Building a food-secure future, together

By JENNIFER BALLINGER, Director of ADM Cares

This year’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) World Food Day theme, “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future”, captures the spirit of collaboration that Southeast Asia urgently needs. Across the region, food insecurity has surged from 14% to nearly 20%^[1], meaning that one in five people now struggle to access sufficient or nutritious food. At the same time, rising climate pressures, economic volatility, and supply chain disruptions threaten to widen these gaps even further. Without strong collective action, global hunger and malnutrition could rise by as much as 20% by 2050^[2].

Meeting the region’s growing nutritional needs while protecting its natural resources calls for a focus on building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems – ones that not only feed communities, but empower them to flourish.

The roots of food insecurity in Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia’s food security is tested by a convergence of environmental and social pressures. In countries such as Vietnam^[3] and Thailand^[4], the growing frequency of floods and droughts has disrupted harvests and undermined rural livelihoods. At the same time, land degradation and the steady conversion of farmland for urban development are diminishing the land available for cultivation, putting additional pressure on local food systems^[5].

These pressures are deepening existing nutritional challenges. Undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies remain prevalent, especially among lower-income and rural communities. Many households continue to face “hidden hunger”, where meals provide sufficient calories but lack the essential nutrients needed for healthy growth and development^[6].

Smallholder farmers, who form the backbone of Southeast Asia’s agriculture, stand on the frontline of these challenges. However, limited access to and knowledge of climate-resilient farming practices, affordable financing, and modern technologies constrain productivity and make it difficult for them to adapt to evolving food demands.

Food security, therefore, extends beyond increasing production; it is about producing better, in ways that are inclusive, resilient, and equitable. Strengthening local food systems requires shared responsibility, where governments, businesses, and communities work together to create lasting solutions.

Business and community: A dual approach to food security

At ADM, we recognize that addressing food security requires a holistic approach that integrates both our core business and community engagement. Our strategy combines regenerative farming and responsible production practices, alongside nutrition innovation and local partnerships, to strengthen the entire food value chain.

ADM Cares, our corporate social investment program, is one of the ways we partner with communities – supporting local initiatives that create lasting impact to bolster farms, food security, and well-being. For instance, in the Philippines, we began our partnership in 2021 with Project PEARLS, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to alleviating poverty. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, our efforts focused on hunger relief for vulnerable families and children near our Animal Nutrition plants in Bulacan and Manila. In 2023, Project PEARLS served more than 159,000 meals across its feeding programs, with ADM participating as one of its partners.

In Indonesia, we have partnered with the Tzu Chi Foundation and Golden Agri-Resources (GAR) in Riau to promote sustainable farming and local entrepreneurship. A key component of this effort is the establishment of Community Learning Centers (CLCs), which train local residents in environmentally responsible agricultural practices and waste management, while also equipping them with essential business skills. These initiatives help boost food security and strengthen local economies. In 2024, dozens of micro-enterprises received training and mentoring through the CLCs, with more than 50 people involved in the business benefiting directly each month and over 400 benefiting indirectly across the community.

Beyond funding, ADM puts its purpose into action by fostering a strong culture of volunteerism and shared purpose. During Global Volunteer Week – first introduced this year – and through various local initiatives, employees across Southeast Asia dedicate their time and skills to causes that support food security, nutrition, and education. From distributing meals and food packs to assisting community learning programs, these on-the-ground efforts demonstrate that advancing food security and community well-being is not just a corporate commitment, but a personal one embraced by employees at every level.

Lessons for a more resilient and food-secure future

Our experiences highlight key lessons for strengthening Southeast Asia’s food systems.

First, progress begins with partnership. The most effective efforts to strengthen food security are grounded in genuine collaboration with the communities they aim to serve. When businesses, local organizations, and community members align around shared goals, they design solutions that reflect real needs and deliver tangible, lasting benefits.

Second, empowerment drives long-term change. Food security cannot be achieved through aid alone; it must be built on ownership and capability. When communities gain access to training, tools, and opportunities to generate more income, they become active participants in their own progress. Empowered smallholders and entrepreneurs are more likely to adopt climate-smart and resource-efficient practices, diversify income sources, and pass on knowledge that strengthens resilience across generations.

And lastly, continuity ensures that progress endures. Building food security is a long-term effort that requires consistent engagement, adaptation, and learning. When organizations remain committed to the communities they serve, they help turn early gains into lasting resilience. True impact comes not from one-off interventions, but from relationships that stand the test of time.

Food security is, at its heart, about shared purpose that unites every stakeholder in the value chain to nourish both people and the planet. At ADM, this belief underpins all our efforts to advance food security, from community partnerships and social investment to the innovations we deliver across our nutrition and agricultural solutions. Together, these initiatives help to build a more resilient, inclusive, and food-secure future. As this year’s World Food Day reminds us, a better food future begins when we move forward hand in hand.