fertilizer or animal feed.

“Nguyên Khôi Xanh” farm raises animals and grows trees. Waste from the husbandry activities are treated in an environmentally friendly system of filters and aquatic plants to further degrade nitrogen and phosphorus residues. It requires minimal investment and operating costs and uses almost no fossil fuels to produce organic fertilizer. It’s a closed circle.” Thao said.

Our priorities are happy, healthy animals using natural antibiotics and farm produce of higher quality that is healthier for consumers. The animals are raised with a minimal use of chemicals in a clean, spacious area which is close to nature. 

Thao said that the farm raises chicken and pigs and uses cool meat processing technology. They grow roses, chrysanthemums, and dahlias to produce flower tea. After three years, they have established a distribution network. Since 2018 Nguyen Khoi Xanh has had 600 retailers. 50% of theircustomers are repeat customers because they are satisfied with the products.   

Thao’s organic circular farming model has won several prizes, including a World Bank startup contest in 2019 called “Women and the future of green economy”.

Thao introduces her farm's products at a startup contest.

Pham Duc Nhiem, Deputy Director of the Department of Market Development and Science and Technology Enterprises, said: “Nguyen Khoi Xanh Farm exploits two important advantages – local organic products and an economic model that leverages modern technology. It uses smart production planning, micro-technology, and bio-chemistry to optimize production and create a value chain. It’s a startup with the ambition of turning traditional farming into modern agricultural production.”

The founders of Nguyên Khoi Xanh Farm have encouraged neighboring farmers to form a clean agricultural region that produces qualified organic products. Thao said: "We want to replicate our model to form a sustainable agricultural production region, where we can supply our own inputs. We intend to build a regional trademark of sustainable agricultural production that will make it easier for farmers to sell their products.”

Tran Duy Khanh, Director of the APEC Institute for Business Studies and Training, says the environment-friendly farming, limited use of fossil fuels, and minimal production of CO2 at Nguyên Khôi Xanh Farm should be replicated. “The organic circular farming model is a trend. All processes are linked to create a farming and husbandry ecosystem. Nguyên Khôi Xanh’s model can be replicated.”