Rapid agricultural change across the Mekong region is putting pressure on rice farming systems that have traditionally remained “organic by default”, without relying on chemical inputs. Focusing on Preah Vihear, known as Cambodia’s organic province, this research examines whether organic rice certification can help maintain these practices as agriculture becomes increasingly intensive. Over the past two decades, this wider transition has been characterized by the expansion of agricultural land and irrigation, greater mechanization, increased use of chemical inputs and a shift from subsistence production towards export-oriented crops.

Using a farming systems approach, the research explores how certification interacts with the economic and production choices of farmers operating within this changing environment. It considers organic certification not in isolation, but in relation to broader transformations affecting farm management, market access and income. The case study therefore provides insights into the conditions under which certified organic rice production can persist alongside agricultural intensification.

Published in 2024, the research brings together authors affiliated with CIRAD and several research and academic partners, including UMR SENS, IRD, the School for Field Studies in Siem Reap, the University of Liège and UPR AIDA. Its analysis contributes to understanding the role and limitations of certification in supporting organic production systems during periods of rapid agrarian change.