VICOFA Vietnamese Coffee and Cocoa Leaders visit 4C Headquarters

On Friday, October 11th, 4C had the pleasure of hosting a delegation from the Vietnam Coffee Cocoa Association (VICOFA) with representatives of VICOFA board and VICOFA members such as Vinhhiep Company Limited., Cat Que Coffee co., Olympic Coffee Jsc., and the Community Development Centre – CDC (CDC). The visit, led by Mr. Nguyen, Nam Hai, President of VICOFA, marked a significant step in strengthening our relationship with the Vietnamese coffee and cocoa industry.

Vietnam plays a crucial role in the global coffee landscape. As the world’s second-largest coffee producer, with 17% of global production in 2023-2024 (according to USDA info), Vietnam is a key player in shaping the industry. This significance extends to sustainable coffee production, as Vietnam holds the top spot for 4C-certified coffee (until December 2023). With 36% of all 4C-certified coffee and a staggering 59% of the world’s 4C-certified Robusta grown there, Vietnam is a leader in ethical and sustainable coffee practices.

During the meeting, we engaged in fruitful discussions on a wide range of topics, including:

  • EUDR implementation: Exploring strategies to ensure compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). 28 Vietnamese 4C certified units have successfully completed the EUDR compliance checks, demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainable and responsible coffee production. With 12 more units currently undergoing assessment and an additional 50% expected to complete the process soon, Vietnam’s 4C certified coffee sector is well-positioned to meet the stringent requirements of the EU Deforestation Regulation.
  • Human Rights Due Diligence requirements: Understanding the requirements and learning from good experiences from MCS (Grievance mechanism, Child labour, etc.) and cooperation between 4C and Meo Carbon Solutions to explore the cooperation on ground with Vietnamese stakeholders in coffee sector
  • Market requirements: Understanding the evolving demands not only for European market, but also the US and Japan market, for Vietnamese coffee products.
  • Strengthening system regulations: Exchange the practical experiences for sustainable coffee standards on the field, which is valuable input for 4C to strengthen system requirements in the future.
  • Potential collaboration: Exploring potential partnerships with VICOFA members with 4C Services, Meo Carbon Solutions, and GRAS – Global Risk Assessment Services to drive positive change in the coffee and cocoa sector. 4C and VICOFA are pleased to concretise their cooperation in the near future to join the organisation of the 4C Regional Stakeholder Conference for Vietnam and the region, to be held in December this year.

This visit underscores 4C’s commitment to fostering strong partnerships with key stakeholders in the coffee industry. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with VICOFA and working together to promote sustainable and ethical coffee and cocoa production.