The Lancang-Mekong Improved Food Security Program in Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Communities Project was officially launched here on Monday, aiming at enhancing food security policies in the GMS nations.

Suos Yara, chairman of the Commission on Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Information of Cambodia's National Assembly, said the one-year research project was financially supported by the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Special Fund, which was initiated by China in March 2016.

"This project, as its name suggests, is a timely initiative of immense significance to the Greater Mekong Subregion, home to some 330 million people with rich and diverse national resources and ecosystems of the Mekong River, cultures and resilience," he said at the launch event.

Yara said food security is no longer a standalone issue as it is intimately connected to environmental security, water security, energy security, sustainable and community development, human and health security, cultural values, and regional resilience.

He added that rural and river-based communities in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam continue to face serious development challenges, ranging from high levels of food loss and post-harvest inefficiencies to climate-induced disruptions and limited livelihood diversification.

"This project stands as a practical example of enduring partnership in action, aligned with our joint vision for stability, prosperity, and sustainable development in the Mekong region," he said.

Chheng Kimlong, president of the Asian Vision Institute, a Phnom Penh-based independent think tank, said the project focuses on strengthening food security by examining the factors contributing to food loss and the enablers for security for community resilience in riverine communities across Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.

"Our work under this program focuses on two key components: food loss management and food-based community ecotourism," he said. "These two areas aim not only to address immediate concerns, but also to contribute to long-term policy solutions, through data, analysis, and meaningful local engagement."