Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and Nestlé (Thai) Ltd. celebrated the conclusion of an eight-year public-private partnership designed to transform the livelihoods of Robusta coffee growers.
The collaboration has successfully scaled up regenerative agriculture practices, benefiting over 2,200 smallholders across southern Thailand.
The partnership, which began in 2018, focused on the “Coffee+” and “Coffee++” programs. These initiatives aimed to equip Thai farmers with essential knowledge to increase yields and household income.
Through curriculum components such as the Farmer Business School and income diversification training, the programs embedded regenerative agricultural practices into local farming. This approach intends to build climate resilience while protecting the environment.
Over 100 representatives from various sectors attended the closing ceremony in Chumphon to review the project’s achievements. Attendees included executives from GIZ and Nestlé (Thai) Ltd., alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Agricultural Extension, and the Land Development Department. Farmer groups from major growing areas in Chumphon, Prachuap Khirikhan, and Ranong also participated.
Chumphon Provincial Governor Thianchai Chookittiwibul presided over the opening remarks, emphasizing the project’s alignment with government policy.
“The Coffee+ and Coffee++ Thailand projects have been fundamental in supporting the national coffee development plan 2022-2031 and driving policies into action,” Thianchai said. “The successful integration of this public-private partnership has enabled thousands of coffee smallholders and their communities to become resilient and better prepared for climate uncertainties.”
The event served as a platform to exchange pathways for adopting sustainable practices. A seminar session outlined practical steps for smallholders to upscale farm management and enhance product value to meet both short- and long-term market demand.
A critical outcome of the project is the integration of the regenerative agriculture approach into provincial government action plans, ensuring sustainability continues beyond the project’s lifespan. The initiative reports improvements in soil health, quality, and biodiversity within coffee agroecosystems, leading to greater resilience for farming households through diversified income.
Pouchamarn Wongsanga, Project Director at GIZ Thailand, highlighted the strategic importance of this integration.
“Our key achievement is ensuring that these sustainable practices are integrated into provincial action plans, guaranteeing long-term viability,” Pouchamarn said. “The project’s impact includes the restoration of soil health, increasing biodiversity, and enhancing carbon sequestration potential by growing cover crops, organic inputs, and agroforestry, resulting in diversified income streams for farming households.”
Philippe Glauser, Head of Technical and Production at Nestlé Indochina, noted the dual benefits for farmers and the corporation’s sustainability goals.
“We are proud of our partnership with GIZ, which has enabled the scaling up of regenerative agriculture among thousands of Robusta coffee smallholders,” Glauser said. “The project clearly helps protect the environment while enabling Thai coffee farmers to increase their production yield and household income. Crucially, this joint effort directly supports Nestlé’s commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.”
