Nakhonepakse City, Laos – The Bolaven Plateau Coffee Producers Cooperative (CPC), formerly known as AGPC, was established in 2007 with the support of the Lao Government and the Agence Francaise De Development (AFD) (French Development Agency). CPC is a 100% farmers’ own organization consisting of 1,855 coffee growing households from 55 villages and 23 trained employees responsible in the production and processing.
In 2012, CPC exported 603 tons of green coffee. In the same year, CPC was recognized as “Laos’ Best Coffee Exporter” for its exceptional quality. Currently, CPC is directly exporting its green coffee to France.
Beyond exports, CPC is also committed to producing high-quality roasted coffee for the domestic market, using the same rigorous standards applied to its export-grade beans. Marketed under their brand, the cooperative offers three premium blends: Arabica Gourmet Fully Washed, Robusta Gourmet Natural, and Espresso Gourmet Blend—available in both whole bean and ground formats. As of December 2023, CPC reported a gross profit amounting to LAK 8,101,120,845.10 (USD 373,097).
One of the cooperative’s key benefits to its members is the provision of premium prices for their coffee, ensuring better income and livelihood opportunities.
CPC’s continued development has been supported by key partners: AFD has invested in enhancing its Research and Development department; the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has supported regulatory updates; and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has provided capacity building through training on Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) standards, international quality control, and e-commerce promotion.
With growing demand driving increased production, the cooperative has faced rising variable costs. To help address this, the cooperative received financial support from the APFP-FO4A amounting to USD 50,560 to install a 50Kw solar hybrid system (on/off-grid) at its processing center.
The Asia-Pacific Farmers’ Program (APFP)–Farmers Organizations for Asia (FO4A) is implemented by the Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA) and La Via Campesina (LVC), with funding from the European Union (EU) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The program aims to strengthen the capacities of farmers’ organizations to provide economic services, advocate for enabling policies, and promote sustainable livelihoods for small-scale family farmers across Asia. The APFP-FO4A program is implemented in Laos by the Lao Farmer Association (LFA).
Completed in December 2024, the system now powers key operations such as coffee roasting, significantly reducing electricity expenses while promoting environmental sustainability. The resulting savings contribute to improved financial efficiency and can be reinvested as additional working capital.
The organization is now continuing to grow with export outreaching 1,000 tons of green coffee per year. CPC is a prime example about what is possible when small-scale farmers join forces.
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