Geo-AI for agriculture workshop in Cambodia

Cambodia Embraces Digital Farming to Boost Sustainability and Resilience

08/05/2025 - 09/05/2025

The attendees at last week’s workshop on digital innovation in the Kingdom’s agricultural sector pose for a group photo.

©FAO

Phnom Penh, 09 May 2025 – Cambodia is accelerating efforts to modernize its agriculture sector through digital innovation, as national policymakers, technical experts, and development partners gathered in Phnom Penh this week to share practical solutions and chart the path forward. The two-day gathering featured hands-on training, and a high-level workshop focused on using satellite data, artificial intelligence, and integrated digital systems to support smarter, more sustainable farming.

Led by the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the kind support of the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the event spotlighted how digital tools are already contributing to more effective climate responses and improved agricultural decision-making in Cambodia.

Opening the workshop, H.E. Ros Soden, Secretary of State at MAFF, emphasized that digitalization is a necessary evolution for the sector. He highlighted the Ministry’s continued investments in GIS platforms, mobile apps, and institutional data systems as central to improving outcomes for both farmers and institutions. Ms. Rebekah Bell, FAO Representative in Cambodia echoed this perspective, noting that digital transformation plays a critical role in advancing sustainable development, empowering rural communities, and enabling more responsive, data-driven governance.

Ahead of the workshop, Cambodian officials received training on the Rice Boundary Recognition Model, an AI-powered tool developed by FAO in partnership with the University of Twente, uses Sentinel-2 satellite data to identify rice field boundaries with high accuracy. The training was supported by the project “Developing a geodatabase in support of agricultural planning”, funded by the Government of Japan and implemented by FAO. The session also introduced practical applications of Google Earth Engine, Google Colab, and an application of the AI tool to support biochar market deployment (AI4Biochar). These accessible digital platforms allow technical staff to process satellite imagery, monitor land use, and model soil conditions—equipping national institutions with the capacity to make faster, evidence-based decisions that support both climate resilience and improved farm productivity.

The workshop also highlighted practical digital applications already being piloted in Cambodia. These included the use of artificial intelligence to map rice fields with greater precision, satellite-based tools for monitoring crop growth, and new efforts to close data gaps in the agriculture sector. Participants also explored how machine learning is being applied to improve yield forecasting based on national surveys and census data. The workshop was also enriched by presentations by Google DeepMind and the National Institute of Statistics.

 

Mr. Francesco Tubiello, Senior Statistician at FAO for environment statistics, and lead on the Japanese Project on field boundary recognition, noted that geospatial intelligence is becoming an essential tool in agricultural statistical work in support of decision making and planning, providing an effective complement to traditional data collection methods. He emphasized that accurate rice boundary mapping enables better targeting of support services and improves the efficiency of resource allocation—from seeds and fertilizer to climate adaptation measures.

Ms. Claudia Paris, Assistant Professor at the University of Twente, presented on the use of AI and open-access Sentinel-2 satellite data to support scalable crop boundary mapping in Cambodia. She emphasized how combining AI with remote sensing technologies can significantly enhance agricultural monitoring by enabling faster, more accurate field identification and supporting early yield prediction. She noted that open-access satellite data plays a vital role in democratizing these technologies, allowing countries like Cambodia to adopt advanced tools without relying on expensive commercial systems.

Mr. Alok Talekar from Google DeepMind also shared insights into the organization’s growing interest in applying artificial intelligence to agriculture. He spoke about the potential of AI and machine learning to support national efforts to address challenges such as climate change and food security, from crop forecasting to adaptive resource management. He underlined the importance of collaboration between technology companies and development organizations like FAO to ensure that cutting-edge innovation remains focused on real-world impact and inclusive, sustainable outcomes.

The workshop concluded with a shared recognition of the need to move beyond pilot initiatives and ensure digital tools become part of long-term institutional frameworks. Participants emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration, investment in local capacity, and aligning innovation with the real needs of farmers. As Cambodia continues to embrace digital transformation, the focus now shifts to turning these technologies into scalable, practical solutions that strengthen resilience, enhance productivity, and support inclusive agricultural growth.