Phnom penh: High-level representatives from across Cambodia's agricultural sector gathered at the Sustainable Food Agriculture Conference 2026 held in Phnom Penh to boost low-carbon rice production. The event was co-organised by Amru Rice Company, the Agricultural Community Corporation, and the Cambodia Rice Federation.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the conference was presided over by H.E. Touch Bun Hour, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; H.E. Kao Thach, Government Delegate in charge as Director General of the Agriculture and Rural Development Bank; H.E. Mey Kalyan, Senior Advisor to the Supreme Economic Council and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cambodia Agricultural Community Corporation along with 150 participants from relevant institutions.
In his keynote address, H.E. Kao Thach emphasised the implementation of sustainable agricultural production, namely the efficient and sustainable use of land, fertilisers, pesticides, and water to maintain sustainable use and increase resilience to climate change. He highlighted the potential negative impacts of excessive use of agricultural pesticides and fertilisers on soil and water quality, stressing the importance of proper reduction and utilisation to prevent scarcity of land and water resources in the future.
ARDB has been fully involved in climate change mitigation by providing green financing to all actors in the value chains of agricultural and agro-industrial production, as well as promoting sustainable agriculture, he stressed. Additionally, H.E. Kao Thach affirmed continued support for Cambodia's rice sector, emphasizing its significance for food security, the livelihoods of farmers, national economic strength, and national pride.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Mr. Lay Chhun Hour, President of the Cambodia Rice Federation, underscored the pressures of climate change, the loss of natural resources, and the increasing demand for food on the agricultural sector, particularly in Cambodia. He emphasized that the rice sector is an important economic chain that supplies food and creates jobs and income for farming families, adding that transitioning to sustainable agriculture is an obligation.
Achieving sustainable agriculture requires cooperation from all stakeholders, including the government, the private sector, development organisations, and all farmers to ensure that the future of Cambodia's rice sector will be strong, competitive, and able to sustainably supply food to future generations, he stated.
Cambodia exported 940,321 tonnes of milled rice in 2025, marking a 45 percent year-on-year increase, according to a report from the Cambodia Rice Federation. The exports generated US$602 million in revenue, up 22.6 percent from US$491 million recorded in the previous year, the report stated.