Siân Yates ,Star Business Report

Beneo has announced a three-year collaborative project aimed at promoting sustainable rice farming practices in Vietnam. This initiative, funded by the Government of Flanders, partners Beneo with international NGO Rikolto and climate technology firm CarbonFarm.

Vietnam, a leading global rice exporter, faces significant challenges in sustainable agriculture, particularly in terms of environmental impact and resource management.

Rice cultivation is responsible for approximately 10% of global methane emissions and consumes over a third of the world’s irrigation water. Inefficient practices, such as excessive fertiliser use and the burning of rice residues, contribute to soil degradation and biodiversity loss.

The new project aims to address these issues by training at least 1,000 farmers in the Mekong Delta region on the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) standards. These standards emphasise efficient water management and responsible pesticide and fertiliser application.

The initiative will use demonstration fields to showcase sustainable farming techniques, supported by innovative monitoring technologies, including satellite imagery and digital logbooks, to track emissions and water usage.

With an investment of approximately €800,000 from the Flanders International Climate Action Programme, the project commenced in April 2025 during a Belgian state visit to Vietnam.

Beneo’s role will focus on developing a market for SRP-certified rice ingredients, which will be processed at its facility in Wijgmaal, Belgium. The company aims to process at least 10,000 tonnes of sustainably grown rice over the project’s duration, with the first outputs expected in the autumn of 2025.

This initiative not only seeks to enhance the sustainability of rice production but also aims to create a value chain that connects smallholder farmers with market opportunities, thereby incentivising the adoption of sustainable practices.

The collaboration aligns with Beneo’s broader sustainability strategy, the ‘Healthy Planet Plan,’ and reflects an increasing industry focus on responsible sourcing and environmental stewardship.

Roland Vanhoegaerden, operations managing director for speciality rice Ingredients at Beneo, commented: “This initiative clearly demonstrates Beneo’s dedication to climate mitigation actions, sustainability and its proactive approach to addressing global challenges through innovative solutions”.

He continued: “We are proud and excited to leverage Beneo’s longstanding expertise in producing and marketing functional ingredients in collaboration with our project partners and Vietnamese farmers to reduce the environmental impact of rice production”.

Image credit: ©Rikolto

Published Date: July 25, 2025