On the morning of November 21, 2024, National Economics University (NEU) hosted an international seminar to launch the project: “Climate Change Mitigation in Agroforest Landscapes through Sustainable Sourcing Policies (CAFSUS)” (Mitigating climate change in agricultural and forest land use through sustainable development policies).

An overview of the seminar

External participants attending the seminar included Do Thi Thu Ha, Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Statistics, General Statistics Office; Nguyen Trung Kien, Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD); Dr. Do Minh Phuong, Deputy Head of the Department of Digital Transformation and International Cooperation, MARD; Dr. Do Huy Thiep, Deputy Director of the Institute for Agricultural Market and Institution Research; Phan Thanh Hong, Helvetas Vietnam; Pham Quang Trung, Program Manager Vietnam, Global Coffee Platform; and representatives of coffee businesses, research institutes, universities, and academies across the country.

Representing the CAFSUS project were Dr. Neda Trifkovic, Prof. Dr. Rasmus Fensholt, and Prof. Dr. Niels Fold from the University of Copenhagen; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jeffrey Neilson from the University of Sydney; and project members from research partner organizations.

Representing NEU were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Bich, Dean of the Faculty of Statistics and a member of the CAFSUS project; Prof. Dr. To Trung Thanh, Head of the Department of Research Management; Dr. Dao Thanh Tung, Head of the Department of International Cooperation; Prof. Dr. Tran Tho Dat, Chair of the Scientific and Training Council; and leadership representatives from departments, faculties, institutes, and centers.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President of NEU, delivers remarks

On behalf of NEU’s leadership, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President, emphasized the important role of the CAFSUS project in addressing global challenges such as climate change. He also affirmed NEU’s commitment to researching and developing practical solutions that contribute to lasting benefits for society.

CAFSUS is a collaborative research project between NEU’s Faculty of Statistics and domestic and overseas partners, including the University of Copenhagen (Denmark), the University of Sydney (Australia), the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Ho Chi Minh City, the Development and Policies Research Center (DEPOCEN), and Hanoi University of Science and Technology.

The seminar served as a launch event to share information about the project and gather input from state regulatory agencies, researchers, and businesses on research assessing the impacts of European Union regulations governing the import and export of commodities and products that cause deforestation and forest degradation (EUDR).

Dr. Neda Trifkovic, CAFSUS Project Leader, presents an overview of the CAFSUS project

At the seminar, Dr. Neda Trifkovic, CAFSUS Project Leader, presented an overview of research on the impacts of the EUDR on coffee production. Participants also heard project members discuss the project’s main research components. In addition, presentations by representatives of MARD and Foreign Trade University offered insightful, practical perspectives that helped clarify core issues in promoting sustainable coffee production in Vietnam.

Prof. Dr. Rasmus Fensholt, University of Copenhagen, presents the research component on the impacts of the EUDR on the development and use of coffee-growing land and climate change

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Bich, Dean of the Faculty of Statistics, presents the research component on the impacts of the EUDR on household welfare and livelihood resilience

Prof. Dr. Niels Fold, University of Copenhagen, presents the research component on the impacts of the EUDR on the coffee value chain

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jeffrey Neilson, University of Sydney, presents the research component on the effectiveness of interactions between the EUDR and Vietnam’s anti-deforestation regulations.

Speaking at the seminar, Nguyen Trung Kien, representing the Department of International Cooperation—MARD’s focal point for the EUDR—outlined the Government’s views and action strategy for responding to the European Union Deforestation Regulation. He particularly emphasized the importance of raising public awareness, coordinating stakeholders, and strengthening technical and financial support mechanisms for farmers to meet the EUDR’s stringent criteria.

Nguyen Trung Kien, MARD, discusses the Government’s views and action plans for adapting to the EUDR in Vietnam

In addition, Dr. Pham Huong Giang, a lecturer at Foreign Trade University, presented research on farmers’ preferences and behavior in adopting sustainable coffee farming practices. The research not only identified obstacles in production practices but also proposed specific solutions to encourage farmers to adopt environmentally friendly farming methods. Dr. Giang also emphasized the role of training support programs and economic incentive policies in ensuring sustainability throughout the coffee value chain.

Dr. Pham Huong Giang, Foreign Trade University, delivers a presentation on farmers’ preferences for sustainable coffee farming practices in Vietnam

Contributions from these presentations helped the seminar move beyond theoretical aspects to connect with practice, offering feasible and highly applicable solutions to guide sustainable coffee production in Vietnam in the future.

The exchange of views and open discussion attracted considerable interest from participants. Contributions at the seminar will provide an important foundation for more extensive research within the CAFSUS project, while supporting effective policymaking to mitigate climate change.

Seminar participants pose for a commemorative photograph

At the close of the seminar, representatives of NEU and the CAFSUS project once again thanked participants for their enthusiasm and expressed their hopes for the project’s success in contributing to positive changes in agricultural and forest land-use management, environmental protection, and the livelihoods of farming communities.

With this positive start, CAFSUS promises to provide a solid foundation for advancing sustainable solutions not only in Vietnam but also globally.

Earlier, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President, and leadership representatives from University units welcomed the delegation of CAFSUS project experts for a cordial discussion. On behalf of the University’s leadership, Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President, thanked the delegation and expressed his hope that the guests would enjoy a successful and engaging seminar at NEU.

Leadership representatives of the two organizations exchange gifts and pose for a commemorative photo

Additional images from the seminar:

Article and photos: Faculty of Statistics & Department of Communications

This is an automated translation. If you notice any errors, please contact the Department of Communications, National Economics University at phongtruyenthong@neu.edu.vn.