Vietnam's Work to Digitize Coffee Farms and Production Data for EUDR Compliance & Traceability – CoffeeTalk

In response to the demand for proof of the origin of exported coffee, Son La province is digitizing coordinates and boundaries of coffee production lots to enhance the management of its growing areas. This initiative is vital for businesses to comply with increasing export market regulations. Specifically, data has been gathered from over 3,432 hectares of coffee plantations in Nam Lau commune, covering more than 13,030 plots, enabling better verification of raw materials’ origins.

Son La province, known for its expansive coffee acreage (over 44,000 hectares), is actively mapping its growing areas and is focused on standardizing production information to improve quality control and traceability. This digitization effort aligns with the European Union’s regulations on products linked to deforestation, highlighting the importance of accurately identifying farming locations and boundaries.

The pilot project includes nearly 61,000 hectares of coffee in two communes—Nam Lau and Muong Chanh—and is a preliminary step toward building a comprehensive database on coffee-growing areas. Local authorities, as highlighted by Mr. Cam Bun Loc, chairman of Nam Lau’s People’s Committee, have utilized this database for better understanding and managing agricultural land, with a specific focus on tracing the origins of coffee production.

Currently, Son La maintains 169 area codes covering over 2,200 hectares, with codes assigned for both export and domestic purposes. The Department of Agriculture and Environment has digitized these codes while providing farmers and cooperatives with electronic log accounts to facilitate the transition from manual record-keeping to digital management. For traceability to be effective, it is essential that cultivation logs, materials used, and production methodologies are consistently updated.

Chairman Nguyen Dinh Viet emphasized that this digital transformation must accompany a shift in management practices to fully leverage data in agricultural production. The province aims to digitize at least 80% of its agricultural and environmental databases by 2030, integrating them with national databases to enhance information sharing among management entities.

To further this digitalization goal, 50 training sessions have been organized in various communes, teaching local officials how to survey and collect data effectively using specialized software. The training includes practical sessions for hands-on experience in GPS coordination, boundary delineation, and data verification.

The overall aim is to complete the data collection for coffee-growing regions by December 30, 2026, ensuring management decisions are informed by accurate, up-to-date information on land use and production conditions. The need for a standardized approach to production data is driven by market demands, fostering stronger connections between growers, cooperatives, and processing businesses.

Efforts to manage raw materials effectively have been demonstrated through collaborations, such as that between Phuc Sinh Son La Joint Stock Company and local farmers to create high-tech coffee plantations. Implementing GPS coordinates and recording production data in electronic logs enables better quality control and traceability, emphasizing that successful traceability involves comprehensive documentation of cultivation and processing practices, not just labeling.

Son La’s Plan No. 111/KH-UBND sets the framework for a standardized traceability system from 2026 to 2030. The aim is to integrate detailed product data into a centralized information system, with goals for significant quality improvement for local products. This comprehensive approach ensures that databases not only validate product origins but also provide critical insights into production cycles, yields, and management needs, ultimately enhancing market connectivity and informing strategic agricultural planning.

Read More @ Vietnam.vn