Alliance 2015, a network of European non-government organizations working on humanitarian and development activities, partner with SUPA71, Co., Ltd. in investigating amounts of residual pesticides on market vegetables in Cambodia. This was brought by the increasing concerns on food safety being reported blamed to the use of harmful pesticides in many parts of the country.
Beginning May of 2016, a team of occupational and environmental health specialists from SUPA71, Co., Ltd. travelled to Phnom Penh, Takeo, Ratanakiri, Kampong Chhnang, and Siem Reap provinces in Cambodia to collect sample vegetables for pesticide testing as commissioned by Alliance 2015. Vegetables are then transported to Thailand for laboratory testing. By end of October, Alliance 2015 will plan for next steps to ensure food safety, tailored from the results and recommendation of SUPA71, Co., Ltd.’s study.
According to Cambodia’s National Institute of Statistics, 80% of the country’s population rely in the agriculture sector for livelihood. However, a number of challenges still plague this sector. Climate change, alienation of lands, and harmful crop protection techniques, inhibit agricultural productivity. Illegal pesticide traders taking advantage of the farmers’ lack of information on harmful pesticides exacerbates the problem. As such, findings of this commissioned study will be used to improve agricultural policies and laws to ensure safety of widely-consumed market vegetables in Cambodia.
