First Movers Coalition for Food 2026

Understanding resilience – a combination of robustness and flexibility FIGURE 3 Definition Increase supply reliability and quality by partnering with farmers to improve farming practices and infrastructureBroaden the supplier base to be able to rapidly switch supply sources as needed Sometimes a tensionResilience Interaction with cost, quality & availability Interaction with sustainabilityOn-the-ground initiatives can lead to over-reliance on specific suppliers, limiting the ability to fulfil traditional priorities Typically reinforce each other Many sustainability initiatives can also strengthen resilience by building on-farm robustness (e.g. regenerative agriculture)Typically reinforce each other Cost, quality and availability risks can be mitigated through a diverse supplier base Sometimes a tension On-the-ground sustainability initiatives may reduce sourcing flexibility by tying companies to specific farm groupsOn-farm robustness Sourcing flexibility Old procurement priorities New procurement prioritiesResilience of food systems depends on two components, each interacting differently with old and new procurement priorities. Source: Bain & Company analysis. On-farm robustness On-farm robustness may involve partnering with specific farmers to improve practices and infrastructure in ways that strengthen supply reliability and quality while also supporting sustainability goals. Regenerative agriculture, for instance, enhances resilience, lowers emissions and stores carbon. Hence, on-the-ground investments typically help companies meet both resilience and sustainability goals. However, long-term commitments to specific suppliers or sourcing areas risk over-reliance, limiting flexibility in managing cost, quality or short-term availability – a key tension when procurement needs to respond quickly to market or climate shocks. Sourcing flexibility Sourcing flexibility, by contrast, involves maintaining a diverse supplier base to shift buying quickly across regions and producers. It limits exposure to local disruptions, price spikes or major shocks such as extreme weather or geopolitical events. It reinforces traditional procurement priorities, as cost, quality and availability risks can be mitigated through a diverse supplier base. Meanwhile, sustainability efforts often benefit from long-term, place-based partnerships – since concentrated investment is harder across a broad supplier base. However, this creates a tension between sourcing flexibility and the collaboration that may be needed to deliver sustainability outcomes. Prioritizing the right sourcing pathway Understanding the sourcing context of a commodity, especially its level of dependency, is vital to calibrating the resilience strategy and choosing the right strategic sourcing pathway. Dependency reflects how difficult or costly it is for a buyer to switch suppliers. It is driven by factors such as the commodity’s availability and durability, the cost of shipping relative to its value, the buyer’s quality requirements and the risk of disruptions to supply continuity. Sustainability efforts often benefit from long- term, place-based partnerships – since concentrated investment is harder across a broad supplier base. First Movers Coalition for Food: CEO Lessons for the Future of Food Procurement 18