Page 38 - Agricultural innovation

4.5. Model of Regenerative Agriculture of Nescafe Vietnam
4.5.1. General inforation

Coffee imported from abroad into Vietnam is grown in many regions but the most concentrated
is the Central Highlands region with fertile soil and favorable climate. Vietnamese coffee has the
world’s leading export volume. With the massive expansion of the area, many unsuitable lands are
also planted with low-yield and poor-quality coffee. On the other hand, water resources are also over-
exploited along with the conversion of natural forest land to production forests, causing drought and
water shortages, making income from this crop decrease and people’s income affected. The coffee
monoculture for a long time has brought many consequences on the living environment. It is the
consumption of groundwater to irrigate plants, soil erosion, discoloration, or pesticide residues that
arise in the environment. Because of these same phenomena, coffee yields are often reduced over
time, threatening the livelihoods of coffee growers. The quality of coffee gardens decreases due to
aging and overexploitation, so the yield decreases. The Vietnamese government has a program to
replant coffee trees to overcome this situation. Responding to the change in coffee farming methods
to be more sustainable than the NESCAFÉ Plan initiated in 2011, Nestlé Vietnam has strengthened
public-private cooperation with partners such as Central Highlands Agro-Forestry Science Institute,
Provincial Agricultural Extension Centers, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and other
organizations and partners. The NESCAFÉ Plan program has successfully connected with farmers in
the Central Highlands, improved the quality of Vietnamese coffee beans, applied sustainable farming
methods, replanted old coffee trees, and increased incomes of farmers, ensuring livelihoods as well as
increasing the power of female farmers.
At the same time, regenerative agriculture improves soil quality and fertility as well as protects
water resources and biodiversity. The improvement of soil quality also helps to increase the ability to
absorb carbon gas into the soil, reducing emissions.

4.5.2. Model development

The model of “regenerative agriculture” clearly identifies three main resources as land, water and
biodiversity. This is at the heart of comprehensive restoration efforts. Especially, the most important
thing in this model is that farmers must be the center of the model. Farmers are the ones who manage
resources and make decisions about activities appropriate to their own particular circumstances.
This model not only helps Central Highlands farmers reduce costs, increase productivity, quality
and profits, but also brings greater values. It is reducing chemical use, reducing greenhouse gas
emissions, conserving and restoring agricultural land and ecosystems, bringing great benefits to the
environment and society.
The NESCAFE project in Vietnam has undergone a long journey with the following
historical milestones:
• 2010: The global project NESCAFÉ Plan was implemented by Nestlé Group.
• 2011: The NESCAFÉ Plan project was officially launched in Vietnam, piloted in the 3 provinces
of Dak Lak, Lam Dong and Dak Nong.
• 2012: Expanding the NESCAFÉ Plan program to Gia Lai province, expanding key coffee growing
areas in the Central Highlands, including Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Gia Lai and Lam Dong provinces.
• 2015: Application of software FARMS and FFB (Digital Farmer’s Diary) to manage live data of
each farm, in order to provide timely support to each household.
• 2019: Received a certificate of merit from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development with
excellent achievements in contributing to Vietnam’s coffee industry and sustainable agricultural

Agricultural Innovation Review in CLV Countries 31