Fixing the future of food
The global food system is under unprecedented pressure. By 2070, it will need to support nearly 10 billion people while addressing climate change, biodiversity loss and growing inequalities.
According to Deloitte’s latest research, only bold, system-level reform will make this possible. Without action, the consequences could be severe, not just for food security, but for the global economy and the planet as a whole.
Unlocking opportunity through transformation
Deloitte’s modelling outlines a best-case scenario: coordinated, strategic reform that increases food production by over 9% by 2070, while channelling resources to regions most affected by hunger. This could generate an additional 1,030 trillion calories—enough to feed 1.6 billion more people—and reduce the number of undernourished individuals by 300 million. In financial terms, such a transformation would unlock an estimated $22 trillion in additional food-system value, stabilising global food prices and enabling access to healthier diets across more communities.
The growing cost of doing nothing
Sticking with the status quo, however, would be significantly more expensive. Deloitte estimates that the world could lose up to $190 trillion in economic output by 2070 due to climate-related damage to agriculture and related industries. Land degradation and the expansion of farming into natural ecosystems could reach alarming levels, with agricultural land projected to grow by 13%—threatening biodiversity and accelerating environmental decline. The impact would stretch beyond farms to food processors, retailers and consumers, triggering supply chain disruptions, increased prices and deeper global inequality.
Five paths to a resilient food system
To avert this trajectory, Deloitte recommends five strategic actions: accelerating technological innovation, improving circularity to cut food and resource waste, reducing emissions, enabling more sustainable production, and shifting consumption patterns towards healthier, lower-impact diets. These actions must be pursued collectively, with alignment between governments, businesses, financial institutions and consumers. The report also highlights the need for investment and international cooperation, especially in developing countries where vulnerabilities are most acute.
Building momentum at events like SIAL Paris
While the challenge is global, efforts to promote sustainable change are happening at every level—including industry events. SIAL Paris, one of the world’s largest food innovation trade shows, has embedded CSR into its operations and exhibitor engagement. Its “SIAL For Change” initiative rewards companies driving measurable progress on social and environmental fronts, and its dedicated CSR Summit fosters dialogue around sustainability, inclusion and food transition. These platforms help connect the kind of innovation, policy and partnership that Deloitte argues are essential to transform the global food system.
By providing visibility to sustainable solutions and encouraging responsible business practices, SIAL Paris contributes—on an industry scale—to the broader transformation that experts now agree is no longer optional, but urgent.
Image credit: Markus Spiske – Unsplash
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