Regional research “Agricultural innovations review in Sub-Mekong region countries” in the framework of the project “Network for Agriculture and Rural Development Think-tanks for Countries in Mekong sub-region” – November 2022 - April 2023.

Coffee is one of the key agricultural products of Vietnam, contributing significantly to the total export value of agricultural sector. However, the Vietnamese coffee industry is facing many challenges related to the linkage between production and processing, uneven coffee quality, unsustainable farming practices, and insecure livelihoods for farmers.

Recognizing these challenges, the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) and partners have developed the “Very large-scale area” (VSA) model based on a sustainable landscape approach in three key coffee-producing areas with an area of over 15,000 hectares in Dak Lak and Lam Dong provinces. The initiative aims to achieve 100% sustainable coffee and intercropping by 2025, manage resources effectively, eliminate deforestation, and improve farmers' income.

The model is a collaboration of multiple stakeholders, including:

  - A coalition of public and private sectors (including commercial and export businesses, suppliers, farmers) and other organizations.

  - Active participation and key role of the public sector.

  - Proactive participation of farmers (according to their shared commitments).

After two years of piloting in three models in Lam Dong and Dak Lak, the VSA model has shown positive impacts, contributing to increasing household income, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, maintaining sustainable land and water resources, and building a green, clean, and beautiful rural agricultural environment. The model has the potential to be applied in many other localities in Vietnam.

Click this link for detail information: Landscape coffee model in the Central Highlands