Chumphon, 4 December 2025 – GIZ, in partnership with Nestlé (Thai) Ltd., governmental agencies and smallholder Robusta coffee producers, celebrated the successful completion of an eight-year public-private partnership dedicated to elevating the livelihoods and climate resilience of over 2,200 Robusta coffee smallholders in southern Thailand.
GIZ and Nestlé have formed a long-term partnership since 2018 and have jointly launched the Coffee+ and Coffee++ programmes to equip Thai coffee farmers with the knowledge and skills needed to increase their yields and household incomes. The initiatives under these programmes include the Farmer Business School and practices for income diversification. Additionally, the programmes are enhanced by embedding regenerative agriculture practices in coffee farms to help farmers become climate-resilient and protect the environment.
After eight years of project implementation, over 100 participants attended the project’s closing ceremony, held at Nana Buri Hotel in Chumphon province, to celebrate successes and showcase the achievements of regenerative agriculture practices. Presided over by the Governor of Chumphon, the event was attended by high-level executives from GIZ, Nestlé (Thai) Ltd. and Ministry of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives leading the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Agricultural Extension, and the Land Development Department, alongside representatives of Robusta coffee farmer individuals and groups from the major growing areas of Chumphon, Prachuap Khirikhan and Ranong.
Thianchai Chookittiwibul, Chumphon Provincial Governor, gave the opening remarks, saying: “Coffee+ and Coffee++ Thailand projects have been fundamental in supporting the national coffee development plan from 2022-2031 and driving the policy into action. The successful integration of this public-private partnership has enabled thousands of coffee smallholders and their communities to become resilient and better prepare for climate uncertainties.”
The event provided a vital platform for exchanging successful pathways towards sustainable practice adoption. A dedicated seminar session offered concrete, practical steps for smallholders to upscale their farm management and enhance coffee product value to meet market demand in the short and long term. Crucially, integrating a regenerative agriculture approach into the provincial government’s action plans ensures long-term sustainability beyond the project. Long-term ecological and socioeconomic impact helps restore soil health and its quality. Biodiversity within the coffee agroecosystem has been increased and farming households are resilient from diversified income.
Pouchamarn Wongsanga, Project Director, GIZ Thailand, highlighted the strategic alignment: “The Coffee++ Thailand project provides a vital platform for all stakeholders (particularly smallholders) to actively enhance their capacities in farming management, production standards, competitiveness and climate resilience. Our key achievement is ensuring these sustainable practices are integrated into provincial action plans, guaranteeing long-term viability after the project ends.”
Philippe Glauser, Head of Technical and Production, Nestlé Indochina, added: “We’re proud of our partnership with GIZ, which has enabled the scaling up of regenerative agriculture among thousands of Robusta coffee smallholders. The project clearly helps protect the environment while enabling Thai coffee farmers to increase their production yields and household income. Consumers also benefit from the high-quality coffee produced through regenerative agriculture practices. Crucially, this joint effort directly supports Nestlé’s commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.”
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Pouchamarn Wongsanga
Project Director of Coffee++
Email: pouchamarn.wongsanga@giz.de
