Cambodia adds fish to national food security and nutrition strategy to aid health outcomes


6 May 2025
Responsible Seafood Advocate

Cambodia’s latest food security and nutrition strategy includes fish, aiming to promote healthy diets and tackle malnutrition nationwide

food security
Cambodia has officially included fish as a key component of healthy diets in its newly launched Third National Strategy for Food Security and Nutrition (2024–2028), a nationwide plan aimed at improving nutrition, food security and resilience.  Photo by Valeria Boltneva.

Cambodia has officially included fish as a key component of healthy diets in its newly launched Third National Strategy for Food Security and Nutrition (2024–2028), a nationwide plan aimed at improving nutrition, food security and resilience. The strategy is led by the Council for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD).

“I would like to express my deep appreciation to the development partners, including ministries, institutions, the German Federal Government, UN agencies (such as FAO, UNICEF, WFP, WHO), international NGOs (GIZ, HKI, NI, IIRR, WorldFish, World Vision, Plan International), for their collaboration with CARD in preparing this important national strategy,” said Dr. Ouk Rabun, Senior Minister and Chairman of CARD.

The inclusion of fish in the national strategy highlights the influence of long-standing collaboration between WorldFish and Cambodian policymakers. Scientific evidence shows that fish are rich in essential micronutrients that play a critical role in reducing malnutrition, supporting childhood growth, and improving cognitive development – particularly among vulnerable populations.

The NSFSN 2024–2028 sets ambitious targets, including reducing child stunting from 21.9 percent to 19 percent, lowering child wasting from 9.6 percent to 5.8 percent, preventing a rise in childhood overweight and decreasing the rate of overweight and obesity among women from 32.6 percent to 27 percent.

These goals will be pursued through nutrition-sensitive approaches, sustainable food systems and continued partnerships with organizations like WorldFish, which has supported fisheries and food security in Cambodia since 2006.

Read more here.

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