6 April 2022, Phnom Penh, Cambodia – Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Cambodia, Ms Rebekah Bell, paid a courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Council for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD), H.E. Dr Yim Chhay Ly to discuss key collaboration and upcoming joint activities.

During the meeting, H.E. Dr Yim Chhay Ly highlighted key results and good progresses achieved as a result of effective leadership and coordination of CARD with support from different line ministries and development partners, including FAO. As part of the achievements, Cambodia, among more than 140 other countries, joined the UN Global Food Systems Summit last year and presented its bold commitments to achieve Sustainable Development Goals through a food system approach. Cambodia has put in place the Roadmap for Food Systems for Sustainable Development 2030, guiding Cambodia investment to achieve 2030 food systems vision, which focuses on providing food security and nutrition for all.

Food security and nutrition is a very complex issue. There are many challenges for achieving food security and improved nutrition in Cambodia. Some are sector specific and require the concerted efforts of all those involved in the sector. Others are complex multi-sectoral challenges that require joint actions and coordination.

Acknowledging this complexity, the Cambodia’s 2nd National Strategy for Food Security and Nutrition (NSFSN), 2019-2023 adopts a twin-track approach, advocating each of the main sectors involved (Health, Agriculture, Education, Water Supply and Sanitation, Commerce, and Industry) to develop and lead their own related strategies and action, while CARD focuses on the priority actions requiring cross-cutting and multi-sectoral coordination

With this, H.E. Dr Yim Chhay Ly noted that, the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) has assigned the different line ministries to be responsible for specific sectors under the strategy.

Ms Bell congratulated Cambodia for achieving remarkable outcomes such as a significant progress in improving the food security, nutrition, reducing poverty, and especially the effective COVID-19 response and success with the vaccination of the population in Cambodia.

She also announced new important work of FAO, which is to provide technical support to the RGC to conduct a preliminary assessment on national food control and food safety systems that is going to take place over the next several months with financial support from the European Union. 

“As Cambodia is moving to upper middle income country status by 2030, there is a need for Cambodia’s agriculture production and food systems to meet international food standards, which allows Cambodia to increase its export opportunities,” she explained. 

Ms Bell further added that, “strengthening the food control systems will in turn improve public health outcomes and competitiveness in agri-food trade, providing opportunities for economic development and improved livelihoods.”

H.E. Dr Yim Chhay Ly confirmed his strong support on this initiative, emphasizing it is very important for Cambodia.

This national food control systems assessment is coming from the Codex Alimentarius Commission – a joined area between FAO and WHO. This assessment will follow a farm to fork approach, including regulation and legal instruments, implementation, food processing, marketing, and all the way to food quality and nutrition.

“From this assessment, we will not only get the recommendations for actions but we can start to develop the investment plan so that we can turn those recommendations into reality,” said Ms Bell.

For further information, please contact:

Ms Tet Chann, Communication Officer, FAO in Cambodia

Email: [email protected]

Tell: 011 276775