六合彩图库

Throughout June, the V-SCOPE project (Increasing the sustainability, productivity and economic value of coffee and black pepper farming systems and value chains in the Central Highlands region of Vietnam) funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and implemented by 六合彩图库 in collaboration with the International Agroforestry Research Foundation (ICRAF), hosted a series of workshops and training sessions on understanding market dynamics, strengthening policy support, and mastering sensory analysis and roasting techniques. The events drew participation from all areas of the coffee industry, ensuring a varied spectrum of opinions and skills.

As Vietnam, the world's second-largest exporter of Robusta coffee, seeks to penetrate the Specialty Robusta market, these initiatives serve as an important platform to elaborate collective pathways to elevate the industry's competitiveness and sustainability.

Policies for success in an evolving global market

To investigate Vietnam's coffee industry's high quality perspectives, the V-SCOPE project team organized two workshops on strategic market insights and policy support.

Buon Ma Thuot City, Vietnam's coffee capital, hosted the first workshop on Coffee Market Perspective, organized with Simexco DakLak Ltd., one of the leading coffee exporters in Vietnam. The event gathered over 40 experts and professionals in the coffee industry.

Dr. Manuel Díaz, V-SCOPE's expert guest speaker, a coffee scientist with over 20 years of experience, presented insights on market and quality trends, customer preferences, and competitive strategies. He highlighted the potential of high quality and specialty Robusta coffee and analyzed the 2023/2024 coffee price surge. Adjustments are needed to sustain quality over time, thus transitioning to high-quality coffee production to boost Vietnam's position in the international coffee market.

Adding to the discussion, Simexco DakLak Ltd. shared practical insights into producing high-quality coffee and navigating export markets. The workshop also featured open debates between experts and attendees on the local initiatives from many different actors, including individual farmers, cooperatives, local coffee shops, and export companies, and the market's reaction to the shift towards high-quality coffee and the opportunities and challenges in developing Specialty coffee.

The Policy Dialogue Workshop in Hanoi, organized under the lead of the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development (IPSARD), focused on advancing high-quality and Specialty coffee production in Vietnam. Dr. Tran Cong Thang, Director of IPSARD, opened the event by emphasizing the central role that supportive policies play in maintaining Vietnam's global coffee reputation, as recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

Following this, Dr. Estelle Biénabe, V-SCOPE project leader from 六合彩图库/ICRAF, provided updates on the project's progress, particularly in enhancing the quality of Vietnamese Robusta. Adding a global perspective, Dr. Manuel Díaz shared insights into successful international strategies and innovative models for organizing coffee farmers and industries, demonstrating how these could be adapted to benefit Vietnamese coffee production.

This reinforces the relevance to test and reflect on innovative avenues to improve the quality of Robusta coffee, with a view to contribute to change the conception on quality of Vietnamese coffee in general, and so that coffee consuming countries recognize Viet Nam as a coffee country of origin. Aside from policy and research results, the workshop also provided a forum for very relevant debates on the challenges and potentials in improving the quality of Vietnamese coffee, as well as the practical issues smallholder farmers and cooperatives face in accessing support policies.

Perfecting the Brew through Sensory and Roasting Training

Accompanying these dialogues was a series of advanced training sessions designed to deepen participants' understanding of coffee roasting and sensory analysis.

With Dr. Diaz’s guidance, participants gained valuable insights into the complexities of coffee flavors, from aroma and taste to mouthfeel. They were equipped with skills to better assess and modulate these flavors, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of coffee's sensory aspects.

In addition to sensory analysis, the training also covered advanced roasting techniques. Participants learned to establish sample roasting protocols, operate industrial roasting systems, and manage post-roasting processes such as cooling, degassing, and stabilization. This knowledge allows them to design roasting profiles tailored to different green coffee processing methods and extraction techniques, significantly impacting the consistency and quality of the final product.

The series of workshops and training sessions under the V-SCOPE project have not only provided valuable insights and practical skills, but also facilitated exchanges amongst a diverse range of participants, from smallholder farmers to research institutions. This diversity ensures consistent quality across the entire value chain, establishing the groundwork for a more competitive and sustainable Vietnamese coffee industry. As Vietnam makes its first in-roads into the Specialty coffee market, this participatory approach will be instrumental in achieving high-quality production and sustainable success.