From Bac Lieu to Wageningen:

Nguyễn Hồng Minh’s Journey with Ecoshrimp

When Nguyễn Hồng Minh, a student of Environmental and Resource Management at Can Tho University, looks at the abandoned shrimp ponds of her hometown in Bac Lieu, she does not see waste — she sees opportunity. That vision led to the creation of Ecoshrimp, a pioneering project that transforms unused supporting ponds into biological water filtration systems, reducing pollution while offering farmers additional income.

Hong Minh’s journey

Hong Minh’s journey has already earned recognition. She has represented Vietnamese youth as a speaker at the Youth-Led Initiatives: Tackling Environmental Challenges in Agri-Food Systems webinar, won the EY4F Video Competition 2024, and most recently, led her team to victory in the Changemaker Challenge 2025 competition with their project EcoShrimp.

Born from a field trip back to Bac Lieu, her project EcoShrimp quickly became more than a class project. she and her team discovered that many households were underutilising supporting ponds and relying heavily on chemical treatments that left untreated wastewater flowing back into the environment. Witnessing these challenges first-hand, they were driven to design a solution that connects scientific knowledge with local practice, enabling farmers to adopt a greener, more sustainable aquaculture system.

This September, she and her team Ecoshrimp will bring their vision to the global stage at the grand finals of Food Systems Innovation Challenge in the Netherlands.

“EcoShrimp is not just an academic exercise, but a meaningful contribution to our community. We are children of the sea, and we feel a strong responsibility to give back.”

— Hong Minh, Leader of EcoShrimp

Challenges…

While developing Ecoshrimp, Minh soon realised that the hardest challenge was not technical, but human.

“Changing the mindset of local farmers is never easy, especially in such a high-risk industry as shrimp farming,” she admits. For decades, communities have relied on conventional practices; convincing them to embrace a new system requires patience, persuasion, and ongoing support.

Yet, Minh recalls the first field trip to Bac Lieu as a turning point: “Meeting farmers and businesses directly gave us both practical insights and a deep sense of purpose. It also brought our team closer, bonded not only by challenges but also by laughter and shared experiences.”

Refining sustainability

EcoChrimp became a living lesson for Minh about the true meaning of sustainability.

“For me, sustainability can not come from one side alone. It requires the connection of science, community and context.

I once thought that a strong model alone could create change. But working with people taught me that real solutions must integrate environmental, economic, and social dimensions to be truly effective.”

This holistic perspective has since shaped her vision for the future of the Mekong Delta — a region deeply threatened by pollution, climate change, and unsustainable practices.

As a Youth Ambassador for EmpowerYouth4Food, Minh often shares her journey with other young people aspiring to make an impact. Her message is simple but powerful:

“Never underestimate the power of small beginnings. Even the largest trees start from a single seed.

Share your ideas with others — you never know who might become your teammate, supporter, or ally.

Connections don’t just bring resources, they also refine your vision and turn it into concrete action.”

Ecoshrimp is proof that when science, empathy, and community come together, local solutions can inspire global change 🌱

👉 Support Nguyễn Hồng Minh and Ecoshrimp as they represent Vietnam at the Food Systems Innovation Challenges Grand Finale in the Netherlands this September.

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Qiu Hao