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4,500+
Soil tests and fertilizer recommendations delivered
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~70%
CO2 emissions on Vietnamese coffee farms driven by synthetic fertilizers
“I’ve never had my soil analyzed before. I wouldn’t know where to send the soil sample if I took one … you have come back with the result, which is wonderful. This helps me understand the quality of my soil, what it lacks or has in excess, so I can adjust”
The Challenge
In Vietnam, synthetic fertilizer use alone accounts for around 70% of coffee's emissions footprint. Fertilizer production is energy-intensive, and when applied in excess of what crops can absorb, unused nitrogen converts to nitrous oxide—a greenhouse gas far more potent than CO2. Overuse also has consequences for soil health. Excess nitrogen and potassium salts raise salinity, ammonium-based fertilizers drive acidification, and phosphorus buildup locks out micronutrients like zinc and iron. Over time, high application rates suppress microbial activity, reducing organic matter and the soil's capacity to sustain productive growth.
Inputs are accessible but soil testing is rare, so application rates are shaped by habit and generic guidance rather than precise dosing. Enveritas data shows that more than 40% of farms apply over 2,400 kg of synthetic fertilizer per hectare each year, significantly more than required to support large yields. Additional inputs beyond a certain threshold yield diminishing returns: farmers pay more for less, while soils and emissions bear the cost.
Our Approach
We address fertilizer overuse by providing soil health insights and fertilizer guidance specific to individual farms, targeting high use farms first. Soil testing establishes a nutrient baseline for each farm, informing fertilizer recommendations covering NPK ratios, micronutrients, organic inputs, and lime. Farmers are guided through the recommendations to ensure they understand and can act on the information.
To enable scale and efficiency, we are testing portable near-infrared devices for rapid on-farm soil analysis, as well as several guidance delivery methods. Guidance is grounded in research from the Western Highlands Agriculture & Forestry Science Institute (WASI), ensuring alignment with context-specific conditions. Fertilizer practices, soil health, emissions, and yields are tracked rigorously to measure impact and refine recommendations over time. Field operations are conducted in partnership with the Center for Rural Development (CRD). Early results show adoption of tailored recommendations with measurable reductions in fertilizer use.
