Regenerative agriculture boosts Vietnam's coffee sector

At a recent seminar on regenerative agriculture, industry and development officials highlighted how the approach is helping Vietnam’s coffee industry meet tightening sustainability standards and improve farmer livelihoods. Wouter Melis Van Ravenhorst of Control Union Vietnam said the sector faces increasingly strict "green barriers" from importing markets, while Hoàng Thị Thu Hương of GIZ noted that Vietnam’s 2025‑2035 emission‑reduction plan designates coffee as a key crop for lowering greenhouse‑gas output. The transition supports compliance with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and opens future carbon‑credit opportunities.

Nestlé Vietnam’s NESCAFÉ Plan, operating since 2011, has guided farmers toward three core practices—soil health, water management and biodiversity. Soil measures such as ground‑cover crops and organic fertiliser can cut chemical fertiliser use by 20‑40 %. Water‑saving techniques reduce irrigation from 700‑1,000 L per plant to about 400 L while maintaining yields. Intercropping with pepper or fruit trees enhances biodiversity and diversifies income. Reported farmer incomes have risen 30‑150 % compared with conventional coffee‑only production. Participants stressed that the main challenge is making new concepts accessible to growers.