A New Era for the Coconut Industry

CocoNext 2024, themed 'Empowering Vietnamese Coconut Value Chain', attracted over 200 participants, featuring government representatives, business executives, and global experts from leading coconut-producing countries, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and India.

Dang Huynh Uc My initiates CocoNext series as a platform connecting related parties in the global coconut value chain

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Uc My highlighted CocoNext’s mission to guide the coconut industry towards a robust and resilient future. She affirmed that Vietnam will emerge as a global centre for innovation in the industry, with 'the coconut kingdom' of Ben Tre at the forefront of research and development.

She stressed that the development of the coconut industry must align with cutting-edge technologies and innovation as part of a long-term strategy. This is not just an option but a vital prerequisite for sustainable growth and value chain enhancement.

Uc My expressed her hope that the technological advances showcased during the event would drive the coconut industry to a higher level, focusing on innovative packaging techniques, transformative solutions for food processing and healthcare, sustainable energy use, and new products made from coconuts.

CocoNext aims to shape a comprehensive strategy to address practical challenges in the coconut industry, transforming the coconut tree into one of Vietnam's key production and export products. At the same time, the event series will drive robust growth for the industry and create opportunities for international collaboration.

Dang Huynh Uc My, Chairwoman of Betrimex, and other distinguished guests officiated at the opening of CocoNext 2024

Pioneering Innovation and Sustainable Development

The CocoNext 2024 highlighted the immense potential of the coconut tree and the practical technologies developed by Betrimex, such as digital agriculture models and traceability solutions.

Through research and development (R&D), the entire coconut tree - leaves, flowers, fruit, trunk, and roots - can be transformed into high-value products. For instance, coconut water and meat are processed into drinks, milk, cream, and yogurt, as well as health and beauty care products. Additionally, coconut husks, trunks, and roots can be converted into eco-friendly items such as coconut charcoal, activated carbon, and pallets. These products are just part of a diverse product range derived from coconut trees.

As a leader, Uc My prioritises innovation and creativity. By investing in state-of-the-art technologies and committing to global organic certifications like USDA Organic and EU Organic, she turned Betrimex into Vietnam's leading brand in the coconut industry and the sixth-largest producer in the world.

Science and technology explore the vast potential of coconut trees, resulting in a diverse range of products, spanning from food, cosmetics to activated charcoal and pallets.

At Betrimex, a fully integrated digital business model ensures efficiency across the value chain, from agricultural research and resource management to production and delivery.

The entire operational process is systematically managed on the ERP-SAP HANA platform, with integrated technological solutions such as e-Procurement, e-Bidding, E-contracts, AI tools, IoT, SCADA, Big Data, and the DigiFactory system, which seamlessly connects with Tetra Pak and SCADA.

This year, Betrimex launched the Farmer Relationship Management (FRM) platform, a vital technological link designed to optimise the supply chain, enhance productivity and agricultural quality, and strengthen partnerships with farming enterprises.

In addition, at TTC AgriS, co-chaired by Uc My, cutting-edge technology has also led to significant breakthroughs.

TTC AgriS pursues a high-tech agricultural model by conducting precision farming, which includes field design, agricultural extension, cultivation process, and raw material zone management, along with yield optimisation. Using the DigiFarm, DigiFactory, and DigiRetail systems, TTC AgriS integrates and synchronises all data on farming, production, and commerce to maximise efficiency and enhance product value.

Prior to CocoNext, TTC AgriS, led by Uc My, successfully hosted the annual international event TTC AgriS Innovation Day, introducing new solutions for the sugarcane industry.

Uc My says she will launch AgroDay in April 2025. It is an international platform for promoting investment and sharing essential insights into agricultural science, technology, and economics, involving global experts and leaders.

She emphasised that AgroDay, CocoNext, and TTC AgriS Innovation Day will maintain a pioneering vision and stand alongside Vietnam's agricultural sector in its journey towards global integration. With the success of these initiatives, she hopes to inspire creativity and collaboration among partners, positioning Vietnam as a global leader in high-tech agriculture.