Phnom Penh, Cambodia– On the World Food Day, which takes place this year in very unprecedented circumstances, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) calls for action across sectors to jointly make food systems stronger, more resilient and sustainable, specifically heathy diets affordable and accessible to everyone in Cambodia, in particular for the most vulnerable. This can only be achieved when we reach a resilient and robust food system. We must transform the way food is produced, processed, traded​​ and consumed to ensure that we can meet our future needs without wasting, degrading and depleting the biodiversity and other natural resources on which we all rely.

Joining with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the World Food Programme (WFP) and other partners in celebrating the World Food Day on 16 October, this year’s celebration in Cambodia is being held in Siem Reap Province under the theme “Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together.” It places a significant focus on the required solidarity and strong partnership among government, development partners, private sector, civil society and everyone to make sure that our food systems grow a variety of food to nourish a growing population and ensure sustainable life on earth.

FAO turns 75 years old this year and the anniversary falls on World Food Day. However, World Food Day 2020 marks an exceptional moment as countries around the world deal with the widespread impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Around the world, the pandemic has exposed the fragility of our food systems and threatens to push millions more into hunger. While highlighting vulnerabilities, these global problems have also revealed timely opportunities to transform our food systems, to restore balance and ensure they are sustainable, economically, socially and environmentally sound, and provide sufficient safe and nutritious food for growing populations. Hunger, obesity, environmental degradation and biodiversity loss, food loss and waste and the risks to workers along the food chain are some of the issues that underline this imbalance.

In the 75 years since the founding of FAO, the world has made great progress in the fight against poverty, hunger, and malnutrition. Still, too many people remain vulnerable. Even before the pandemic, more than 2 billion people did not have regular access to enough safe and nutritious food in the world. Nearly 700 million people went to bed hungry, according to the 2020 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report.

The COVID-19 pandemic has added to these challenges.  The same report indicates that, the economic disruption linked to the pandemic may push another 130 million people globally into hunger by the end of the year.

In Cambodia, despite remarkable development progress, malnutrition is an ongoing concern, with 32 percent of children under 5 years old who are stunted, and 10 percent suffering from wasting. There are continuing challenges in providing children with sufficient food and a diet that provides the nutrients they need to safely grow and develop. Micronutrient deficiency also widely affects children and women of reproductive age. To add to these challenges, overweight and obesity are growing concerns in Cambodia, especially for women of reproductive age. 

The majority of Cambodia’s population lives in rural areas and they are vulnerable to climate change. Floods and droughts frequently threaten the food systems and the frequency of these events is projected to be increasing in the future. Cambodia is ranked the 9^th country most vulnerable to climate change in the world, according to the World Disaster Risk Index of 2016, reflecting the need to build the resilience of communities to climate change and natural disasters and ensure they have access to enough safe and nutritious foods year-round.

In Cambodia, the impact of COVID-19 on the economy, with many people losing employment or income, has made access to food even more difficult for vulnerable families. In response, the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) has put in place additional social protection measures to address this challenge.

As countries begin to develop and implement COVID-19 recovery plans, there are opportunities to adopt innovative solutions based on scientific evidence, making food systems more resistant to shocks, while allowing people to recover from crisis. To achieve this, more than ever, we need continuous innovation, strong partnerships and responsiveness in the food system. There is further need not only to make use of new opportunities offered through digitalization and e-commerce, but also more sustainable agricultural practices that preserve the Earth’s natural resources, our health and the climate.

“Data, technology, and innovation, along with strengthened coordination and responsible investments are much needed to achieve better production, better nutrition, better environment and better livelihoods,” said Mr Alexandre Huynh, FAO Representative in Cambodia.

“Ensuring access to safe and nutritious food is and will continue to be an essential part of the response to COVID-19, particularly for poor and vulnerable communities, who are hardest hit by the pandemic,” he added. 

FAO and its partners stand ready to support the RGC to respond to COVID-19 and ensure sustainable food systems. FAO has been working with farmers and coordinating with public and private sector institutions, to quickly respond with interventions ranging from the conservation of the natural resource base, through social assistance schemes for those most vulnerable, through to the modernization and transformation of agricultural production and food value chains using the latest technologies available. FAO is also assisting Cambodia in generating timely and reliable agricultural data to inform policy and decision-making, and in supporting national capacity to transform Cambodian agriculture to be more inclusive, competitive, resilient and sustainable.

Among other policy developments, FAO, in close coordination with IFAD, has been supporting the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) to develop its Agricultural Development Policy (ADP), 2021-2030 and the actionable Agricultural Sector Master Plan (ASMP), 2030. One of the strategic objectives of the ADP and ASMP is to establish and maintain more efficient, inclusive and resilient food systems in the country. Agriculture will continue to flourish in Cambodia as a vibrant modern sector, providing a strong foundation for the national economy and supplying affordable, safe and nutritious foods for the health and well-being of the population.  

Media Contact:

Tet Chann, Communication Officer, FAO in Cambodia

Tel: 011 276 775, Email: [email protected]