Sustainable Coffee Production on the Rise
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Organic farming is emerging as a sustainable solution for Vietnam’s coffee industry—not only because of rising market value and global consumer demand, but also for its proven benefits to human health, biodiversity, and ecosystem balance. Across Đắk Lắk Province, cooperatives are stepping up efforts from cultivation to post-harvest processing to bring the highest-quality organic coffee to both domestic and international markets.
Quyet Tien Cooperative: A Decade of Organic Growth
Founded in 2015 in Quang Hiep Commune, Cư M’gar District, the Quyet Tien Agricultural Service Cooperative started with 32 members managing 46 hectares of coffee, pepper, and fruit crops such as avocado, durian, and passion fruit. From the beginning, the co-op has focused on organic cultivation:
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Expert guidance: Regular training sessions with provincial agricultural researchers.
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Eco-friendly practices: Limiting chemical fertilizers and pesticides for sustainable production.
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High-yield varieties: Replanting with top Robusta clones such as TR4 and TR9.
Impressive Results
After nearly 10 years, Quyet Tien has expanded to 154 members (including 56 associated households) cultivating over 230 hectares, with registered capital close to 600 million VND. Its coffee now holds a 3-star OCOP (One Commune One Product) certification, targeting 4 stars by the end of 2024.
The co-op purchases members’ coffee at 5,000–10,000 VND/kg above market price, supplying 500–700 tons annually to markets across the Mekong Delta—Cần Thơ, Long An, and Đồng Tháp.
To improve post-harvest handling, Quyet Tien invested more than 3.6 billion VND in a 1,000 m² warehouse, drying yard, and processing facility. Early in 2024, it also released 100 tons of bio-fertilizer made from locally sourced pig manure, cutting input costs and reducing environmental impact.
Quynh Tan Cooperative: Building an International Coffee Value Chain
In Buôn Trấp Town, Krông Ana District, the Quynh Tan Trading and Service Cooperative has built a fully integrated coffee value chain and earned international Rainforest Alliance certification.
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Membership: 105 members and 263 affiliated farming households.
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Strict standards: A complete ban on chemical pesticides and fertilizers from planting through processing.
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Knowledge transfer: Co-op leaders and members study model farms that meet international standards to continuously upgrade techniques and environmental practices.
Certified Sustainable Coffee
Currently 67 members cultivate 97 hectares of Rainforest Alliance-certified coffee, producing 300+ tons of fresh cherries each year. The co-op purchases the cherries at 8,000–10,000 VND/kg above the market price, motivating more farmers to join the sustainable production chain and protect their environment.
Since 2022, Quynh Tan has also turned coffee husks and other agricultural by-products into bio-fertilizers and fish-based nitrogen fertilizers, reducing input costs by roughly 30% and ensuring coffee free of heavy-metal residues.
Driving Vietnam’s “Green Coffee” Future
Global demand for “green, clean, and safe” coffee is rising rapidly. By promoting organic farming and value-chain production, Đắk Lắk’s cooperatives are:
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Increasing farm incomes through premium prices and stable buyer networks.
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Protecting soil, water, and biodiversity while reducing chemical use.
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Positioning Vietnamese coffee for higher value in international markets.
These pioneering models show that organic coffee production is not just an environmental choice but a profitable, sustainable path forward—helping Vietnam enhance its coffee brand while improving livelihoods for thousands of farming households.