15 reasons resilient food systems matter for food security
Key Takeways
- A resilient food system is one that can withstand disruptions — such as climate shocks, supply chain bottlenecks, and rising costs — while continuing to deliver safe, affordable, and accessible food.
- As climate risk, population growth and supply chain shocks increase, resilience is becoming central to global food security.
- Cargill supports a resilient food system by keeping food moving from the farms where it’s grown to the tables where it’s needed — even during disruption.
The global food system is one of the world’s largest interconnected economic systems. It relies on efficient trade routes, infrastructure, logistics networks, capital markets, and real-time data. It begins on the farm and connects manufacturers, food companies, retailers and consumers.
“The food system is set up to feed billions of people efficiently, at scale. Most of the time it does so quietly,” says Lauren Bresnahan, Cargill’s chief economist.
Lauren often looks at the food system with a macroeconomic lens — from agricultural inputs and farm production to trade flows, to the food that ultimately reaches consumers.
“When the food system falters — when market volatility rises, infrastructure is strained, or trade routes are disrupted — the consequences are felt immediately,” she says. “This is why resilient food systems matter.”
The defining question for the food system today is not only how we produce enough food, but how we keep food moving when disruption hits.
The Economist Impact Resilient Food Systems Index (RFSI), supported by Cargill, highlights a clear takeaway: resilience comes from the choices we make — and progress accelerates when we build on what’s already working and scale it.
Here are 15 reasons food system resilience matters more than ever, and how Cargill is working from its place at the heart of the supply chain to help strengthen food security and build long-term resilience.
Food production is under pressure
1. Our population is growing fast — which means more people to feed.
By 2030, the world will need to feed about 500 million more people — and close to 10 billion total by mid-century. That raises the stakes for resilience at every step.
How we’re helping: For 160 years Cargill has helped keep food moving. With operations in 70 countries and supply chains reaching 125 markets, we connect farmers, customers and communities to support the movement of food, even when supply chains are under pressure.
2. Extreme weather is raising the risk for crops.
More frequent floods, droughts and heatwaves are making harvests less predictable and increasing risk for farmers. Resilience means helping farmers adapt before shocks become shortages.
How we’re helping: Through regenerative agriculture programs and partnerships in 16 countries, Cargill works to support farmers with access to training, tools, incentives and markets to strengthen resilience.
3. Farmers need stronger everyday support.
Smallholder farmers produce one-third of the world’s food, yet access to services, markets and finance is limited. Women perform half of agricultural labor in developing countries, but produce 20-30% less than men due to unequal access to land and resources. Closing these gaps can strengthen communities against shocks.
How we’re helping: Through organizations like CARE and Solidaridad, we help smallholder farmers access training, finance and markets — improving productivity and incomes. This includes targeted support to help women farmers access finance, build leadership skills and play a greater role in farm and household decisions.
4. Water shortages can threaten food production.
Today, 70% of all withdrawn freshwater is used for agriculture to grow the crops and raise the livestock that feed the world. Water challenges in one region can ripple through global supply, making this not only an environmental issue, but also a food security issue.
How we’re helping: Healthy soil acts like a sponge — soaking up, storing and conserving water — which can reduce irrigation needs and improve drought resilience. Cargill helps farmers build healthy soil by adopting cover cropping, reduced tillage and rotational grazing.
5. Innovation at the farmgate can strengthen our food system.
Innovation strengthens resilience. Precision agriculture, regenerative agriculture, crop innovation and artificial intelligence (AI) can boost yields, helping farmers and supply chains respond faster, operate more efficiently, and reduce environmental impacts.
How we’re helping: Cargill helps farming partners use data and technology — such as drones to manage cattle herds and digital platforms to support flock health — to operate more efficiently, reduce impacts and adapt to a changing world.
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6. The world relies on a small number of countries for food.
Just 15 countries produce 70% of the world’s food. Many of those countries are major exporters, accounting for more than 60% of global food exports. When disruption occurs, availability can tighten and prices can rise.
How we’re helping: To keep food moving, we draw on our global sourcing network, invest in logistics and infrastructure, and work with customers and partners to boost reliability when disruption hits so supply can reach the people who depend on it.
7. Nearly 25% of food moves across borders.
Strengthening infrastructure and modernizing supply chains is essential to keeping food moving safely and dependably, especially in times of disruption.
How we’re helping: Every shipment depends on timing, coordination and visibility across thousands of miles. We’re using AI to optimize ports and inland logistics — predicting volumes, improving planning and strengthening supply chain resilience.
8. Trade enables food to move from surplus to need.
Some countries grow more food than they consume, while others rely on imports. Trade connects that imbalance, supporting a safe, dependable, globally interconnected food system.
How we’re helping: Cargill’s integrated network of grain terminals, river and ocean ports, and more than 600 shipping vessels connects farmers’ harvests with global customers, moving more than 300 billion meals each year.
9. Keeping food moving through disruption is essential.
Pandemics, conflict, climate events and trade disruptions can delay shipments, increase costs and create bottlenecks across supply chains.
How we’re helping: Our integrated supply chain network allows us to adapt quickly to help keep food moving across borders, connecting farmers to markets and people to the nourishment they need.
10. We need lower-emission ways to produce and move food.
Food production and transport generate more than one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing emissions can support resilience and long-term stability by helping lower climate risk over time.
How we’re helping: We’re cutting emissions across our operations and supply chains through more than 100 renewable energy projects across 30 countries. We’re also advancing lower-carbon ocean shipping that uses wind-assisted propulsion and lower-carbon fuels, including waste-based biofuels and green methanol.
Food access and nutrition gaps are widening
11. Urban growth is reshaping food demand and access.
By 2030, about 60% of people will live in cities — changing diets, shopping habits and supply needs. Resilient supply chains are essential to help ensure a safe, dependable and diverse food supply reaches urban markets.
How we’re helping: As cities grow, so does the need for reliable food systems. Our global operations, transportation and trade network runs around the clock; it can bring stability during times of disruption and keep food flowing to markets around the world.
12. Too many people are going to bed hungry.
More than 300 million people face acute levels of hunger. When systems are fragile, shocks hit hardest where there’s the least cushion.
How we’re helping: Cargill supports emergency food assistance and farmer livelihoods with partners like the World Food Programme and food banks like Feeding America and Second Harvest Heartland.
13. Food loss and waste can undermine resilience.
Nearly 30% of the world’s calories go uneaten due to food loss and waste. According to the Economist Impact Resilient Food Systems Index, food waste is the fastest resilience gain hiding in plain sight.
How we’re helping: In our U.S. beef processing facilities, we use computer-vision and AI tools, like CarVe to get more meat from every cut. This translates into millions of additional meals without expanding production.
14. Access to affordable nutrition can boost long-term resilience.
In many countries, even the least expensive healthy diet can consume around two-thirds of income for the poorest households. A resilient system supports both affordability and enabling nutritious choices.
How we’re helping: We help customers improve the nutritional profile of everyday foods — reducing sugar, sodium and trans fats; adding fiber, protein and whole grains; all while maintaining taste, functionality and affordability.
15. Collaboration is the fastest path to a more food-secure world.
No single organization can build resilience alone. The biggest gains come when we work across sectors to scale practical solutions that strengthen farmers, protect natural resources and keep food moving.
How we’re helping: Resilience underpins food security and collaboration is critical to strengthening it. We partner across sectors to strengthen food security, improve nutrition, protect natural resources and build long-term resilience.
