UN proposes plan to improve Cambodia’s food system by 2030

The United Nations in Cambodia has set out a vision and recommended policies to ensure sustainable food systems in Cambodia, with the goal that by 2030, all Cambodians will have access to safe and healthy food.

In a document released on September 15, it is noted that over the past two decades, Cambodia has achieved strong economic performance and made significant progress in sustainable and broad-based economic development, while reducing the country’s high poverty rate.

However, despite this remarkable progress, inequalities persist, with 22 percent of the population still lacking access to healthy food.

“Malnutrition rates remain high among children under five, with 32.4% stunted, 24% underweight, and 10% thinness.” “Cambodia is among the most vulnerable countries in Southeast Asia to natural disasters, especially due to the effects of climate change”, the document says.

However, it points out that many factors have led to changes in the food system and proposes a policy and strategic framework to bring about reforms in various sectors. “By 2030, all Cambodians [should] have access to healthy diets and safe food, with an initial focus on women and children, to break the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition and address the nutrition transition”, the report suggests.

By 2030, Cambodia must undertake actions in multiple sectors aimed at ensuring food security and nutrition and expanding access to health and nutrition services. Cambodia must create jobs, raise consumer awareness through education, and promote modernization of agriculture and food value chains to diversify domestic crop types in an inclusive and competitive manner.

In addition, Cambodia needs to promote healthy and safe food production, clean water supply, sanitation, and hygienic living habits by raising public awareness and improving the quality of various infrastructure systems, as well as providing increased social assistance.