News

In September 2017, VECO started the process of changing its name to Rikolto. Rikolto is the Esperanto word for ‘harvest’. (Esperanto is a language created to facilitate communication between people from across the world). We want farmers to have a brilliant harvest, and we want to especially harvest great new ideas and solutions to improve our food systems.  

Between 5 and 14 October 2017, 29 entrepreneurs from the Flanders Region of Belgium will explore northern Vietnam by mountain bike. After months of fundraising for VECO, they will learn about VECO’s projects in Vietnam and discover the country’s unique food, sceneries and culture.

In December 2016, 29 farmers from LUSOTEC successfully passed the external audit required for the renewal of their UTZ certificate. Compliance with this international standard guarantees the sustainable production of their tea and creates new opportunities for the farmers

At the start of 2017, Tu Xa Safe Vegetables Cooperative, one of VECO’s partners in Phu Tho province, started a new collaboration with VinEco on safe vegetables supply. This article introduces this new partnership and provides some insights into Tu Xa’s transition towards becoming a reliable business partner.

On 14 April, 25 enthusiastic bikers took on Vietnamese roads for a 400-km journey across Northern Vietnam. After months of fundraising at home, they successfully completed the first edition of the Vietnam Classic. This article shares some of their insights and looks back on an eventful and inspiring 8-days.

Between 14 and 22 April, 25 adventurous mountain bikers will cycle through tea fields, rice paddies and other natural wonders as part of the very first “Vredeseilanden Classic” in Vietnam. Beyond the sporting challenge, Classics’ participants are raising funds in Belgium to support farming families throughout VECO’s international network.

We are pleased to share the latest edition of VECO Vietnam’s newsletter. It features some of our best stories from the past three months including a visit from H.E. the Ambassador of Belgium to one of our project sites in Phu Tho province, a case study on the preferences and concerns of vegetables consumers in Hanoi, and a video on how a small group of farmers in Ha Nam province contributes to feeding Hanoi.

Vredeseilanden/VECO’s house is under renovation. It is not however our office building that is being rebuilt, it’s our organisation. From January 1st 2017 our organisational structure will undergo a total makeover and we will become an international network organisation. This move is being done in order for us to be better prepared and able to deal with the many challenges facing the food and agriculture sector, now and in the future.