How Cargill is Building Sustainable Farming Supply Chains – Food Digital

Report on Cargill’s Initiatives for Sustainable Agriculture and Farmer Livelihoods

Contribution to SDG 15 (Life on Land) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)

Cargill has implemented key strategies within its cocoa supply chain to promote environmental stewardship and responsible production, directly aligning with several Sustainable Development Goals.

• Traceability Systems: The company encourages traceability, enabling the tracking of individual cocoa deliveries back to the specific farm plot of origin. This supports SDG 12 by ensuring transparency in the supply chain.
• Deforestation Monitoring: Through the use of satellite data, Cargill actively monitors farms for any indications of deforestation, a critical action for the preservation of terrestrial ecosystems as outlined in SDG 15.
• Agroforestry and Education: These monitoring and traceability efforts have facilitated the education of 14,800 farmers, who are now applying agroforestry techniques in their cocoa farming and production, contributing to both SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15.

Supporting Global Food Security and Economic Growth (SDG 2, SDG 1, SDG 8)

Cargill is engaged in a global effort to enhance farmer livelihoods, which is fundamental to achieving SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger).

1. Farmer Training Goal: The company has set a target to provide training on sustainable agricultural practices to 10 million farmers by the year 2030.
2. Progress Towards Goal: As of 2025, a total of 7.7 million training sessions have been delivered since the 2017 baseline, demonstrating significant progress towards this objective.

Building Resilience and Fostering Partnerships (SDG 13, SDG 17)

In alignment with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), Cargill collaborates with farmers to address systemic challenges and build a more resilient agricultural sector.

• Economic Resilience: Partnerships focus on improving the profitability and resilience of farms, ensuring farmers’ inclusion in the supply chain and contributing to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
• Climate Adaptation: The company assists farmers in managing disruptions from climate change and market fluctuations, a key component of SDG 13 (Climate Action). This support includes improving access to necessary tools, training, and markets to fortify their operations.

Pilar Cruz, Executive Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, noted that recent efforts have advanced solutions to help farmers adapt and succeed. This strategy delivers value to customers and strengthens the long-term resilience of the global food system, reinforcing the company’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of SDGs in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • The article directly addresses this goal by focusing on efforts to “ensure food security” and enhance “farmer livelihoods.” The company’s work to improve the profitability and resilience of farms, along with providing training on sustainable agricultural practices, contributes to ending hunger and promoting sustainable agriculture.

2. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • This goal is connected through the article’s emphasis on combating deforestation. The text explicitly mentions that Cargill “actively monitors farms for any signs of deforestation” using satellite data and promotes “agroforestry techniques” among farmers. These actions are central to protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 2.3: Double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers

   • The article highlights Cargill’s work with farmers to “improve the profitability and resilience of their farms” and “improve their access to necessary tools, training and markets.” This directly aligns with the goal of increasing the income and productivity of small-scale farmers.

2. Target 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices

   • The company’s aim to “provide training on sustainable agricultural practices to 10 million farmers” and the mention of “agroforestry techniques” are direct efforts to implement resilient agricultural practices that strengthen the long-term resilience of the food system, as mentioned by the Chief Sustainability Officer.

3. Target 15.2: Promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally

   • The article’s description of using satellite data to “actively monitor farms for any signs of deforestation” and encouraging “agroforestry techniques” directly contributes to the target of halting deforestation and promoting sustainable forest management.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for SDG 2 (Targets 2.3 & 2.4)

   • Number of farmers trained: The article provides a clear, quantifiable indicator of progress. It states a goal to “provide training on sustainable agricultural practices to 10 million farmers by 2030” and reports that as of 2025, it has “delivered 7.7 million training sessions.” This measures the reach of efforts to improve agricultural practices.

2. Indicators for SDG 15 (Target 15.2)

   • Number of farmers applying sustainable techniques: The article specifies that “14,800 farmers receiving education and applying agroforestry techniques.” This is a direct indicator of the adoption of sustainable land management practices.
   • Monitoring of deforestation: The statement that Cargill “actively monitors farms for any signs of deforestation” implies the use of an indicator related to the area of land being monitored or the number of deforestation incidents detected and addressed.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: fooddigital.com