UCC Launches Regenerative Coffee Pilot in Vietnam
Daily Coffee News Staff| August 19, 2026 UCC Japan Co., Ltd. press release photo. Japanese coffee giantUCCis launching a regenerative coffee pilot program in Vietnam, testing whether farm practices such as shade planting, cover cropping and biochar-based compost can improve coffee-tree growth and yields while reducing environmental impacts. The project is being conducted with Atlantic Commodities Vietnam Ltd., or Acom, the Vietnam subsidiary of multinational green coffee companyEcom. UCC described Acom as one of its sustainable coffee sourcing partners, with existing farmer and agricultural support networks. The companies plan to establish pilot farms with the overarching goals of boosting tree growth and yields, reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers and helping better withstand climate stress. The project does not yet appear to be tied to large-scale green coffee sourcing. UCC did not announce targets for farmer participation, investment or green coffee volumes, although the company said 1,757 shade-tree seedlings had already been distributed to 38 farmers. UCC Japan Co., Ltd. press release photo. In aJapanese-language announcement, UCC said findings from the pilot will be shared with local producers with the goal of improving resilience across the region. The pilot is part of UCC’s broader sustainability goals. The company says it is working toward100% sustainable sourcing for its own brandsof coffee products by 2030, while aiming for carbon neutrality by 2040. UCC has identified Vietnam as one of four priority coffee-producing countries for deeper sustainability engagement, alongside Brazil, Tanzania and Uganda. Vietnam is theworld’s largest robusta producerand the second-largest coffee-producing country overall, making it a key origin for large commercial roasters. DCN recently reported that Vietnam’s green coffee production is forecast to rise to 32.5 million 60-kilogram bags in market year 2026/27, following a period of high prices. Yet Vietnam’s coffee sector is also under pressure from rising temperatures, shifting rainfall, declining
Daily Coffee News Staff| August 19, 2026 UCC Japan Co., Ltd.
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