Social entrepreneur Trang Tran, who has been named as one of the world's top 100 global thinkers by Foreign Policy, a Washington-based prestigious magazine of global politics, economics and ideas. — Photo Fargreen

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — A young Vietnamese social entrepreneur has been named as one of the world's top 100 global thinkers by Foreign Policy, a Washington-based magazine that covers global politics and economics.

It lists Trang Tran, CEO and co-founder of social enterprise Fargreen, among the 13 top global thinkers in a category called "Stewarts".

She has been named a leading global thinker for her outstanding contribution to addressing the issue of climate change.

Every year Vietnamese farmers burn millions of tonnes of rice straw to ready the field for the next crop, a practice that contributes to global warming.

Tran's solution to the problem was to use the straw to grow mushrooms.

Fargreen educates farmers in the use of straw as a material to profitably grow mushrooms, both reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving their livelihoods.

According to the magazine, partnering with 10 farmers in Hai Duong Province, Fargreen successfully harvested mushroom this spring.

It said each farmer generated US$2 of extra daily income – up from their normal earnings of less than $5.

If scaled up in Viet Nam and other rice-producing countries, the concept would improve livelihoods and cut back on noxious emissions, it said.

The magazine quoted Trang as saying she chose mushrooms not only because straw helps the fungus grow but also because she saw a business opportunity.

Viet Nam imports 80-90 percent of its mushroom requirements from other countries, including China.

The first harvest was bought up by Fargreen and sold to restaurants and households in Ha Noi, the magazine said.

Every year Foreign Policy recognises the world's pre-eminent thought leaders in its "100 Leading Global Thinkers".

The practice was started in 2009, and the magazine lists leaders, innovators, artists, government officials, and visionaries.

The editors select the 100 Global Thinkers based on their contributions over the past year and their ability to translate ideas into action that change and shape the world.

Pope Francis and American pop singer Akon are also in this year's list.

The magazine said: "These Global Thinkers wielded across diverse locales in hopes of cleaning up the planet. Their platforms may have varied, but their message was the same: The world must stop dithering on climate change before it's too late." — VNS