Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam to support sustainable rice farming in Tay Ninh

Operating under the innovative EkoClimate concept, the project is part of the broader EkoCenter strategy, Coca-Cola’s flagship community engagement initiative, and underscores the company’s long-standing commitment to environmental sustainability and community development in Vietnam.

The EkoClimate initiative aims to support 42 smallholder rice farmers in transitioning to Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) techniques across 50 hectares of farmland in the upcoming rice season, spanning from May to August.

AWD is a proven water-saving method that reduces methane emissions by allowing rice fields to dry intermittently, instead of keeping them continuously flooded.

To further enhance these outcomes, the project will implement both AWD and Maximum Residue Limit techniques in rice production, to ensure food safety by setting pesticide limits while helping farmers reduce costs by 20-30 per cent per season, reducing waste, and preserving crop quality. This climate-smart approach minimises greenhouse gas emissions and increases farmers' incomes through lower production costs and premium prices.

To complement on-the-ground implementation, the programme also includes a Community Engagement Workshop designed for participating farmers and their families.

The workshop serves as a platform for raising awareness about sustainable agriculture, collecting feedback from the community, and co-developing localised climate resilience solutions.

In addition to the practical benefits for farmers, the project contributes to Vietnam’s growing momentum in developing low-emission rice as a strategic crop for the future.

As the Mekong Delta grapples with rising sea levels, soil salinity, and increasingly erratic weather patterns, shifting to sustainable models can play a pivotal role in national food security, and support climate action across the entire Mekong region.

Bui Khanh Nguyen, vice president of public affairs, communications, and sustainability at Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam, shared, “As Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam’s new Tay Ninh plant enters full operation, we are proud to create employment opportunities for the local workforce, and to continue delivering positive, lasting impacts to the surrounding communities.

This new initiative is an exciting expansion of our EkoCenter network. Through EkoClimate, we’re further extending our sustainability efforts to tackle climate challenges and empower local communities.”

The programme brings together strong expertise from both local and international partners.

Rize Vietnam, a Singapore-based agri-tech company with operational entities in Vietnam and Indonesia, plays a pivotal role in providing farmers with hands-on agronomic support and advisory services. Their mission centres around enabling sustainable farming while improving farmer livelihoods and climate resilience.

Meanwhile, Ben & Archie is a consulting and creative firm dedicated to driving sustainable innovation across Southeast Asia. It works with startups, corporates, and public institutions to design open innovation programmes, deliver strategic advisory, and create high-impact design solutions.

By bridging sectors and ecosystems, Ben & Archie transforms bold ideas into scalable and responsible ventures. Their mission is to accelerate innovation that is locally rooted, globally relevant, and built for the future.

Together, Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam, Rize, and Ben & Archie aim to pilot a replicable model for low-emission, climate-resilient rice farming, one that can be scaled to benefit more communities across the Mekong Delta and beyond.

“Rice farmers are the stewards of one of the world’s most important crops, yet they are both contributors to and victims of climate change. Supporting them is essential to securing a more sustainable and resilient food system,” said Siem Schreurs, head of partnership at Rize.

EkoClimate is the latest innovation within Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam’s EkoCenter initiative, which has operated in Vietnam since 2015.

Originally launched as hubs to provide underserved communities with access to clean drinking water, digital education, and entrepreneurial training, EkoCenters have since expanded their role in supporting sustainable development.

Flagship EkoCenters currently operate in Hanoi, Danang, and Ho Chi Minh City, and now with Tay Ninh, Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam is bringing new focus to climate action and sustainable agriculture in the Mekong Delta.

This transformation of the EkoCenter model highlights Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam’s long-term vision to create shared value by addressing local needs and contributing to national development priorities.

Whether by empowering women, supporting informal waste collectors, enhancing access to safe drinking water, or now enabling sustainable rice farming, Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam continues to place communities at the heart of its business strategy.

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