V-SCOPE project dialogue on Vietnam's Sustainable Coffee and Pepper sectors

01/03/2024

On Feb 28, 2024, in Hanoi, the policy dialogue on the V-SCOPE Project, or "Increasing the sustainability, productivity, and economic value of coffee and black pepper farming systems and value chains in the Central Highlands region of Vietnam" led by the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development (IPSARD) in collaboration with CIRAD, united over 30 stakeholders from MARD, local authorities, experts, and international bodies to drive sustainable agriculture in Vietnam's coffee and pepper sectors, fostering cross-sector collaboration for impactful, sustainable advancements.

Dr. Estelle Biénabe, CIRAD, introducing the V-SCOPE to the various stakeholders. © ICRAF

Hanoi, Vietnam - A policy dialogue on sustainable production enhancement, value chain linkages, and the coffee and pepper sectors' resilience was held on February 28, 2024. The event marked the first central-level dialogue since the inception of the V-SCOPE Project, led by the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development (IPSARD) in collaboration with CIRAD.

The V-SCOPE Project, titled "Increasing the sustainability, productivity, and economic value of coffee and black pepper farming systems and value chains in the Central Highlands region of Vietnam," is a visionary initiative to improve livelihoods among smallholders and rural communities. By fostering sustainable natural resource management and more inclusive agri-food market chains, the project seeks to make a lasting impact. The project is implemented by CIRAD through staff secondment, in collaboration with the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF), and generously supported by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).

The dialogue convened approximately 30 key stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), local authorities from the Central Highlands, experts, regulators, research institutes, private companies, and international organizations. This diverse participation, with a strong presence of local departments and divisions of the MARD, highlights the dialogue's significance in shaping the future of Vietnam's agriculture toward sustainability.

Dr. Tran Thi Thanh Nhan, Senior researcher, IPSARD, main organizer of the event, led the discussion throughout the session. © ICRAF

Participants engaged in in-depth discussions and delivered recommendations, policy implications, and suggestions related to:

Policies to promote the wide application of effective bio-inoculants toward ensuring a safe and sustainable agriculture
Possibilities of revision for guidelines on irrigation toward adaptation to different agroecological zones in Central Highlands, now and under climate change forecast;
Recommendations on promoting linkages and agricultural product value chains for coffee and peppers in Viet Nam
Sustainable trends of the global coffee industry along with policy implications for Viet Nam in adapting to the evolving approaches by global coffee companies towards supply chain and sourcing area management, and their articulation with the EU regulation on deforestation free products.

Mrs. Hoang Hong Van, deputy head of Department of Cooperatives and Rural Development, MARD. © ICRAF

A highlight of the event was the presentation of the V-SCOPE Project's pilot experiments by Dr Clément Rigal (CIRAD) and Dr Liem Nguyen (PPRI). These provided practical evidence and recommendations within the project's research framework as a reference for sustainable agricultural policies and practices.

The dialogue successfully gathered many suggestions and perspectives, setting the stage for the V-SCOPE Project to refine its approach. The project aims to offer tailored recommendations that address the actual needs of the agricultural sector, with a focus on improving policies and programs. This initiative is expected to contribute significantly to the agricultural industry, especially in enhancing the sustainability and productivity of coffee and pepper production in Vietnam.