Meeting the World’s Growing Demand for Food, Sustainably

Here are some numbers that may surprise you.?

By 2030, our global population is expected to gain another 500 million people. That’s like adding the entire population of North America in six years.??

To feed this increasing population, food production will need to increase by as much as 70% by 2050. And we need to do it with the same amount of land and water — while facing increased impacts of climate change.?

These complex challenges require thoughtful solutions, with innovation and collaboration at the core.??

At Cargill, we believe access to food is a basic human right and a challenge the world can, and must, meet. In fact, it’s our purpose to nourish the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way.?

In the coming years, agriculture can and must make transformational changes to sustainably feed the world for generations to come. Cargill is proud to help make that change happen, bringing together the power of our people, partnerships and innovation to reimagine what’s possible in food and agriculture.??

Take a look at how we’re helping grow food more sustainably by working hand-in-hand with farmers, decarbonizing transportation to move food efficiently, and working with partners to nourish communities around the world.??

Meeting Farmers Where They Are

The food system starts with farmers, and every farmer is unique when it comes to the adoption of regenerative agriculture and other sustainable practices. What works in Nebraska for a corn farmer doesn’t work for a soy farmer in Brazil or a canola farmer in Australia. That’s why we work to understand the issues and gaps at a local level, with different programs that consider local challenges and opportunities. These programs help improve farmers’ livelihoods while sustainably meeting the world’s growing demand for food.?

Take, for example, our regenerative agriculture program Cargill RegenConnect? . Farmers in the program can choose the practices that are best suited to their operation’s unique growing conditions, like planting cover crops or reduced or no-till farming. These regenerative agriculture practices can help store carbon in the ground, improve soil health and protect water quality. Cargill RegenConnect? also pays farmers for environmental outcomes created by adopting these practices, so they benefit financially, too. This program helps farmers like Tyler Bruns produce food more sustainably while increasing their productivity and resiliency.?

This year, we launched SustainConnect? in Australia . The program builds on the success of the Cargill RegenConnect? program, by supporting Australian canola growers in the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices such as nutrient management interventions and reduced or no-tillage. And in Brazil, our new ReSolu program focuses on helping to improve long-term soil health while supporting Brazilian producers.??

Our team partners with farmers across all regions and operations of all sizes, helping them adapt to changing conditions, manage risk, increase production and sustainably meet rising demand for food — now and for generations to come.?

Moving Food More Sustainably

We know that nearly one-fifth of all carbon emissions in the food system are from transportation. With initiatives that transform cover crops, used cooking oil and wind into more sustainable fuels, we’re using creativity, innovation and collaboration to decarbonize the supply chain.?

Specifically in ocean transportation we are finding more sustainable solutions, like our WindWings project . Partnering with BAR Technologies and MC Shipping, we retrofitted the bulk carrier Pyxis Ocean with enormous airplane-style wings. These WindWings harness the power of the wind as fuel — cutting emissions by as much as 30%. With this innovation and others, we’re working towards zero-carbon shipping.?

Improving Access to Food

From Cargill’s position at the center of the food system, we’re given the unique opportunity to make connections and collaborate across the supply chain to improve access to safe, nutritious and sustainable food.??

And that is exactly where we are focused, on collaboration. By uniting our efforts among customers, governments and NGOs and prioritizing global cooperation, we can create a sustainable future for our planet and strive to ensure food security for generations to come.?

• Since 2001, Cargill has worked with the World Food Program USA and U.N. World Food Programme, contributing more than $30?million to support school meals, farmer livelihoods and emergency food assistance in Asia, Africa and Latin?America. This work gives important support to communities who don’t have easy access to nutritious food.?
• We’re also driving change through donations and volunteer work for local nonprofits, like Second Harvest Heartland in Minnesota. For more than 30 years, we’ve been their proud partner, giving our time and support. Last year alone, our employees and retirees volunteered 1,500 hours to Second Harvest Heartland. We’ve also pledged $10 million over the next five years to support their multi-year initiative, Make Hunger History , which aims to cut hunger in half for all Minnesotans by 2030.???
• And finally, any solutions that help farmers prosper while increasing food security are a win-win. In partnership with Heifer International and Technoserve, our award-winning Hatching Hope Initiative uses chickens to improve nutrition and economic livelihoods in rural communities. By raising and selling chickens, farmers gain another source of income, and communities get a source of high-quality protein. Because of Hatching Hope, farmers like Chitta Soren in India are raising their incomes while increasing food security in their communities.??

The challenge in the coming years is to feed the world’s growing population in a safe, responsible and sustainable way. Through projects and partners that are both big and small, we’re reimagining the entire food system to ensure it feeds the future and protects the planet. I am inspired by the impact our teams and partners have already had across the globe and determined to continue to expand our reach to ensure more people have access to safe and nutritious, sustainably produced food.??

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