The Utz Kapeh program, initiated by a Dutch non-profit organization, promotes environmentally friendly and socially responsible coffee cultivation across Central and South America, Asia, and Africa. In Vietnam, the program is building a strong foundation for sustainable coffee production, linking farmers, producers, and consumers while raising the value and quality of Vietnamese coffee.
How the Utz Kapeh Certification Works
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Premium Pricing for Certified Coffee
When consumers buy Utz Kapeh-certified coffee, they are willing to pay a premium, rewarding farmers and producers who meet the program’s environmental and social standards.
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The added value goes directly to farmers and producers, encouraging them to maintain high-quality, responsible cultivation practices.
ACOM Brings the Program to Vietnam’s Smallholders
Initially focused on large-scale farms, the program had not reached smallholder farmers until Atlantic Commodities (ACOM) in Lộc Sơn Industrial Zone, Bảo Lộc (Lâm Đồng Province) became the first company in Vietnam to extend it to individual households.
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Around 600 households in Bảo Lộc, Bảo Lâm, and nearby areas have joined, seeing positive results.
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Farmers receive a price premium of about 300 VND per kilogram when they follow proper cultivation techniques.
Farmer-Friendly Approach
Phạm Khánh Hiệp, ACOM’s business manager, explained:
“With the same labor as before, if farmers care for their coffee properly, they earn more: their coffee beans are priced about 300 VND/kg above the market.”
Requirements for Responsible Coffee Production
Participating farmers must:
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Use fertilizers and pesticides responsibly,
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Protect the environment,
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Ensure family and social well-being,
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Comply with labor laws,
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Provide at least the legal minimum wage for workers.
Farmers share technical knowledge, manage fertilizer and pesticide use efficiently, and keep farms clean and safe by properly disposing of empty bottles and fertilizer sacks.
Economic and Social Benefits for Farmers
Guaranteed Market and Stable Income
ACOM guarantees purchase of certified coffee, allowing farmers to:
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Store coffee at the company depot,
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Withdraw cash anytime at market price plus 300 VND/kg premium,
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Avoid worries about price fluctuations or finding buyers.
Community Development and Accountability
Dutch experts from Utz Kapeh conduct annual audits to ensure:
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Farmers follow responsible production standards,
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The premium is used for family care and children’s education.
This system makes farmers accountable for both their product quality and their workers’ welfare.
Local Government Support and Sustainable Development
Recognizing the program’s benefits, Bảo Lâm District has launched a sustainable coffee development initiative:
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Rejuvenating old, low-yield coffee gardens,
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Establishing high-yield coffee nurseries with top-quality varieties from the Western Highlands Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute (WASI).
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Each commune aims to maintain 3–5 nurseries of 300–500 m², aligning perfectly with ACOM’s responsible coffee production goals.
This effort brings together four key actors: farmers, scientists, producers, and the state.
Building a Valuable Coffee Brand for Vietnam
Although ACOM is a 100% foreign-owned company, making it challenging to mobilize large numbers of smallholders, it has successfully built a strong base of participating farmers.
The hope is that more companies and provinces will adopt this model to:
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Build a valuable brand for Lâm Đồng coffee,
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Strengthen the reputation of Vietnamese coffee in global markets,
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Provide more opportunities for farmers to develop sustainable coffee production.
The Utz Kapeh responsible coffee production program demonstrates how sustainability, fair pricing, and environmental protection can work hand in hand. By connecting farmers, producers, and consumers, it offers a blueprint for the future of Vietnam’s coffee industry—one that rewards quality, protects the environment, and improves the livelihoods of coffee growers.