Organic Agriculture and the New Direction for Many Cooperatives

Organic agriculture is becoming an increasingly prominent topic in modern life. As a result, many cooperatives have been actively shifting toward cultivating and trading organic products.

The Formation and Networking of the PGS System

PGS Vietnam was established in 2008 under the project “Developing Organic Agriculture Production Framework and Market in Northern Vietnam 2005–2012,” implemented by ADDA and the Vietnam Farmers’ Union (VNFU). PGS Vietnam became a member of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) in 2009 and is also a member of IFOAM Asia, actively participating in the Agroecology Learning Alliance in Southeast Asia (ALiSEA) and the Intercontinental Network of Organic Farmers Organisations (INOFO), joining hands to foster the global organic agriculture movement and advance the organic farming sector in Vietnam.

According to the Organizing Committee, the congress gathered more than 250 delegates representing all PGS Vietnam members, organic farmers from three key regions—Soc Son (Hanoi), Luong Son (Hoa Binh), and Trac Van (Ha Nam)—organic PGS networks nationwide, distributing enterprises and retail stores, loyal customer representatives, supporting agencies and organizations, as well as local government authorities and specialized state agencies.

Over the past 15 years, PGS Vietnam has operated independently and autonomously through the active engagement of farmers and stakeholders. Fostered within the shared home of the Vietnam Organic Agriculture Association and backed by community collaboration, PGS Vietnam upholds its core value of transparency as a guiding principle, enhances farmers’ awareness and accountability in production, promotes participatory governance to guarantee organic integrity, and assists farmers in connecting their products to the market.

During the past tenure, the Coordination Board made determined efforts to manage the quality of producer inter-groups in Thanh Xuan (Soc Son), Luong Son (Hoa Binh), and Trac Van (Ha Nam) through strict inspections, supervision, input management, and production environment monitoring. Additionally, to combat fraud, PGS Vietnam has deployed digital QR code technology to ensure transparency across the PGS system.

Organic agriculture is drawing growing public interest in modern times as disease rates climb, soils gradually degrade, and environmental pollution intensifies due to chemical-dependent farming. For this reason, many cooperatives have been actively adopting organic cultivation and business models.

Notable among these is Yen Duong Cooperative—a non-profit organization in Vietnam operating in agriculture and agricultural produce processing. With a dedicated and experienced team of farmer members, Yen Duong Cooperative has achieved significant milestones in producing and developing agricultural goods.

The cooperative’s flagship products include various vegetables, fruits, and medicinal herbs cultivated and processed according to organic methods, guaranteeing food safety and environmental protection.

Bai Thuong Cooperative in Thanh Xuan Commune, Soc Son District, Hanoi, is widely recognized for its organic vegetable production model supplying clean produce to consumers in the capital. Founded in 2008 with 11 members on 7.7 hectares of agricultural land, Bai Thuong Organic Vegetable Cooperative has achieved rapid market turnover and high economic efficiency by strictly adhering to collective standards. Operating on 21 hectares today (nearly three times its 2008 scale), the cooperative delivers an average of 25 to 40 tons of varied vegetables and fruits to the market each month, generating approximately 2 billion VND in revenue and providing each member with an income of around 5 million VND per month after expenses.

Organic food is a growing preference among consumers. Consequently, cooperatives developing products through organic, natural, and environmentally friendly practices will gain greater competitiveness in the market.

My Hoa and Editorial Team