New report underlines the need for resilient agrifood systems
The latest edition of the annual Global Report on Food Crises highlights alarming levels of acute food insecurity and malnutrition, with protracted crises continuing to affect some of the world’s most vulnerable populations. The findings underline the need to strengthen agrifood systems that can sustain production, protect livelihoods and support a reliable supply of safe and nutritious food
Published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), with contributions from the Global Network Against Food Crises and its partners, the 2026 Global Report on Food Crises finds that 266 million people across 47 countries and territories experienced high levels of acute food insecurity in 2025, representing almost 23% of the population analysed.
The severity of acute food insecurity remained among the highest recorded, while the number of people facing catastrophic hunger was nine times higher than in 2016. For the first time in the report’s ten-year history, famine was confirmed in two separate contexts in the same year – in parts of the Gaza Strip and Sudan.
More than 80% of those affected live in protracted crisis contexts. Conflict remains the main driver of acute food insecurity, compounded by economic shocks, weather extremes and forced displacement.
Strengthening resilience for long-term food security
Strengthening long-term food security requires food systems that can maintain production and supply when exposed to recurring shocks. In protracted crisis contexts, around 70% of the rural population depends on agriculture for their livelihoods, while limited adaptive capacity can leave households increasingly vulnerable to climate pressures and other disruptions. The report underlines the importance of protecting agricultural livelihoods and supporting local food systems.
Building stronger food systems also requires the capacity to safeguard production throughout the value chain. Reliable access to safe food depends on prevention, risk-based control, traceability and effective collaboration throughout the food value chain. These capabilities are important for protecting the food already produced and maintaining dependable food supply over time.
Danish solutions for safe and efficient production
In Denmark, decades of collaboration across the food value chain have created a highly integrated approach to ensure safe and dependable food production. Food safety starts with the quality and health of soil, raw materials and continues through production, transport and storage, supported by prevention, risk-based control, traceability and comprehensive data.
Specific Danish products and solutions support this approach throughout the value chain. FOSS’ MilkoScan analyses raw milk for impurities before it enters production, X-ray and vision systems detect metal and other foreign materials on processing lines, and Frontmatec’s GOSystems records each step from raw material reception to packing and final dispatch. Together, these farm-to-fork approaches help identify risks early, support rapid action and strengthen traceability across the food supply chain.
Close cooperation between producers, authorities and research institutions is a central part of this model. Shared responsibility, continuous research and transparent control structures support consistent standards and ongoing improvements across the value chain.
As countries work to strengthen food systems against future disruption, Danish solutions and experience in integrated value-chain management, traceability, risk prevention and cross-sector collaboration can provide relevant knowhow for international partners. Adapted to local conditions, Danish competences can support more dependable food supply chains and contribute to the long-term resilience of global food systems.