The Food Imperative
Building the blueprint for better food systems
The Food Imperative is Economist Enterprise’s commitment to transform our global food systems for the future. Designed to arm decision-makers with the data, insights and tools they need to develop more sustainable and secure solutions, The Food Imperative will map and unpack best-practice policies, untangle agro-industrial complexities and pressure-test approaches that promise positive, inclusive economic outcomes.
Latest insights
Research | Insights
Beyond the farm gate: lessons from the 2026 fertiliser shock
By Anushree Ganeriwala, senior global analyst, Economist Intelligence Unit
Rethinking agricultural subsidies: three ways public finance can build smallholder resilience
Agricultural subsidies are one of the great paradoxes of public policy, but they can cause deadweight losses, damage the environment and distort markets.
Accelerating food-systems transformation: priorities for 2027
Food-systems transformation is a path to multiple wins through smarter food choices. So what needs to change from 2027 onwards to meet these targets?
Three years of progress are not enough: why the world must reclaim the fight against hunger
The world is not on track to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2—Zero Hunger—by 2030. Behind the positive global averages lies a far more troubling reality: progress remains uneven, fragile and deeply unequal.
Resilient Food Systems Index (RFSI)
The RFSI provides a benchmark of countries’ capacity to produce and deliver sufficient, affordable and nutritious food amid an increasingly interconnected and acute risk landscape.
Dr. Máximo Torero, Chief Economist, FAO
The conflict in the Persian Gulf threatening the world’s food security.
Key Research
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Supported by Cargill
Resilient Food Systems Index (RFSI)
The Resilient Food Systems Index (RFSI) measures how resilient food systems are in 60 countries. It examines four linked pillars: affordability, availability, quality and safety, and responsiveness to climate risk. The index draws on 71 qualitative and quantitative indicators to benchmark food-system resilience. It focuses on the structures and policies that help countries withstand shocks and adapt over time. The aim is to give policymakers, investors and researchers a practical tool to guide action towards more stable and sustainable food systems.
Supported by Lineage
Building resilient food systems
Agricultural and supply chain infrastructure plays a crucial role in supporting inclusive and sustainable food systems in hard-to-reach regions. Inclusive food infrastructure benefits everyone—farmers, manufacturers, food consumers, the private sector and governments alike—by providing essential opportunities not just for food security, but also for education, nutrition and economic growth.
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Events
Climate Week 2026
We offer an unparalleled opportunity to engage global audiences, demonstrate thought leadership, and cultivate meaningful ROI and lead-generation opportunities. Through a range of bespoke partnership opportunities your organisation can achieve strategic goals and reach influential audiences that shape the success of your business.
2nd annual Future of Food Summit
Extreme heat, water scarcity, flooding, disease outbreaks, resource constraints, labour shortages and conflict are testing every link in the global food chain, from farms to supermarkets. Against this backdrop, food security is becoming a more pressing concern for businesses and governments alike.
Steering committee
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Pratima Singh
Initiative Lead, The Food Imperative, and Principal
Ranveer Chandra
Vice President, M365 Copilot, and CTO Agri-Food
Dr. Ismahane Elouafi
Executive Managing Director
Dr. Lawrence James Haddad
Executive Director
Dr. Agnes Kalibata
Founder and Chair
Berry J. Marttin
Farmer and Independent Board Member
Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli
President/CEO
Dr. Máximo Torero
Chief Economist
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Partner With Us
Economist Enterprise works with organisations globally to further their mission and catalyse progress. Partner with us on The Food Imperative to advance the discourse and enable a more inclusive and sustainable food system.
Contact Us
We welcome feedback and ideas to inform our strategic roadmap. Send questions or comments to Pratima Singh, Principal, Economist Enterprise and The Food Imperative Lead [email protected]
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