Cambodia study improves Tool for evaluating sustainable farming
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Researchers in Cambodia investigated how to better assess agroecological performance, sustainable farming, by combining a tool called TAPE with an understanding of local farming history and economic changes.
They studied two rice-growing regions with different levels of modern farming. The team used focus groups, surveys, and interviews with farmers and officials to understand how changes in land ownership, resources, and off-farm work affect farmers’ ability to adopt sustainable practices.
The study revealed that both regions experienced a shift toward farming methods relying on chemicals and machinery to increase production for export. This modernization created differences among smallholder farmers based on their assets and labor. Understanding these economic and historical factors allows researchers to better connect different scales of analysis within the TAPE framework.
By including these political and economic considerations, the researchers believe TAPE can help design policies and practices that acknowledge the everyday work conditions of small farmers and support a transition toward more sustainable agriculture.
