Industrial agriculture and changing diets are reshaping food systems in Thailand and Cambodia. Published by WWF-Germany in May 2026, Sustainable Agri-Food Systems for Thailand and Cambodia: Leveraging Agroecology and Healthier Consumption Environments examines the policy choices, market dynamics and institutional factors driving these changes, and identifies pathways towards more sustainable production and consumption. The study was commissioned under WWF’s Sustainable Consumption and Production in Thailand and Cambodia – Phase II project, part of the Future Food Together initiative.

Drawing on a literature review, stakeholder interviews and field observations, the report analyses the expansion of input-intensive monocultures and cash crops, including maize for animal feed, cassava and rubber. It links these trends to deforestation, habitat loss, agrochemical exposure and economic vulnerabilities among smallholder farmers, while examining the health and environmental implications of rising consumption of ultra-processed foods and animal products. The analysis also highlights differences between the two countries: Thailand has established policy frameworks and a growing organic movement, while Cambodia faces weaker implementation of sustainable consumption and production policies and limited domestic markets for sustainably produced food.

The report recommends an integrated approach that addresses production and consumption together. Priorities include supporting smallholders through extension services and finance, redirecting subsidies towards nature-positive agriculture, improving market access and fairer value distribution, and raising public awareness of the links between diets, health and environmental sustainability. Country-specific recommendations include transitioning away from maize monocultures in Thailand and strengthening consumer engagement and support for organic production in Cambodia.