The attendees at last week’s workshop on digital innovation in the Kingdom’s agricultural sector pose for a group photo. FAO
The modernisation of Cambodia’s agriculture industry took centre stage at a two-day gathering in Phnom Penh last week.
Led by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), with support from the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the event brought together policymakers, technical experts and development partners who shared practical solutions and laid out the path for how digital innovation can address climate change and support the Kingdom’s agricultural decision making.
It featured hands-on training, and a high-level workshop focused on using satellite data, artificial intelligence and integrated digital systems to support smarter, more sustainable farming.
Agriculture ministry secretary of state Ros Soden addressed the opening of the workshop.
“Soden emphasised that digitalisation is a necessary evolution for the sector. He highlighted the ministry’s continued investments in GIS platforms, mobile apps and institutional data systems as central to improving outcomes for both farmers and institutions,” explained a joint press release.
Rebekah Bell, FAO representative in Cambodia, echoed his sentiments.
“She noted that digital transformation plays a critical role in advancing sustainable development, empowering rural communities and enabling more responsive, data-driven governance,” added the release.
It noted that ahead of the workshop, Cambodian officials received training on the “Rice Boundary Recognition Model”, an AI-powered tool developed by FAO in partnership with the Dutch University of Twente, which uses Sentinel-2 satellite data to identify rice field boundaries with high accuracy.
Claudia Paris, assistant professor at the university, delivered a presentation on the use of AI and open-access satellite data to support scalable crop boundary mapping, noting that enables faster, more accurate field identification and supports early yield predictions.
The pre-workshop training was funded by the government of Japan and implemented by FAO. The session also introduced practical applications of Google Earth Engine, Google Colab and an application of the AI tool to support biochar market deployment.
“These accessible digital platforms allow technical staff to process satellite imagery, monitor land use and model soil conditions — equipping national institutions with the capacity to make faster, evidence-based decisions that support both climate resilience and improved farm productivity,” explained the release.
The workshop also highlighted practical digital applications already being piloted in Cambodia.
“These included the use of artificial intelligence to map rice fields with greater precision, satellite-based tools for monitoring crop growth, and new efforts to close data gaps in the agriculture sector,” said the release.
“Participants also explored how machine learning is being applied to improve yield forecasting based on national surveys and census data. The workshop was also enriched by presentations by Google DeepMind and the National Institute of Statistics,” it added.
The workshop concluded with a shared recognition of the need to move beyond pilot initiatives and ensure digital tools become part of long-term institutional frameworks.
“As Cambodia continues to embrace digital transformation, the focus now shifts to turning these technologies into scalable, practical solutions that strengthen resilience, enhance productivity and support inclusive agricultural growth,” concluded the statement.
