Cambodia Investment Review
EuroCham Cambodia has convened senior leaders from government, development agencies, and the private sector for a high-level discussion on the future of agricultural technology in Cambodia. The “Agri-Tech Breakfast Talk,” hosted at Oakwood Premier Phnom Penh, focused on harnessing innovation to modernize Cambodia’s agricultural sector amid ongoing productivity and climate-related challenges.
The event was co-organized by EuroCham’s Agribusiness and Digital & Technology Committees and highlighted collaborative efforts to scale digital tools across Cambodia’s agricultural value chains.
Agriculture Innovation Gains Strategic Focus
Opening the session, Okhna Sovithya Sothy, Chairman of EuroCham’s Agribusiness Committee and of 8S Agro-Industry, stressed that agricultural innovation is now a strategic imperative for Cambodia. He noted that improving competitiveness, ensuring sustainability, and achieving food security will depend on accelerating the adoption of technology.
Read More: Opinion: From Field to Shelf – Cambodia’s Struggle to Process Its Own Bounty
A keynote presentation by Swisscontact’s Setha Rath, representing the Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture (ISA) project, outlined the current state of agri-tech in Cambodia. Her remarks emphasized the importance of piloting scalable technologies that address operational inefficiencies and environmental concerns, particularly in a sector still reliant on traditional methods.
The showcase segment featured practical applications of agri-tech from a range of players. AMRU Rice’s Kann Kunthy, CADT’s Dr. Ly Rothana, and Credit Bureau Cambodia’s Sothearoath Oeur shared how their organizations are using digital finance, AI tools, and data analytics to support farmers and reduce risk.
Panel Weighs ROI and Scalability of Agri-Tech
A panel discussion moderated by AMRU Rice’s Kann Kunthy posed the central question: Is technology in agriculture worth the investment?
Panellists included H.E. Hul Seingheng, Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation (MISTI); Dr. Khron Saret, Deputy Secretary General at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF); Bou Ty, CEO of Kasegro; and Carl Huang, Co-Founder of konektAgri. Together, they unpacked the key economic and logistical barriers to adoption.
A common theme was the cost burden for smallholder farmers and the need for a national strategy that leverages public-private partnerships to bring down these barriers. Dr. Khron Saret noted MAFF’s ongoing efforts to partner with the private sector and development organizations to deliver agri-tech training programs and facilitate technology transfer across the country.
He also called on businesses to actively engage in priority areas identified by MAFF, including water efficiency, soil monitoring, and smart irrigation systems, to drive agricultural transformation.
Growing Ecosystem Seeks Cross-Sector Collaboration
EuroCham Chair Gabriele Faja said the event marked a shift in Cambodia’s agricultural narrative—from aspirational discussions to tangible solutions. “We’re seeing traceability tools, regenerative agriculture models, AI-powered disease detection, and blockchain used in rice exports,” he noted. “What’s most encouraging is the cross-sector collaboration—government agencies, innovators, NGOs, and exporters working together to modernize agriculture.”
The session concluded with remarks by Tomas Pokorny, Chairman of EuroCham’s Digital & Technology Committee, who reiterated the importance of cross-sector collaboration in unlocking Cambodia’s agri-tech potential.
The event highlighted growing momentum behind agri-tech investment in Cambodia, pointing to the need for supportive policies, financing mechanisms, and an inclusive innovation ecosystem that ensures no farmer is left behind.
