Strengthen Food Systems for Food Security and Nutrition

Cambodia has pledged to transform the nation’s food systems by 2030. This ambitious commitment is driven by the need to develop and implement an updated Cambodia’s roadmap for sustainable food systems, complemented by financing proposals aimed at improving access to healthy diets. The roadmap and proposals will be achieved through coordinated actions across the agriculture, industry, health, social protection, and trade sectors, ensuring the availability and affordability of diverse, safe, and nutritious foods for all citizens.

Cambodia's economic growth has brought about significant improvements in nutrition, exemplified by the reduction in stunting among children under five from 32% in 2014 to 22% in 2022. Despite this progress, acute malnutrition still affects 9.6% of children, and women, who play a crucial role in the country's food system, often face limited access to resources and unequal decision-making power. Additionally, overweight and obesity rates among women aged 15-49 have increased, while the proportion meeting dietary diversity standards has dropped. To address these challenges, it is imperative to promote healthy diets rich in fruits, vegetables, and fortified foods, with a strong emphasis on women and children's needs.

It is also necessary to finalize the Third National Strategy for Food Security and Nutrition (3rd NSFSN), 2024-2028. The revision of the NSFSN is necessary to align the strategic directions with the Pentagonal Strategy Phase 1 and the national strategic planning cycle. The 3rd NSFSN will underscore the importance of policy measures that incentivize and regulate food environments, drive social and behavioral changes to improve diets and care practices, and enhance supply chains for healthier food options.

Cambodia is committed to transforming food systems to achieve economic, nutritional, environmental, and gender-equitable outcomes. Strengthening governance and institutional capacity is essential to ensure resilient and sustainable food systems that provide healthy diets, contribute to economic development, and improve livelihoods, leaving no one behind.

Through the implementation of the 3rd NSFSN 2024-2028 and the Food Systems Roadmap, Cambodia aims to create a conducive environment for financing economic, nutritional, and environmental outcomes. This involves revising the national roadmap with a focus on climate change, addressing trade-offs, incorporating a strong gender lens, and developing an actionable plan and financing and advocacy strategy to support the successful implementation of Cambodia’s food system transformation goals.