Scaling Sustainable Agriculture and Pollution Solutions

Building on the Success of Phase I (2022–2024)

The Environmental Pollution Programme in Vietnam (EPP-VN), led by the Global Alliance on Health and Pollution (GAHP) and funded by UK International Development through the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), has made significant strides in advancing sustainable agriculture and protecting public health in Vietnam.

During its first phase (2022–2024), GAHP worked alongside the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment (VACNE) and the Rainforest Alliance (RA) to address two major environmental challenges — the open burning of agricultural residues and the excessive use of pesticides. These practices have long affected soil health, air quality, and rural communities’ well-being.

Through intensive farmer training, research, and local innovation, GAHP and its partners trained over 12,500 farmers nationwide, achieving measurable impact: insecticide use on tea farms dropped by more than 80 percent, yields and biodiversity improved, and community-led alternatives such as mushroom cultivation, straw-to-fodder conversion, and microbial composting gained wide adoption. Demonstration farms in provinces such as An Giang and Dak Nong showcased how sustainable practices can increase productivity and profitability without harming the environment. Read more.

This pioneering phase proved that sustainable agriculture can be both profitable and sustainable when farmers are supported with training, evidence, and market incentives. It also reinforced GAHP’s leadership in helping countries align public-health protection with sustainable-development goals.

Phase II (2025–2026): Deepening Impact and Scaling Change

Building on this progress, GAHP is leading Phase II of EPP-VN, expanding efforts to scale proven models, strengthen institutional capacity, and advance policy alignment for long-term sustainability.

Under GAHP’s coordination, the new phase focuses on three thematic pillars:

1. Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Expanding RA’s IPM model to reach more than 11,000 farmers across coffee, tea, and pepper sectors, reducing reliance on hazardous pesticides while enhancing soil health and farmer livelihoods. Training modules will emphasize gender equality and social inclusion, empowering women and youth to participate in agricultural decision-making.

2. Reducing Agricultural Open Burning: In collaboration with VACNE, GAHP supports large-scale adoption of sustainable alternatives such as microbial decomposition of rice straw and production of bio-pellets. These solutions help cut greenhouse-gas emissions, improve air quality, and generate new income streams for farmers.

3. Integrated Solid Waste Management: Partnering with the Centre for Education and Development (CED), GAHP is supporting an inclusive, circular waste-management model that unites government, businesses, and communities—especially informal waste workers and women’s groups—to create replicable systems for other Vietnamese cities.

The programme embeds Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) principles in every activity, ensuring that pollution solutions are equitable and community-driven.

From Local Innovation to Global Leadership

Through its leadership and partnerships, GAHP is connecting science, policy, and community action in Vietnam to build a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future. The lessons from EPP-VN will not only strengthen national policies but also inform GAHP’s broader mission to empower developing countries to tackle pollution as a public-health priority.

By scaling what works, the Environmental Pollution Programme continues to demonstrate how local innovation, guided by evidence and inclusivity, can drive global progress toward a world free from pollution’s most harmful impacts.