Biomass Gasification Technology – Sustainable Energy Solution for Agri-Food Processing and Waste Management in Rural Areas of Vietnam (BEST)

Vietnam’s rural agri-food processing sector is largely driven by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which play a critical role in value addition, employment and rural livelihoods. However, most MSMEs continue to rely on coal, firewood and other inefficient combustion methods for processing, resulting in environmental pollution, adverse health impacts, higher production costs and inconsistent product quality. While substantial volumes of agricultural residues from agriculture and forestry production remain underutilised or are openly burned, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollution. This situation highlights a missed opportunity to convert abundant biomass resources into cleaner and more affordable energy solutions. In response to these challenges, the BEST project was designed to address the dual challenge of unsustainable energy use in agri-food processing and poor agricultural biomass waste management, while supporting Vietnam’s climate mitigation and green growth objectives.

The BEST project delivered measurable environmental and socio-economic impacts through the adoption of biomass gasification technology in rural agri-food processing. In parallel, it established a functioning multi-actor ecosystem that enables continued technology uptake and provides a strong foundation for sustainable scaling beyond the project period.

• 3,800+ agri-food MSMEs were reached and trained on VCBG technology.

• 500 agri-food processing MSMEs adopted biomass gasification in practice.

• 77,600 tonnes of CO2 emissions were reduced.

• 34,740 tonnes of biomass residues were effectively reused as renewable energy.

• 145 local mechanical enterprises and 14 biomass service providers were developed and strengthened, with 67% of adopting MSMEs expressing satisfaction with mechanical and biomass supply services.

• A functional VCBG ecosystem linking technology users, mechanical service providers and biomass suppliers was established and is operational at regional scale, providing a strong foundation for long-term sustainability and wider adoption.