Cambodia’s Farmed & Wild Agrodiversity – IRD

The diversity of farmed and wild plants in Cambodia’s culinary, medicinal and cultural traditions is a rich heritage to preserve for future generations. Cambodian farmers grow on average more than 30 species of plants. More than 2,500 rice varieties exist in the country, adapted to different ecosystems and dishes. Agrobiodiversity is also found in forests: in some provinces, 97% of farmers collect on average more than 20 species of wild plants, used daily for various uses.

In July 2026, I documented Cambodia’s rich biocultural heritage for IRD Cambodia in photos & video. Together with the University of Battambang, we talked to Khmer farmers in Siem Reap as well as Indigenous Kuy farmers in Kampong Thom. We listen to them presenting what they grow, why they choose to cultivate using agroecology principles, and join them harvesting wild plants in the forest.