Responsible Use of Agro-inputs in Vietnam
This Collective Action Initiative seeks to improve the responsible use of agro-inputs in Vietnam’s coffee production through developing best practices based on research and by introducing alternatives. The initiative will thus share sustainable weed management practices in order to reduce environmental pollution, improve the well-being of farmers, reduce costs of production and meet regulatory requirements at coffee destination countries.
Improper application of agrochemicals may incur unnecessary costs for farmers at origin and challenge the industry to meet regulatory requirements at destination. In addition, the main import markets have tightened their food safety regulations. For example, the maximum residue level for glyphosate, a popular herbicide, has been set at 1.0 mg/kg and 0.1 mg/kg in the US and EU respectively. Any container exceeding these levels cannot be exported. This seriously affects the trading, roasting and retail business from origin to coffee on the shelf. As such it calls for industry wide and pre-competitive action to restrict the use of hazardous agro-inputs and develop alternative cost-efficient plant protection practices.
GCP’s Collective Action Initiative ‘Responsible Use of Agro-Inputs for Coffee’ is now responding to challenges and opportunities regarding agro-inputs with a five-year initiative in Vietnam. The initiative’s objective is to improve the responsible use of agro-inputs in Vietnam’s coffee production through developing best practices based on research and by introducing alternatives. The initiative will thus share sustainable weed management practices in order to reduce environmental pollution, improve the well-being of farmers, reduce costs of production and meet regulatory requirements at coffee destination countries.
The initiative will focus on two complementary and related intervention levels:
- Conduct field research to understand current practices and implications of agro-input use with the aim to develop and introduce suitable alternatives.
- Reduce the use and improve the application, storage and disposal of agro-inputs, through awareness raising and dialogues with farmers and stakeholders. Based on these results, policy recommendations will be developed in coordination with the Vietnamese Coffee Coordination Board and submitted to the government.
