“We raise 6,000 chickens on feed made from the base of lingzhi mushrooms and cordyceps. By making use of these by-products in our circular farming model, we’re able to produce high-quality eggs at a reasonable price.”
That’s how Nguyen Thi Hong, Director of Thien Phuc Herbal Medicine Company, describes her farm in Hoa Phú commune, Hanoi, where an innovative circular model is helping turn agricultural waste into economic value.
During the cultivation process, Hong discovered that the mushroom base, often discarded after harvest, still contains a variety of valuable bioactive compounds such as cordycepin, adenosine, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. Recognizing its potential as a natural supplement, she began using it as a feed ingredient for laying hens in 2023.
 Nguyen Thi Hong, Director of Thien Phuc Herbal Medicine Company, in her lingzhi mushroom farm (Photo: tuoitrethudo.vn) |
The results were promising. The chickens remained healthy and produced highly nutritious eggs that met food safety standards. Notably, the enriched diet also improved the quality of the manure, reducing odor and increasing microbial content, making it ideal for composting into organic fertilizer. That fertilizer is then used for growing crops on the same farm, completing a sustainable cycle.
According to Hong, this model has delivered both environmental and economic benefits. It reduces the need for costly waste treatment, cuts input expenses, and creates an additional revenue stream, all while ensuring that no harmful waste is released into the environment, said Hong.
“The idea started when we expanded our cordyceps production, we used the substandard products to raise chickens and I found that circular farming worked quite well. For example, instead of throwing out by-products, we feed them to the chickens. If something isn’t suitable even for feed, we use it as fertilizer. The fruits grown this way taste much better because the fertilizer is entirely organic,” she added.
 The chickens fed with substandard cordyceps produce highly nutritious eggs that meet food safety standards. (Photo: VOV) |
Truong Thi Hanh, another farmer in Hoa Phu commune, applies a similar model. “We follow a circular system on our farm too. Strong pupae are used to propagate the mushrooms. Those that don’t qualify become fertilizer or, if they meet the criteria, they are used to feed the chickens. In the past, we used substandard cordyceps for extracts, but now we raise the chickens with them, which brings better profit and eliminates waste discharge into the environment,” she said.
As consumers become more conscious about food health and safety, many poultry farmers in the northern province of Thai Nguyen are shifting their mindset. Instead of simply raising chickens using traditional methods, they are now investing in safer, more sustainable practices.
Nguyen Van Thach of Tan Khanh communenot only follows VietGAP standards to ensure clean, safe poultry for the market, but also treats chicken waste to feed earthworms. These worms are then used as feed for chickens and even for eels, creating a cost-effective, closed-loop system.
“The idea of circular farming came from real challenges. We needed to make full use of available by-products and waste, what others throw away, we turn into feed. This approach helps us increase our income and significantly reduces environmental pollution,” said Thach.
By recognizing the untapped value of agricultural by-products and turning waste into useful inputs, Hong, Hanh, and Thach are not only improving productivity and reducing costs, but also protecting the environment in practical, measurable ways. Their experience reflects a growing shift toward circular agriculture, one that holds promise for both economic resilience and long-term ecological balance.