Protecting the Environment through a Sustainable Coffee Value Chain

To improve coffee quality and meet rising consumer demand, Lam Dong’s agricultural sector has implemented a range of sustainable farming solutions. These initiatives focus on enhancing product quality, cutting carbon emissions, and ensuring environmental balance.

In 2023, the Lam Dong Agricultural Extension Center, in cooperation with the Western Highlands Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute (WASI), launched a “Climate-Smart Coffee Cultivation” model. The program selected farms that intercropped fruit trees with coffee and maintained vegetation cover to meet environmental, social, and economic criteria.

One example is the family of Mr. Pham Duy Hong in Thuan An commune, who intercropped durian with coffee while maintaining ground cover. With technical guidance, his farm achieved better results. “Previously, I relied on experience and saw limited economic benefits. Since joining the program, I’ve applied climate-smart techniques, and the crops have grown better, bringing more stable income,” he shared.

Similarly, Mr. Tran Van Viet in Duc Trong commune managed weeds naturally without herbicides. This improved soil fertility, boosted carbon sequestration, increased biodiversity, and enhanced water quality. “Natural weed management benefits the soil, protects workers’ health, and avoids pollution. As a result, profits are higher, and crops are more resilient to adverse weather,” he explained.

According to Mr. Le Quoc Thanh, Director of the National Agricultural Extension Center, sustainable coffee production requires responsible use of agricultural inputs and Integrated Plant Health Management (IPHM), focusing on six elements: healthy soil, healthy crops, smart investment, ecosystem protection, field monitoring, and professional, responsible farmers.

Mr. Nguyen Van Chuong, Director of the Lam Dong Agricultural Extension Center, stressed that intercropping and maintaining vegetation cover are vital for climate adaptation. Farmers are gradually shifting cultivation practices, applying standardized care techniques, and adjusting fertilizer and irrigation regimes to maintain soil fertility.

Dr. Nguyen Xuan Hoa, Head of the Farming Systems Department at WASI, said the institute has implemented three climate-smart coffee models in Lam Dong. These models have improved soil fertility, reduced soil-borne diseases, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and guided farmers toward more efficient fertilizer use, water-saving irrigation, and higher productivity. By 2025, WASI plans to develop standardized fertilization and irrigation protocols for both intercropped and monoculture coffee farms, which will then be transferred to local communities.

Mr. Le Quoc Thanh also warned that coffee expansion often comes at the expense of forest cover, which threatens ecosystems, reduces carbon sequestration, and diminishes water retention. To address this, Lam Dong has introduced projects that provide farmers with direct training and technical guidance, promoting internationally certified sustainable coffee practices such as Rainforest Alliance, UTZ, Fair Trade, and Organic. “These methods not only protect soil and water but also enrich farm ecosystems and safeguard farmers’ and communities’ health by reducing harmful chemicals,” he emphasized.

Currently, Lam Dong has more than 323,000 hectares of coffee, including over 310,000 hectares under cultivation, with an estimated annual output of over 1 million tons. Export turnover reaches USD 450–500 million annually, with the EU market accounting for 45–50%.

Sustainable coffee value chain development has become an inevitable pathway for Lam Dong, ensuring both the global competitiveness of its coffee brand and the balance between economic growth, social development, and environmental protection.