NESCAFÉ Plan - A journey of nearly 14 years of persistently changing coffee farming methods towards sustainability

Guide to farming according to the regenerative agriculture model, NESCAFÉ Plan "greens" 34,000 hectares of sustainable coffee, helping farmers double their income and increase the value of Vietnamese coffee. NESCAFÉ Plan is a global initiative, initiated by Nestlé Group, implemented in Vietnam since 2011. The program contributes to solving the challenges of the coffee industry in Vietnam through specific and innovative solutions, focusing on regenerative agriculture, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving farmers' livelihoods and protecting the environment. Regenerative coffee farming By putting people at the center of all activities, NESCAFÉ Plan creates many positive, sustainable impressions. By identifying farmers as the center, as the ones who directly manage resources and make farming decisions, NESCAFÉ Plan helps them realize their important role as "links" in the entire value chain, creating transformation. The change in coffee farming methods towards regeneration - with meaningful practices of conservation, soil fertility restoration, water saving, and attention to biodiversity - by farmers participating in the program is one of the factors that contribute to the success of the model. When farmers change their farming model towards regeneration, they can significantly improve their income and free up labor. For example, Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan (Ea Tieu commune, Cu Kuin district, Dak Lak province), since participating in the regenerative agriculture model, her income from each hectare of coffee has doubled, she has more time for her family, and can travel far twice a year. According to the general statistics of the program, the model helps coffee growers increase their income from 30 to 100%. The broader benefit of the regenerative agriculture model is the sustainable development of the Vietnamese coffee industry, making Vietnam a reference point for Robusta coffee in the world. Coffee products grown under this model all meet the 4C standard (The Common Code For The Coffee Community), one of the standards for bringing coffee to the European market. In the journey of more than 13 years of building a sustainable coffee farming community, the program has gathered more than 21,000 participating households with a total area of ​​more than 34,000 hectares of sustainable coffee. During this time, the program has organized 355,000 technical training sessions, training on sustainable coffee farming and supported and equipped with digital management tools for farmers to proactively practice regenerative agriculture and effectively manage their households. At the same time, through the goal of developing female farmer group leaders, the program has contributed to promoting women's empowerment and gender equality in the community and in the value chain by building a team of more than 30% female farmer group leaders.

From local model to national award An important factor contributing to the success of the program is the agricultural support staff of Nestlé Vietnam. The enthusiastic members have been with farmers in the field since 2011 until now. In the early days, the team patiently "begged" farmers to participate, after more than 13 years, more and more farmers have agreed to join the model when witnessing the success of their predecessors. With positive achievements in economic, social and environmental development, NESCAFÉ Plan has received a series of certificates of merit from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Most recently, at the national award - Human Act Prize 2024, NESCAFÉ Plan was honored in the highest category: "Award of the Year" Human Act Prize. Mr. Le Quoc Minh, Member of the Party Central Committee, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Head of the Organizing Committee of Human Act Prize 2024 shared at the award ceremony that more than 10 years ago, farmers struggled every day with withered coffee fields, while Vietnam was the second largest coffee export market in the world. "The regeneration model has completely changed that paradox. The program is implemented according to a methodical and comprehensive process, from improving varieties, changing farming practices, to responsible production in the factory, to create the world's number one Robusta coffee beans from the hands of Vietnamese farmers," Mr. Minh commented on NESCAFÉ Plan. NESCAFÉ Plan surpassed 128 quality projects in the preliminary round and 32 excellent projects in the final round, receiving the Human Act Prize "Award of the Year" for programs with great influence, creating long-term value for the community and the environment. Mr. Khuat Quang Hung, Director of External Affairs and Communications of Nestlé Vietnam, said: "We set ourselves a mission to closely accompany Vietnamese coffee growers to cope with increasingly severe climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve their livelihoods. In particular, helping farmers become a sustainable link in the global value chain." Mr. Hung also shared that the NESCAFÉ Plan does not stop at 14 years, but continues to expand its scale to 2030 and beyond. With the vision of becoming a "Global company connecting with local pioneers in sustainable development", Nestlé Vietnam always puts people at the center of all activities. During its 30-year journey in Vietnam and 14 years of implementing the NESCAFÉ Plan, the company has continuously cooperated with the Vietnamese Government, the farming community and partners to implement practical initiatives that not only contribute to promoting the development of the Vietnamese coffee industry but also spread the message of "Vietnam's sustainable coffee industry". inspiration for self-reliance and prosperity in agriculture. Info format: NESCAFÉ Plan's milestones over 14 years: Economic impacts: Supported more than 21,000 farming households with a total area of ​​more than 34,000 hectares of sustainable coffee. Increased farmer income by 30-150% through technical improvement and technology application. Distributed more than 74 million disease-resistant, high-yield seedlings, helping to replant more than 86,000 hectares of old coffee. Social impacts: Organized more than 355,000 training sessions, helping farmers improve farming techniques and household management. Established 274 farmer groups with 30% female group leaders, contributing to enhancing the role of women in the community. Supported the development of young farmers, building a successor generation for the coffee industry. Environmental impacts: Saved 40-60% of irrigation water and reduced 20% of chemical fertilizers. Conserving land, protecting biodiversity, and planting more than 2.3 million trees, contributing to absorbing and storing CO2. Source: https://nhandan.vn/nescafe-plan-hanh-trinh-gan-14-nam-ben-bi-thay-doi-phuong-thuc-canh-tac-ca-phe-theo-huong-ben-vung-post852505.html