Overview
Our ambition is to ensure the most sustainable food supply chains in the world.
Our purpose is to be the leader in nourishing the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way. It’s who we are. It’s why we exist. As the world faces extraordinary challenges – from climate change to food insecurity – delivering on our purpose is more critical than ever before.
To deliver, we’ve identified the most material issues to our business. This prioritization was completed in partnership with external stakeholders and takes into account the significance of the environmental, social and economic impacts of our diverse business and supply chains. Within each of these strategic priorities, we have set goals and objectives.
Our global priorities
Agriculture is how we help people and the planet thrive
We believe that many of the solutions to challenges facing people and the planet today can be found in the very place our food system begins: agriculture. Agriculture can be a force for good. We aim to empower farmers and workers, support our communities, promote safe and fair working conditions, and ensure food is nutritious and plentiful for all.
We’re also driving progress on priorities that safeguard our planet and ensure we’re operating our business in a sustainable way. Through our work with key partners, collaborative initiatives with our customers and constantly innovating the products and services we offer, we are committed to creating impactful change that leverages our scale of operations and reach.
By empowering farming communities, protecting land and regenerating our soils, we’ll nourish this growing population – safely, responsibly and sustainably.
Read more about our priorities and our work in making our supply chains more sustainable
Priorities
Sustainable supply chains
Transparency and governance
Cargill’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Ruth Kimmelshue, leads oversight for the company’s policies and programs to deliver progress against our global commitments. The Cargill Executive Team reviews the company’s progress on a quarterly basis at an enterprise and business level. We report progress externally through our company’s annual report in addition to annual and biannual supply chain reports. All of our reports, supply chain grievance dashboards and other public information can be found on our Reporting Hub.
Recent sustainability progress reports
Ocean Transportation
Cocoa and Chocolate
Aqua Nutrition
Soy
Palm Oil
Connection to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Cargill supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Working to nourish the world, protect the planet and empower communities, we know business plays an important role in advancing the Global Goals, which aim to end poverty, address climate change and ensure prosperity for all. We contribute 2% of our global pre-tax earnings to advance social and environmental impact priorities, and support local communities.
Food Safety, Health & Workplace Safety
We aim for zero harm workplaces, with zero serious injuries and fatalities.
Contribution to the SDGs
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
We aim to be a respected global leader in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, with full gender parity by 2030. We aim to achieve 20% representation of U.S. minorities in leadership globally.
Contribution to the SDGs
Community Engagement
We invest in the economic, social and climate resilience of farming households and communities, and we will donate 2% global pre-tax earnings to charitable contributions.
Contribution to the SDGs
Food Security & Nutrition
We will increase access to safe, nutritious food for a growing population.
Contribution to the SDGs
Farmer Livelihoods
By 2030, we will provide training on sustainable agricultural practices and improve access to markets for 10 million farmers.
Contribution to the SDGs
Human Rights
We promote and respect human rights as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and take guidance from the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the International Labour Organisation Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
Contribution to the SDGs
Climate Change
We will reduce our absolute operational greenhouse gas emissions by 10% by 2025. We are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from our global supply chain by 30% by 2030, measured per ton of product.
Contribution to the SDGs
Land Use
By 2030, we will transform our agricultural supply chains to be deforestation-free.
Contribution to the SDGs
Water Resources
Our goal is to achieve sustainable water management in all priority watersheds by 2030.
Contribution to the SDGs
Join Us
We're committing $30 million to source innovative ideas to protect forests and native vegetation in Brazil. We openly call on others to join us in this commitment.
Sustainability features
Cocoa & Forests Initiative report shows progress in forest protection and restoration in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire
When cocoa beans arrive at Cargill’s warehouse in the Afamu community of Ghana, they are weighed and assigned a barcode. That barcode corresponds to the unique ID code of the farmer selling the beans, and with it, Cargill has access to detailed information related to the farmer’s forest risks.
Easter chocolate takes on new meaning with sustainability and innovation
As Easter approaches, children will soon delight in baskets filled with chocolate treats. What they might not realize is the journey chocolate makes from cocoa bean to chocolate eggs is one that requires responsibility and innovation every step of the way.
Valentine’s chocolate takes on new meaning with sustainability and innovation
This Valentine’s Day, chocolate will bring joy to people all over the world. What they might not realize is the journey chocolate makes from cocoa bean to heart-shaped box is one that requires responsibility and innovation every step of the way.
In Cameroon, a new roadmap to deforestation-free cocoa
A new framework is bringing together industry stakeholders to promote a sustainable cocoa sector in Cameroon and protect the third-largest forest range in the Congo Basin.