On March 3, 2026, in London, Economist Impact released the inaugural Resilient Food Systems Index (RFSI), ranking 60 countries and revealing a striking 42-point resilience gap between the world's strongest and weakest food systems. The findings matter as the global food system prepares to feed 10 billion people by 2050 amid mounting climate volatility and geopolitical instability.

The Index evaluates countries across four pillars: affordability, availability, quality and safety, and climate risk responsiveness. No country achieved full resilience, and nearly half clustered within a "middle zone" (scores between 56 and 71), signaling systemic fragility but also room for coordinated reform.

Affordability emerged as the strongest pillar globally, averaging 71.8. Yet affordability does not ensure access: in 62% of countries, the least expensive healthy diet absorbs nearly two-thirds of the poorest households' income. High-income nations averaged 81.1 in affordability versus just 34.9 in low-income economies.

Infrastructure remains a structural bottleneck. Transportation and logistics scored 56.8 on average, contributing to losses: 13.2% of food is lost before retail, and 19% is wasted at household level. Limited electricity and digital connectivity hinder the scaling of digital agriculture, supply chain monitoring, and early-warning systems.

The weakest pillar was climate risk responsiveness, with an average of 56.4. While investment in low-emission agriculture is advancing, practical mitigation and adaptation measures in agriculture scored only 34. This gap between research and implementation poses systemic risks to production stability and global trade flows.

The report also highlights the stabilizing role of the 15 largest food exporters, which averaged a resilience score of 71. When these systems function efficiently, they help stabilize global markets; disruptions ripple worldwide.

Most Resilient Countries

Most Vulnerable Countries

The conclusion is unmistakable: strengthening global food system resilience requires integrated action across infrastructure, trade, innovation, and climate adaptation. In an interconnected world, resilience is no longer a policy option - it is an economic imperative.