The young engineer and the journey of greening the mountains

After graduating from university, instead of starting a career in the city like most of his friends, the young Nung ethnic engineer Hoang Manh Tuan chose to return to the mountainous region of Vo Nhai to start a business. With the determination to develop a sustainable agricultural model, he has not only succeeded in producing biofertilizers and organic vegetables, but also contributed to opening a new direction for highland agriculture.

Organic vegetable products of AE Thai Nguyen Agriculture and Service Company Limited are present at fairs in the province.

Born in 1999, in the Vo Nhai area - where economic conditions are still difficult, Mr. Tuan soon realized the shortcomings in the traditional farming methods of the local people. The land is fertile, but is gradually becoming barren due to the overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Moreover, consumers are increasingly concerned about food safety, but local agricultural products have not met the demand. So after graduating from the Plant Science major (Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry), he returned to his hometown with the dream of doing clean agriculture.

In 2023, Hoang Manh Tuan established AE Thai Nguyen Agriculture and Service Company Limited, starting his entrepreneurial journey with two main products: Microbial fertilizers and organic leafy vegetables.

The first solution he implemented was to utilize local manure resources and process them using modern microbiological technology to create environmentally friendly organic fertilizer.

This product helps improve degraded soil and restore natural microorganisms in the soil - a key factor for sustainable agriculture.

Besides, he built a model of growing organic leafy vegetables according to the "5 no" process: No pesticides, no chemical fertilizers, no growth stimulants, no genetically modified varieties and no preservatives.

Thanks to strict farming processes, the company's organic vegetable products have a rich sweetness, long-lasting freshness, high nutritional content and are absolutely safe for consumers' health.

After less than two years of implementation, Mr. Tuan's model has shown both economic and social effectiveness. AE Thai Nguyen organic vegetable products are currently distributed in Vo Nhai commune and some urban areas in the province.

Besides production, he also built a smart communication strategy by utilizing social networks to promote and implement a points-to-gift exchange program to retain customers.

Connecting with vegetarian food stores and kindergartens also helps the product reach customers who are interested in health and safe food.

With the desire to contribute to changing people's farming habits, he proactively shared the process of producing organic vegetables and biofertilizers to people in need.

In addition, Tuan also committed to purchasing products if people produce according to technical standards. This has encouraged many local households to boldly switch from traditional to organic farming, reducing environmental pollution and increasing production efficiency.

Mr. Hoang Manh Tuan next to the organic vegetable garden.

Currently, some gardeners in Vo Nhai and neighboring communes have been experimenting with using AE biofertilizer for fruit trees and ornamental plants. Initial results have been positive, with trees growing well, leaves lush green, and pests and diseases being limited.

Mr. Tuan said: AE Thai Nguyen organic vegetables are grown according to strict processes, requiring workers to have knowledge about soil, water, fertilizer, pests and understand the natural growth mechanism of plants.

The soil and water sources are strictly controlled and are not contaminated with heavy metals or industrial wastewater.

In the long term, the company aims to cooperate with cooperatives in the region to build a closed clean agricultural product supply chain. This is a fundamental solution to develop a sustainable brand and improve competitiveness in the market.

Starting from scratch, starting a business in a mountainous area with many difficulties, Hoang Manh Tuan has been quietly "sowing green seeds" for a clean and sustainable agriculture.

Each bunch of organic vegetables and each bag of biofertilizer sold is a part of realizing the young engineer's green - clean - sustainable aspiration, expressing his desire to contribute his youth and knowledge to his homeland.

His contributions have been recognized through many awards such as: First Prize in the 2023 Ethnic Minority Youth Startup Creative Ideas Contest; Third Prize in the 2024 Phu Thuong Commune Youth Startup Creative Ideas Contest.

In addition, Tuan was awarded many certificates of merit in the patriotic emulation movement and was honored as "Advanced Youth following Uncle Ho's teachings".

To spread the organic vegetable model, in the near future, Tuan plans to expand the market, connect with reputable distributors, and at the same time professionalize the production process and develop the AE Thai Nguyen brand in a modern direction. He hopes to not only become a pioneer but also a source of green startup inspiration for the young generation in the highlands.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/kinh-te/202507/chang-ky-su-tre-va-hanh-trinh-gioi-xanh-dat-nui-3121757/