The NESCAFÉ Plan has been active across Vietnam’s Central Highlands for over 13 years, significantly improving coffee farmers’ livelihoods. What’s next for Nestlé Vietnam?

Nestlé Vietnam chairman and CEO Binu Jacob

So far, the NESCAFÉ Plan has rejuvenated over 74,000 hectares of coffee farms by providing disease-resistant plantlets and promoting regenerative farming practices. Moving forward, we aim to go further by introducing traceability at the farm level.

This will allow us to identify and source coffee directly from specific farms to our factories. To support this, we’re investing substantially in processing capacity here in Vietnam, ensuring that locally grown coffee is added value before export, strengthening its impact on both the local and global markets.

Beyond enhancing the quality of life for farmers and coffee communities, why does Nestlé emphasise regenerative agriculture in coffee production, and how does it reduce emissions and promote sustainable coffee production?

We commit to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, and regenerative agriculture is essential to that mission. If well managed, it not only reduces greenhouse gases (GHGs) but can actually reverse emissions by capturing carbon in the soil. This approach enhances farmers’ livelihoods while positively impacting the planet, creating a sustainable agricultural model for the future.

15 years ago, coffee farms in Vietnam’s Central Highlands were largely monocultural, with vast areas devoted solely to coffee. Today, we’re promoting a more diverse approach with multi-cropping systems. Alongside coffee, farmers are cultivating forest trees, pepper, and avocado, while also using natural pest control, conserving water, and repurposing dried coffee leaves as organic mulch.

This approach enhances biodiversity and reduces pesticide use and enriches the soil, creating a more sustainable farming model that benefits both farmers and the environment.

Vietnam has a goal to increase coffee exports to $6 billion by 2030. What role does Nestlé play in this national ambition?

Currently, Nestlé purchases around 20 per cent of Vietnam’s coffee production. We plan to continue at this scale, partly because Vietnamese farmers are among the world’s most productive.

By investing in Vietnam’s coffee sector, we’re not only supporting the country’s export goals but also ensuring our supply chain remains strong with high-quality coffee.

What key initiatives has Nestlé presented at the Green Economy Forum and Exhibition (GEFE) 2024?

This year’s GEFE is bigger than ever, with a record number of companies and countries participating. For the first time, Switzerland, Nestlé’s home country, is heavily represented, highlighting the forum’s growing importance.

With the Deputy Prime Minister attending, it reinforces GEFE’s significance as a platform for collaboration. European companies here are setting a high standard - committing to net-zero goals and leading as models for other businesses in Vietnam to follow.

This year, we decided to spotlight regenerative agriculture. Agriculture often receives less attention compared to high-tech sectors like renewable energy, despite its significant potential to impact emissions. In Vietnam, agriculture accounts for one-third of GHG emissions, yet it lacks breakthrough technologies seen in other industries.

Regenerative agriculture, however, offers a powerful solution by bringing us back to basics to cut and even reverse emissions. Our role is to champion this message and help others understand that sustainable farming can make a substantial difference.