The CAFSUS Project – Concluding Meeting of the research fieldtrips and Discussions on Future Collaboration with the Director of the Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities

Figure 1. The Director of the Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities Receiving the CAFSUS Project Expert Delegation

On the afternoon of 27 November 2025, at Room D.202, Saigon Campus (10–12 Đinh Tiên Hoàng Street, Sài Gòn Ward, Ho Chi Minh City), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thị Hồng Xuân, Director of the Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities, hosted a formal working session with international experts and doctoral researchers of the Climate Change Mitigation in Agroforest Landscapes through Sustainable Sourcing Policies (CAFSUS) project.
This meeting was organized within the framework of institutional introduction and the strengthening of international cooperation, concurrently serving as a concluding session for the series of field surveys conducted in Sơn La and Lâm Đồng provinces. The discussion focused on updating the project’s implementation progress and outlining directions for future collaboration.

During the meeting, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thị Hồng Xuân highly commended the effective collaboration between the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU-HCM and the international expert team. She emphasized that the CAFSUS project not only generates significant scientific value through field investigations, data collection, and coffee value chain analysis, but also plays a crucial role in promoting international cooperation, strengthening academic networking, and enhancing research capacity for the university’s doctoral researchers. She further expressed strong expectations that cooperation with scholars from the University of Copenhagen and the University of Sydney will continue to expand, particularly in the context of Viet Nam facing growing challenges related to sustainable development, natural resource governance, and international integration in the agroforestry sector.

Figure 2. Project Introduction and Collaboration Discussion

The expert delegation presented an overview of the field survey results conducted in Chiềng Mai Commune, Sơn La Province, and in Tà Đùng – Quảng Sơn – Nhân Cơ, Lâm Đồng Province (formerly under the administrative jurisdiction of Đắk Nông Province). The research activities comprised in-depth interviews with farming households, traders, cooperatives, and processing enterprises; community-based group discussions; and working sessions with local authorities and the provincial Departments of Agriculture and Environment.

The collected data have provided initial insights into key issues related to farming practices, production costs, market risks, livelihood fluctuations, and the linkages among production, procurement, and processing within the coffee value chain. These findings constitute an important foundation for further analysis of climate change impacts and for assessing producers’ readiness to meet sustainable sourcing requirements, particularly in the context of the forthcoming anti-deforestation regulation (EUDR) of the European Union.

Figure 3. Discussion of Survey Results and the Progress of the CAFSUS Project

In the discussion on future directions, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thị Hồng Xuân proposed strengthening academic networking and professional exchange activities through diverse formats. The Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities will collaborate with the international expert team to organize thematic academic conferences, scholarly webinars, regular online research meetings, as well as in-depth academic exchanges with Prof. Dr. Niels Fold from the University of Copenhagen. These activities aim to provide more advanced support for research groups and doctoral candidates who are currently developing their dissertations within the framework of the CAFSUS project.

Such initiatives are expected to foster a dynamic academic environment, strengthen methodological research capacity, promote international publications, and expand the university’s global collaboration networks.

Figure 4. Presentation of a Commemorative Plaque by the Host Institution to Prof. Dr. Niels Fold (University of Copenhagen, Denmark)

The meeting concluded in an open and collaborative atmosphere, marking an important milestone in enhancing the quality of scientific research and strengthening the international integration of the Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities. The field survey outcomes and the forthcoming collaboration plans will continue to contribute to the implementation of the CAFSUS Project, while further consolidating the institution’s role within international research networks on sustainable development and climate change.

The presentation of the commemorative plaque to Prof. Dr. Niels Fold, from the University of Copenhagen, symbolizes the strong commitment to long-term academic cooperation within the framework of the CAFSUS Project (Climate Change Mitigation in Agroforest Landscapes through Sustainable Sourcing Policies).

Source: Program Office