Business Overview & BackgroundVATC & VALUE CHAINS

The FORREST Value Chain is launched with the goal of producing, exporting, and distributing high-quality, low-carbon rice. Expanding from a minimum of 20,000 hectares in the Mekong Delta region to a maximum of 500,000 hectares, the project primarily produces high-quality rice such as Japonica Rice, Jasmine Rice, and Brown Rice, contributing to farmers’ incomes. Working with the Vietnamese government, the project aims to establish a sustainable value chain.

Currently, the Mekong Delta region is facing difficulties in rice cultivation due to the backflow of salty seawater caused by the climate change crisis. The Vietnamese government has designated up to 200,000 hectares as shrimp rice areas, encouraging the cultivation of both river shrimp and rice. However, the various chemical fertilizers used in rice cultivation have compromised shrimp safety and hindered exports. VCVF is developing a value chain that implements eco-friendly microbial farming methods, commercializes ORS, and exports it globally. We will secure 20,000 hectares of contract farms in the future.

Vietnamese farmers want to use relatively expensive, eco-friendly agricultural products, but they fear that buyers will turn away from these higher-cost agricultural products. Surprisingly, however, many buyers are willing to import safe, clean, eco-friendly rice, fruits, vegetables, seafood, and livestock products, even if they are slightly more expensive. The challenge lies in establishing clear standards and maintaining a robust buyer network to ensure farmers can use eco-friendly products with confidence. GEFKAP is a crucial value chain that connects buyers with agricultural products made with Korea’s eco-friendly products, which rank among the top five globally.

VCVF plans to build a robust export platform that not only provides USDA and HALAL certification, but also all the certifications desired by major buyer countries. For example, the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) requires a fruit verification permit. We will also secure certifications from Japan’s JAS Organic and the EU, establishing a value chain that allows buyers in each export network to place orders with confidence. This will elevate the status of Vietnamese agriculture and is crucial for the health of not only the Vietnamese people but also those importing Vietnamese agricultural products around the world. VCVF’s fundamental goal is low-carbon agriculture. Agriculture is the number one cause of carbon emissions in Asia. VCVF will actively address the climate crisis and environmental issues threatening the world and fulfill its mission.