The “Green Hero Garden”, a circular agriculture model aimed at promoting sustainable development and supporting vulnerable communities, was officially launched in HCM City on July 5. — Photo courtesy of the organisers

HCM CITY — A circular agriculture model combining education, research, social responsibility, and community development was officially launched in HCM City on Sunday.

The initiative, called “Green Hero Garden”, is a joint collaboration between the Food Bank Việt Nam Network, the Youth Union of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Danish Embassy in Việt Nam, and the Sports Centre’s Trade Union at the Vietnam National University, HCM City.

The garden, located in Đông Hòa Cmmune, serves as a key component of the wider Green Hero Solution Project, aimed at building a multi-functional green ecosystem that promotes sustainable living.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Tạ Hồng Sơn, secretary of the Youth Union of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, said the garden is a "living lab" where concepts of green agriculture, circular economy, and sustainable development are put into practice.

"In the face of climate change, resource depletion, and growing challenges to food security, models like the Green Hero Garden play a crucial role in bridging research, training, and production." Sơn said.

The garden's greatest value lies in changing public perception toward resources and waste, transforming what was once discarded into productive assets, he said.

The project embodies the organisation's core message: "No food wasted – No one left behind," Nguyễn Tuấn Khởi, chairman of the Food Bank Việt Nam Network, said.

“The garden not only produces clean agricultural products but also channels its social value back into the community, particularly supporting children and vulnerable groups.”

Sanne Høj Andrén, Agriculture and Food Counsellor at the Danish Embassy in Việt Nam, said the project coincides with the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Denmark and Việt Nam.

The project, supported by Denmark to help realise the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), targets the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by recycling organic waste into compost.

The city generates nearly 9,000 tonnes of waste daily, more than 60 per cent of which is organic.

If managed through circular models, this waste can generate substantial economic and social value.

The Green Hero Gardens in HCM City and the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta are projected to supply over 500 kilogrammes of fresh produce to disadvantaged households while serving as an experiential learning space for students and volunteers.

The Green Hero Garden operates on a closed-loop circular agriculture system, featuring vegetable and fruit cultivation, circular aquaculture, earthworm and black soldier fly farming, organic fertiliser production, and the recycling of agricultural by-products.

As part of the launching ceremony, organisers pledged to donate two tonnes of fresh produce grown at the garden over the course of one year to the Bình Trưng Đông Charity Class, ensuring nutritious meals for underprivileged students.

Delegations and partners also took part in a commemorative tree-planting activity, symbolising a shared commitment to building a greener and more sustainable future. — VNS