NESCAFÉ Plan

Regenerating Coffee, Empowering Communities

A long-term commitment to sustainable agriculture and farmer livelihoods in Vietnam

In a Nutshell

The NESCAFÉ Plan supports regenerative coffee farming practices to improve soil health, reduce emissions, and increase income for smallholder farmers. 

Location: Central Highlands, Vietnam 

Sector: Agriculture, Coffee Cultivation 

Beneficiaries: 21,000 farming households, 274 farmer groups

The Challenge

Soil degradation & biodiversity loss from chemical farming

Vulnerability to climate change in coffee heartland

Market demands for traceability (e.g., EUDR compliance)

Farmers lack knowledge, tools, and financial capacity to transition to sustainable practices

Regenerative Agriculture

Drought- & disease-resistant seedlings
Intercropping shade trees (jackfruit, pepper, timber)
Organic composting & soil moisture retention
20% reduction in chemical fertilizer use

Technology & Traceability

Koltitrace: digital platform tracking field-level data
Satellite imagery + electronic farm logs
Collaboration with Agrinest to measure CO₂ storage

Community Empowerment

274 core farmer groups, 30% women leaders
Peer-to-peer learning via “farmer teaching farmer” model
Inclusion of youth in sustainable agriculture

Implementation Strategy

Training: In-field demos + digital modules
Measurement: 11 regenerative criteria + third-party audits
Financing: Linkages with Nestlé purchase channels
Capacity Building: Tools, manuals, videos tailored by region

Key Results (2011–2023)

Relevant SDGs

Implementing Partners

Lead:

Nestlé Vietnam

Partners:

• Western Highlands Agriculture & Forestry Science Institute (WASI)

• Koltiva (Koltitrace)

• Agrinest (carbon measurement)

• 4C & Rainforest Alliance

• Farmer cooperatives

Call to Action

Explore this and more case studies on the Sustainability Hub for Educators – RMIT Vietnam

What can we learn from this case?

What key sustainable practices were applied in this case?
How did the stakeholders work together to achieve impact?
Which SDGs were addressed, and how?
What challenges were faced, and what strategies were used to overcome them?
What lessons can you apply to your own context (school, project, community)?

Quick Quiz / Discussion Prompts:

In 2–3 sentences, summarize the intervention model in this case.
List two measurable impacts achieved by the project.
Which of the SDGs is most closely linked to this case, and why?
Do you see any limitations in this project? What could be improved?