IKI Brown Bag Lunch: Traceability systems against deforestation: A successful case study from Vietnam’s coffee sector

Since 2018, IKI’s Café-REDD project in Lang Biang Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam has implemented a pioneering, digital monitoring and traceability system for coffee production. This innovative approach ensures that the
jurisdiction remains deforestation-free, driven by transparent decision-making involving producers and public and private decision-makers.

As a result, forest cover in the project’s district has ceased at 85 %: over 2,853 hectares of monoculture coffee plantations have been transformed into sustainable agroforestry models, engaging over 3,355 rural upland smallholder farmers. This transition owes much to the traceability system and its ability to provide added value for stakeholders, now adopted by 15 companies and seamlessly integrated into the district’s intelligent operational centres. Coffee producers benefit through higher revenues due to sustainability certifications and increased market share through compliance with the EUDR. What challenges has Café-REDD encountered during implementation, and how were they overcome? What role do public-private-producer-partnerships play in Café-REDD’s success? What opportunities exist for scaling up Café-REDD’s initiatives in other regions? How does this project align with IKI’s vision?