AKP Phnom Penh, April 01, 2025 --

Amru Rice, Cambodia Agriculture Cooperative Corporation (CACC), and the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), supported by Cambodia Australia Partnership for Resilient Economic Development (CAPRED), co-hosted here late last week the 5th Sustainable Agri-Food Conference in Cambodia under the theme “Growing a Better Cambodia: Sustainable Food Innovations and Transformations.”

The conference was presided over by H.E. Va Rothsan, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Commerce, with high presence from H.E. Dr. Kao Thach, Delegate of the Royal Government of Cambodia, CEO of Agricultural and Rural Development Bank; H.E. Dr. Mey Kalyan, Senior Advisor, Supreme National Economic Council, Board Chairman of CACC; Ms. Kirsty Harris, Head of Development Cooperation of the Australian Embassy; Oknha Chan Sokheang, CRF President; Oknha Song Saran, CEO of Amru Rice, Co-founder of CACC, and Board Chairman of CRF; and with approximately350 participants from relevant stakeholders in the agriculture sector.

The conference aimed to promote innovative, resilient and sustainable agricultural practices by bringing together national and international experts from the private sector, government and development partners, said a press release issued on April 1.

Insight sharing and discussions were focused on food quality compliance; market access and current trends; financing mechanisms with a particular focus on Green Climate Financing and de-carbonisation; and the integration of Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) principles in public-private partnerships for sustainable food security.

“The 2025 iteration of the summit continues to deepen partnerships and collaborations with our farmers, supply chain stakeholders and customers. We bring our growers closer to markets and ensure they have a livelihood that is more than rice cultivation,” said Amru Rice CEO and Founder Oknha Song Saran.

CACC Chairman of the Board, H.E. Dr. Mey Kalyan said that the Cambodian agricultural system is transforming towards producing high-standard food accepted in international markets. Which requires all players in this system to hold it as a common vision and work together in a coordinated manner, in order to increase income of producers, facilitate their businesses, and create social harmony.

“To achieve this, we need to introduce ESG criteria in our production system. We need to make all efforts to explain this concept in friendly and plain Khmer language to our Khmer producers,” he said.

CRF President Oknha Chan Sokheang said that sustainable Agri-Food, including sustainable rice production, is the crucial step for Cambodian agricultural products to meet market demands and mitigate climate change.

“The Sustainable Agri-Food Conference 2025 will showcase the commitment of Cambodian stakeholders and collect input into strategies to encourage the rice industry and other related agriculture to adopt sustainable practices in Cambodia,” he said.

The conference addressed pressing global issues including the increasing demands of international markets, compliance with evolving regulations, and the imperative to adopt regenerative practices that enhance soil health and biodiversity.

At the same time, Amru Rice and CACC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Preah Vihear Meanchey Union of  Agricultural Cooperate on cooperation in protection and conservation and low-carbon implementation of organic production, a MoU with the Battambang Union Agricultural Cooperative on the development of a standard rice supply chain for Regenerative Agriculture and Sustainable Rice Production for 5 years (2025-2030), a MoU with the Development and Partnership for Action in Northeastern of Cambodia, and a MoU with Farmers and Nature Network in the  Kravanh Mountain Region.

By Chea Vannak