Article by Ilario Ingravallo, Mission Lead - Reducing Risk for a Fair and Resilient Food System, EIT Food

This month, the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) released a report warning that a ‘major market-driven disruption’ of the global food system is not only imminent, but already underway. This impending upheaval is the result of growing environmental pressures, from shifting weather patterns to issues around water supply, and the rise of new food production processes.

To some in the sector, the report may seem alarmist – farmers across Europe have been slow to adapt to climate change, due to a combination of funding, policy restraints and deeply embedded perceptions around traditional agricultural practices. However, the report underscores a growing reality: industrial farming has reached its physical and environmental limits.

The report makes clear that simply scaling up food production is no longer a viable path to meeting global demand – even before considering the urgent need to cut emissions. Decades of industrial agricultural practices have left us facing a cascade of challenges, from depleted soils and diminishing water resources to the accelerating impacts of climate change. In the EU alone, agriculture is responsible for around 11% of total greenhouse gas emissions (European Commission, 2025). Meanwhile, the climate crisis is already causing significant food supply shocks, which are set to worsen as extreme weather events become more frequent. This underscores the need to rethink how we produce food, in a way that restores ecosystems while supporting resilient, sustainable supply chains.

Innovation is crucial, both for the evolution of technology and existing farming practices. A future built on climate-smart and tech-positive farming solutions can provide a way forward – if we’re willing to embrace it.

Solution 1: Regenerative agriculture

Regenerative agriculture, a system of farming practices which are designed to work in harmony with the environment, is supported by mounting evidence. The benefits are clear – it can significantly enhance soil health, increase resource and land efficiency and boost biodiversity. However, to help meet global climate targets and limit warming to 1.5°C, regenerative practices must be adopted on 40% of the world’s cropland.

Regenerative farming techniques include stopping tillage, using cover crops, minimising chemicals and integrating livestock into arable farmland. A central part of this ‘whole ecosystem’ approach is helping farmers to move away from planting large-scale monocultures, which cause soil degradation and biodiversity loss, and prioritise climate-smart methods like crop rotation instead.

To make sure that farmers are supported in this process, EIT Food’s Regenerative Innovation Portfolio is bringing together partners from across the agrifood value chain to help scale regenerative farming across Europe. We also provide mentorship for farmers looking to implement sustainable farming practices, including trainings, advisory programmes and consultancy.  

As every farmer need to adapt to local conditions and challenges, the transition to regenerative agriculture needs to be built from the ground up. For example, the LILAS4SOILS project, led by EIT Food South, is using more than 100 demonstrations sites across eight countries to gather evidence on how best to boost soil carbon and cut emissions. By creating a real word testing environment, the projects are helping to catalyse innovation and facilitate the development of effective regenerative solutions.

This approach should be replicated on a European-wide scale, to ensure that the transition is informed by farmers’ experience and expertise, and that it’s truly ‘farmer led’.

Solution 2: Shifting to new food production processes

Another element of transforming our food system is the shift towards new production processes – a change which, as the CISL report highlights, is already in motion.

These new processes include the development of innovative farming systems (e.g. vertical farming techniques, hydroponics, aquaponics, etc)  and plant-based, cultivated, fermentation-derived and insect-based proteins, which are being produced to accompany conventional meat sources. Diversified protein sources offer an alternative path forward to reduce our reliance on intensive animal agriculture, which remains one of the most emissions-intensive sectors of the food system. At present, the livestock industry is responsible for a staggering 14.5% of anthropogenic global greenhouse gas emissions, but by diversifying protein sources, we have the chance to significantly reduce this impact.

Companies like Quest, which received funding through the EIT Food Accelerator Network, are developing ingredients to make cultivated meat more affordable and scalable. Rather than rearing livestock, cultivated meat is produced by growing animal cells in a controlled environment, thereby reducing both emissions and land use. Meanwhile, EIT Food’s Protein Diversification Think Tank is bringing together stakeholders from across the food system to overcome barriers to innovation and accelerate the adoption of diversified protein supplies.

Beyond environmental benefits, protein diversification presents a unique economic opportunity for farmers. It enables them to adopt more sustainable and profitable land uses, strengthen their position in the value chain and access new income streams – for example, by growing protein crops on fallow land between seasons. Though protein diversification will also present challenges, the EU Commission has acknowledged the need for a robust plan to address these. Promisingly, the Institute for European Environmental Policy recently laid out the types of policies that will be needed for the agrifood sector to overcome barriers to success and fully harness this opportunity.

Solution 3: AI and technology

Embracing these changes will also encompass using evolving technologies like AI, biotech and renewable energy, all of which have the potential to accelerate the transition to healthier, more sustainable food systems. These tools include advanced monitoring systems, which use data from satellites and drones to create highly accurate reports on crop health. Alongside predictive performance analytics, driven by machine learning and AI, these are helping farmers to optimize crop-management choices and identify issues more effectively and implement targeted solutions.   

One example is HarvestAI, a project integrating AI into existing greenhouse systems to predict tomato and pepper yields, helping farmers improve planning, reduce wasteland and use resources more efficiently.

Meanwhile, AI is also playing a role in enhancing the taste, texture, and cost of plant-based foods – illustrating how the rapid development of new technologies is providing further impetus for transformation in the sector. Elsewhere, agritech startup Elaniti– supported by EIT Food and Bayer – is using machine learning to analyse soil microbiomes, helping farmers adopt regenerative practices, reduce early crop failure and boost yields. Together, these technologies are opening up exciting possibilities to reimagine how we produce, grow and work in food.

The need for a just and equitable transition

While the shift to a more resilient and sustainable food system is necessary, it will be complex. To create the scale of change required, stakeholders across the sector will need to work collaboratively and ambitiously, duplicating projects like the Regenerative Innovation Portfolio on a global scale. We must also ensure the transition is equitable – meaning that solutions are developed by, and for, everyone. It is particularly important that farmers, as stewards of the environment, have a core role in decision-making and the evolution of the sector.

Improvements in funding, communication and policy should work for actors across the entire food value chain. Policy must adapt to encourage younger generations to engage with food systems transformation and secure the industry’s future by highlighting the benefits of a career in agriculture.

It is vital that farmers are supported throughout this process, with incentives to adopt new practices and stronger access to financial and educational resources. The Navarra 360º project in Spain, for example, is combining financial support for farmers with training in technical aspects of regenerative practices.  Solutions, particularly those involving new technologies, need to be tested in practice, with regular engagement from farmers and other stakeholders.

This is a moment of change, but if managed correctly, it could be a moment of real opportunity. By embracing innovation and working collectively to forge climate-smart solutions, we can create a path towards a food system that works better for producers, consumers and the planet.