The World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos 2025 reinforced a clear message; collaboration, innovation, and urgent action are required to reshape global food systems. The 55th Annual Meeting convened foremost leaders from government, business and civil society - as well as preeminent scientific and cultural thinkers - under the theme Collaboration for the Intelligent Age.
With food and agriculture as crucial elements of the discussions that promise to shape the future, here are some key takeaways as food for thought for everyone.
This panel session spotlighted ASEAN’s ethos of cooperation and economic integration positioning it as a key player in advancing global food security. The ASEAN leaders at Davos emphasized stability, inclusivity, and technological advancement as core strategies for sustainable development. With ASEAN expanding to include Timor-Leste and its commitment to energy and digital connectivity, the region is poised to drive systemic change in agriculture and food production. However, challenges remain, particularly in addressing climate vulnerabilities and ensuring that economic growth does not come at the cost of environmental degradation.
To build food systems that are both productive and ecologically sustainable, ASEAN must prioritize climate-smart agriculture. This includes investing in resilient crop varieties, implementing precision farming techniques, and integrating digital innovations that enhance supply chain efficiency. By fostering cross-sectoral collaboration and engaging both large agribusinesses and smallholder farmers, ASEAN can create a food system that is not only robust but also inclusive.
At the Davos session, “Changing the Landscape of Food,” thought leaders, including executives from Nestlé, Rabobank, and the World Food Programme, discussed the urgent need to rethink food economics. Smallholder farmers—who produce a significant portion of the world’s food—often bear the brunt of climate change while lacking access to resources, infrastructure, and fair markets. Farmers must be at the center of decision-making processes, but they cannot tackle these challenges alone.
A key takeaway from the discussion was the importance of de-risking sustainability efforts through innovative finance models. Blended finance, public-private partnerships, and carbon credit mechanisms can provide incentives for farmers to adopt regenerative agricultural practices. Likewise, stronger partnerships between financial institutions, agribusinesses, and governments can facilitate access to capital for climate-resilient farming initiatives.
Trust across the agri-food value chain is essential. Transparent policies, ethical sourcing commitments, and fair pricing mechanisms can ensure that farmers are fairly compensated for their contributions to food security and sustainability. Through multi-stakeholder platforms, we can co-create solutions that align financial incentives with environmental and social outcomes.
One of the most pressing discussions at Davos revolved around the intersection of food systems and climate action. The ‘State of Climate and Nature’ session outlined five critical strategies for getting climate action back on track—several of which have direct implications for agriculture.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning are proving to be powerful tools in mitigating agricultural emissions. Technologies like Climate Trace, which leverage satellite and ground data, can help monitor emissions across supply chains, optimize resource use, and forecast climate-related risks. In parallel, decentralized energy grids and renewable energy solutions can support more sustainable agro-processing and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Additionally, setting ambitious short-term targets—rather than distant 2050 or 2100 goals—can drive accountability and accelerate climate action within the food system. Businesses, policymakers, and financial institutions must work together to implement realistic, science-based emission reduction targets that prioritize immediate impact.
Way Forward: Working with Nature, Not Against It
As we look ahead to COP30 in Belém, the global focus on nature finance and bioeconomy presents an opportunity to integrate sustainable agricultural investment into broader climate strategies. Nature-based solutions, such as agroforestry and reforestation, can not only enhance biodiversity but also serve as carbon sinks, helping countries meet their emission reduction commitments.
However, achieving large-scale change requires moving beyond voluntary commitments to enforceable policies and robust financial mechanisms. The public-private collaboration has grown significantly with many yielding positive outcomes; however, it must extend further into actionable investments such as in regenerative agriculture, climate resilience, agri-tech and food nutrition & security.
The discussions at Davos reaffirmed that sustainable food systems are central to both economic development and environmental stewardship. ASEAN has the potential to lead the way, but it requires coordinated efforts from all stakeholders—governments, corporations, financial institutions, and civil society.
By leveraging innovation, fostering inclusive finance models, and ensuring that climate commitments are met with concrete action, we can drive a food system transformation that benefits people and the planet.