On March 30, the Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Association (Dak Lak province) organized an expert consultation workshop with the theme "Robusta Quality & Market Transformation".
The event attracted more than 100 leading experts, businesses and organizations in the domestic and international coffee industry to participate. Thereby, contributing to promoting Robusta Vietnam to enter a new stage - proactively defining quality.
According to the Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Association, for decades, Robusta has been a pillar of the global coffee supply chain, accounting for more than 40% of world production. Vietnam is currently the largest Robusta producer in the world, with export turnover reaching about 8.92 billion USD per year.
However, a paradox still exists: Robusta has a large output but does not have a corresponding "voice" of quality.
While Arabica has built a standard system and an internationally recognized "language" after decades of development, Robusta is still rated disjointedly. The product lacks a common reference system, making the value not fully reflected.
Mr. Trinh Duc Minh - Chairman of Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Association - said that new international requirements such as EUDR are forcing the coffee industry to be transparent about the entire supply chain, from growing areas to exports.
Building a quality standard system associated with data and traceability is no longer an option, but has become a mandatory condition for survival and development.
The conference is not only a professional event, but also considered the starting point for the formation of a new reference system, in which physical, sensory and data indicators are integrated into a scientific and transparent evaluation framework.
“Robusta Vietnam aims to build its own quality standards, develop a sensory dictionary system, establish a long-term research data platform and gradually bring Robusta out of the raw material position, advancing into the high-value segment," Mr. Minh emphasized.
From a business perspective, Mr. Thai Anh Tuan - General Director of Simexco Dak Lak - commented: "The growth of Vietnam's coffee industry in the coming period cannot come from expanding output, but must come from increasing value.
To do that, three pillars are needed: standards, transparency and trust. Hopefully, this will be a turning point to help reposition Robusta Vietnam – from a'large supply' to a'high-value supply with a voice in the global market'”.
