Title

The Political Economy of Agricultural FDI and Food Security in Kampong Speu Province, Cambodia

Speaker

Natalie Page (PhD researcher, University of Bath, UK)

Discussant

Liu Zewen (Assistant Professor, Faculty of Economics, Shimonoseki City University)

Abstract

This research examines the political economy of agricultural foreign direct investment (FDI) in Cambodia, focusing on how Economic Land Concessions (ELC) operated by Asia-Pacific investors shape food security in Kampong Speu Province. Engaging with East Asian and Southeast Asian development literature on agrarian transformation and the FDI-food security nexus, the study situates Cambodia within wider debates on South-South investment and uneven rural development. Drawing on qualitative fieldwork, including semi-structured interviews with rural households, local officials, and other stakeholders, as well as analysis of policy documents and concession agreements, the research explores how land governance and investment regimes restructure local food systems.
　　The findings reveal highly uneven outcomes across the ELC, with differences in sustainability practices, food security impacts, community consultation, and villager relocation reflecting the absence of a consistent policy framework for ELC management. The study highlights how agricultural investment is experienced at the community level and considers the implications of regional investment flows for food security, rural inequality, and development governance in Southeast Asia.

Short bio of the Speaker

Natalie Page is a PhD researcher at the University of Bath, UK. She is part of the Centre for Development Studies, based within the Department of Social and Policy Sciences. Natalie’s research interests lie in the sustainability of international development practices, with a special interest in Asia-Pacific Relations.

Contact

Satoru Kobayashi (CSEAS)