Webinar: Enhancing agricultural value chains through carbon markets and sustainable certification – The Rainforest Alliance Model

Amid increasingly stringent global requirements on sustainable development, emissions reduction, and traceability, Vietnam’s agricultural sector is under growing pressure to undergo comprehensive transformation—both in production practices and in its integration into global value chains. Tools such as sustainable certification and carbon markets are emerging not only as mechanisms to ensure compliance with new regulations, but also as potential drivers for adding value to agricultural products and improving farmers’ livelihoods.

To share approaches, insights, and practical lessons from the implementation of these models, the Agricultural and Forestry Policy Research Network recently convened an online webinar."Enhancing agricultural value chains through carbon markets and sustainable certification – The Rainforest Alliance Model" on March 27, 2026

Rainforest Alliance’s approach: from certification to systemic transformation of production systems

The webinar’s speaker, Mr. Nguyễn Văn Thiết, Country Director of Rainforest Alliance in Vietnam, brought more than 40 years of experience in managing supply chains for key agricultural commodities such as coffee, pepper, tea, and cocoa to his presentation, offering an overview of the organization’s approach to sustainable agriculture through its certification system. He emphasized that Rainforest Alliance certification is not merely a set of technical standards, but rather a comprehensive supply chain governance system, in which management extends down to individual farmers and plots of land, accompanied by traceability mechanisms and a shared responsibility framework among actors across the value chain. This approach, he noted, helps reduce the burden on producers while effectively meeting the increasingly stringent requirements of international markets. Vietnam is currently among the countries with the largest scale of Rainforest Alliance certification in the coffee sector, accounting for around 20% of total national output, a foundation seen as critical for advancing the transition toward more sustainable production models.

Agroforestry and regenerative agriculture: an inevitable transition

A central theme of the webinar was the transition from sustainable agriculture to agroforestry and regenerative agriculture. Speakers noted that as climate change intensifies and market requirements become more stringent, efforts to merely “reduce negative impacts” are no longer sufficient. Instead, production systems are being called upon to restore soil health, enhance biodiversity, and improve resilience. In response, Rainforest Alliance is advancing agroforestry models that integrate primary crops such as coffee with shade trees, timber species, and fruit trees. This approach not only improves ecological conditions but also generates additional biomass, laying the groundwork for carbon-related initiatives in agriculture.

Carbon markets: new opportunities but not a “quick fix”

The webinar also devoted considerable attention to carbon initiatives in agriculture, particularly the ACORN program—a model focused on carbon removal through tree planting and biomass generation. According to Mr. Nguyen Van Thiet, Rainforest Alliance pursues a dual approach to carbon, combining emissions reduction through improved farming practices with carbon removal via agroforestry systems. Practical evidence shows that relatively simple measures, such as better fertilizer management and increased use of organic inputs, can significantly reduce emissions per unit of output. However, he cautioned that carbon should not be seen as a “quick fix” or a standalone source of income; rather, carbon initiatives need to be firmly anchored in long-term efforts to improve production ecosystems and farmers’ livelihoods. Without integrating economic and social dimensions, such projects face considerable risks in sustaining their impact over time.

Discussions and questions from participants

The webinar’s discussion session drew strong engagement from participants representing government agencies, research institutes, universities, businesses, and consulting organizations, with questions focusing on:

• Methods for measuring and verifying carbon sequestration;
• The ability to ensure transparency and fairness in the distribution of carbon-related revenues;
• The impact of agroforestry models on the productivity of primary crops;
• The conditions under which smallholder farmers can participate in carbon programs;
• The linkages between sustainable certification, EUDR requirements, and carbon markets.

These discussions highlight the growing interest in integrating environmental and market-based instruments into Vietnam’s agricultural development strategy.

Implications for future directions

Insights from the webinar suggest that while sustainable certification and carbon markets are creating new pathways for the agricultural sector, they also bring growing demands for clear policy frameworks, transparent data systems, and farmer-centered approaches. Moving forward, greater efforts will be needed to support businesses and smallholder farmers in meeting certification requirements, promoting good agricultural practices, and accelerating the transition toward agroforestry models and, ultimately, regenerative agriculture.