Executive summary Increasing disruption from extreme weather events, volatile prices, geopolitical tensions, shifting consumer demands and natural resource depletion is reshaping global food supply chains. Volatility stands out as the most compounding risk, driven by intensifying climate shocks that can destabilize production and magnify existing vulnerabilities. In a rapidly warming world, every 1°C rise in temperature can cut yields of major crops by up to 20% according to some reports,2 putting global food security, affordability and long-term resilience at risk. At the same time, the food system can contribute to environmental risks – including emissions, deforestation, ecosystem degradation and water impacts – adding urgency and complexity. Procurement practices must continue to be managed carefully to ensure uninterrupted, affordable supply and to support the long-term viability of producers. In addition, many companies are looking to reduce environmental impact and strengthen resilience to secure supply and future growth. Balancing these priorities requires careful navigation across company operations and supply chains to support meaningful progress. For the food industry, transitioning to more resilient and sustainable methods of production is becoming essential. Sourcing plays a vital role in this evolution. Procurement teams are recognizing that their historic focus on balancing cost, quality and availability, while still important, must also support resilience and sustainability. Many companies are piloting bold ideas, but these may lack the capability and financing to move into the mainstream. As a result, widespread sourcing of sustainably produced food commodities can sometimes remain elusive. This paper by the First Movers Coalition (FMC) for Food offers strategies for achieving sustainable and resilient food procurement at scale, while continuing to deliver on affordability, quality and availability, illustrated with examples from corporate members of the coalition. These best practices include the following:1. Build sourcing maturity to scale up for success. A three-step maturity ladder illustrates how companies can move from basic sustainability improvements to connected procurement models capable of embedding resilient, sustainable sourcing across business operations. 2. Identify strategic sourcing pathways for scale. Two potential pathways for growing resilient, sustainable food procurement are: a. “Spec-anchored sourcing”, which embeds sustainability into specifications while strengthening supplier collaboration. b. “Decoupled sourcing”, which separates sustainability investments from commodity purchases. 3. Calibrate strategy and prioritize sourcing pathway, based on each commodity’s sourcing context and characteristics and each company’s level of dependence on existing suppliers and supply-sheds. 4. Strengthen partnerships and align corporate operations, to help unlock change at scale, such as: industry-wide partnerships where appropriate and operational alignment across procurement, sustainability and finance. These changes require active executive leadership. CEOs can help reframe the ambition, set the direction and provide support for bold new approaches. That allows C-suite leaders in procurement, sustainability and finance to align their priorities into a coherent approach, back commitments with real capital and keep supply affordable, while ensuring risk is not passed onto producers. Now is the time to bridge the gap between ambition and execution. In an era defined by uncertainty, building resilient food supply systems capable of delivering sustainable sourcing at scale can help create long-term business value and ensure food security. Global food supply is being challenged by market and climate volatility, and rising stakeholder expectations. Companies’ leadership can help secure the future. First Movers Coalition for Food: CEO Lessons for the Future of Food Procurement 4

First Movers Coalition for Food 2026