Multi-stakeholder action drives sustainable rice and shrimp farming through nature-positive solutions

Context: Multi-stakeholder collaboration is essential for food systems transformation as it harnesses diverse perspectives, expertise, and resources, enabling innovative solutions that address complex food systems challenges.

Partners: WWF, Minh Phu Social Enterprise, Local Government of Ca Mau Province, Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD)

Duration: Ongoing (three-year pilot started; expanded thereafter)

Location: Vietnam

Impact Achieved:

• Tripled local incomes within a year.
• Increased yields to 410 kg/ha for shrimp and 4.5 tonnes/ha for rice.
• Achieved Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification for Tri Luc Commune, the world’s first shrimp-rice model to do so.
• Reduced land subsidence by 20-40% and eliminated groundwater extraction and chemical use.
• Expanded model from 110 hectares to nearly 6,000 hectares, with plans to scale to 30,000 hectares through green finance.

Description:

Rising rice prices have pushed Viet Nam Mekong Delta farmers to year-round cultivation, worsening climate impacts and harming fish populations due to the use of chemicals and disruption of natural flooding cycles. The Integrated Rice and Shrimp Farming initiative in the Mekong Delta brings together farmers, businesses, civil society, and local governments to implement a nature-positive solution aimed at improving agricultural sustainability and climate resilience. The project is implemented by Minh Phu Social Enterprise, a sustainability-focused arm of the country’s largest shrimp producer, and is supported by the local government. The project encourages farmers to replace their third rice crop with shrimp farming during the dry season, using the natural water cycle to alternate between saltwater and freshwater. Farmers are cultivating ancient floating rice and native varieties in flooded fields, promoting soil rejuvenation and sustainable practices without chemical inputs or water manipulation. This shrimp-rice rotation model enhances soil health, increases biodiversity, and boosts local incomes. Within a year, yields and profits have tripled, while environmental benefits include reduced land subsidence and the elimination of chemicals and groundwater extraction. Following its success, the project is being scaled up with support from green finance investors. Engaging private sector investment and social enterprises to successfully run the project has significantly accelerated the adoption of nature-positive practices by mobilizing more resources and increasing the scale of impact.

More info here.

—

The Food Systems Call to Action is a global initiative that urges non-state actors and governments to take immediate steps to transform food systems by 2030. It highlights the urgent need for resilient, sustainable, and equitable approaches that support food security, protect nature, and address climate change. Through targeted actions and principles, the Call to Action emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity—ensuring that farmers, frontline workers, Indigenous communities, and other key players are at the forefront of decision-making and implementation.