NESCAFÉ Plan wins Human Act Prize 'Award of the Year'

The Human Act Prize is a national award organised annually by Nhan Dan newspaper in collaboration with relevant organisations to honour individuals and organisations for their significant contributions to the community through prestigious, dedicated, and long-term social projects. Among them, the Human Act Prize 'Award of the Year' is the most notable, honouring the efforts to bring about positive and sustainable changes to the community, inspiring dedication and commitment for a better future for everyone.

Surpassing 128 projects in the preliminary round and 32 projects in the final round, the 'NESCAFÉ Plan' initiative was honoured to receive this award for its projects with long-lasting impacts on the community and the environment. The recognition is a testament to the practical values that the NESCAFÉ Plan has brought to Vietnam. By putting people at the centre of all activities, the scheme has created positive and sustainable marks on two aspects.

First, farmers are at the centre, as they directly manage resources and make farming decisions appropriate to their own specific circumstances. The NESCAFÉ Plan helps farmers recognise their role as an important link in the entire value chain who can create transformation. The shift of farmers to regenerative farming is one of the factors that have contributed to the success of the NESCAFÉ Plan. Such positive change also helps farmers to improve their livelihoods for themselves, their families, and their communities. Moreover, the scheme contributes to the sustainable development of the Vietnamese coffee industry, making Vietnam a point of reference for robusta coffee in the world.

During its 13-year journey of assisting farmers in Vietnam, Nestlé has conducted hundreds of training sessions for sustainable farming practices and techniques. The company also offers digital farm management tools so that farmers can proactively implement regenerative farming and manage farming households effectively. At the same time, the programme has also trained female leaders to promote women's empowerment and gender equality in the community and the supply chain.

Second, Nestlé’s agronomists have played a key role in the success. Many agronomists have worked closely with farmers to provide necessary support since 2011. This success is a result of more than a decade of working alongside the farming community. From just a few farming households, the NESCAFÉ Plan has connected with 21,000 farming households, helping them to increase their income by 30–100 per cent

Le Quoc Minh, editor-in-chief of Nhan Dan and head of the Executive Awards Organising Committee of the Human Act Prize, said, "10 years ago, farmers struggled with withered coffee fields every day, even though Vietnam was the second-largest coffee exporter in the world. The regenerative farming model has thoroughly changed that paradox. The NESCAFÉ Plan is implemented according to a methodical and comprehensive process, from improving varieties to changing farming practices and adopting responsible production in the factory, to create the world's number one robusta coffee beans by the hands of Vietnamese farmers."

The award reflects the recognition of experts from different areas of the plan's positive and comprehensive contribution, from building a thriving farmer community to shaping a green, sustainable, and climate-smart agriculture.

Khuat Quang Hung, director of Corporate Affairs at Nestlé Vietnam, said, "Our mission is to work closely with coffee farmers to help them cope with increasingly severe climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve their livelihoods. In particular, the NESCAFÉ Plan helps farmers understand that they are a sustainable link in the global value chain. Moreover, the scheme will continue to expand to 2030 and beyond, for a prosperous Vietnam and a more sustainable planet."

The NESCAFÉ Plan is a global initiative launched by the Nestlé Group and was first implemented in Vietnam in 2011. The NESCAFÉ Plan addresses the challenges of Vietnam’s coffee industry through specific and innovative solutions to drive regenerative agriculture, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve farmers' livelihoods, and protect the environment.

With a vision to become a global company, bridging local communities and leading in sustainable development, Nestlé Vietnam places people at the centre of its operation. In the 13 years of the NESCAFÉ Plan and 30 years of operations in the country, Nestlé has collaborated with the government, farming communities, and partners to implement practical initiatives, contributing to the development of Vietnam’s coffee industry and fostering self-reliance and prosperity in the agricultural sector.

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