Policy Dialogue on Farmer-Led Innovation Research for Sustainable Transformation of Agroecology, climate smart agriculture and Food System

On June 29, 2026, CamboDHRRA, in collaboration with Action for Development (AFD), ALiSEA/DPA, and World Vision International Cambodia (WVI-C), with support from the Agroecology Fund, organized the “Policy Dialogue on Farmer-Led Innovation Research for Sustainable Transformation of Agroecology, Climate-Smart Agriculture, and Food Systems.”

The dialogue was presided over by Her Excellency Yoeu Asikin, Undersecretary of State of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), and aimed to establish a multi-stakeholder platform for sharing knowledge, experiences, and lessons learned from farmer-led research, while strengthening collaboration among farmers, agricultural cooperatives, policymakers, research institutions, civil society organizations, and development partners.

The event brought together 125 participants representing women’s networks, youth groups, indigenous peoples, agricultural cooperatives, commune agricultural officials, relevant ministries and government departments, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Ministry of Environment, the Council for Agriculture and Rural Development, civil society organizations, private sector actors, academic and research institutions, and development partners.

In the context of increasing challenges faced by smallholder farmers—including declining soil fertility, biodiversity loss, rising production costs, climate change impacts, and market uncertainties—agroecology has emerged as a promising approach to building resilient, sustainable, and inclusive agricultural systems.

Through the FIRST Project (Farmer-led Innovation Research for Sustainable Transformation of Agroecology and Food Systems), CamboDHRRA and AFD facilitated participatory research processes that placed farmers—particularly women, youth, and indigenous communities—at the center of identifying, testing, and developing locally appropriate agricultural innovations that respond to their community needs and realities.

The findings from the research and on-farm experiments demonstrated the potential of agroecological practices to improve agricultural productivity, reduce production costs, enhance biodiversity, and strengthen farmers’ resilience to climate change. The dialogue also provided an important platform for farmers to share their experiences, innovations, and solutions from the ground, ensuring that farmers’ knowledge and perspectives are recognized and integrated into agricultural policies and development strategies in Cambodia.

CamboDHRRA would like to express its sincere appreciation to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, relevant ministries and government institutions, development partners, civil society organizations, research institutions, agricultural cooperatives, and all stakeholders for their active participation, valuable contributions, and commitment to advancing sustainable agriculture and food system transformation.

CamboDHRRA remains committed to strengthening partnerships, promoting farmer-led approaches, and supporting inclusive collaboration to build resilient, adaptive, and sustainable food systems for present and future generations.

From farmer knowledge to sustainable agricultural system transformation!