[2026-02-12] A memo to world leaders: Food security is the basis of global stability

As global leaders gather at the Munich Security Conference in Germany this week, the impact of geopolitical tensions on global food systems is increasingly difficult to ignore. More than ever, we need our leaders to recognize that stability and food security are inseparable.

An interconnected  “perfect storm” of unrest, weather shocks, competition over resources, migration, and rising food prices is reshaping global security. Conflict and hunger are deeply intertwined. Food insecurity can drive instability, fueling unrest and displacement, while conflict pushes countries and regions into food insecurity by disrupting production, supply chains, and markets. In 2024, nearly 140 million people across 20 countries and territories faced food insecurity that was primarily driven by conflict and instability.

Yet while governments ramp up spending on defense, agricultural research — a powerful tool to build lasting peace and stability — remains underfunded.

Global military expenditure reached an unprecedented $2.7 trillion in 2024, a staggering contrast to the $15.2 billion needed annually in agricultural research to transform food systems, especially in fragile countries.

The imbalance is not just a moral failure; it is a strategic one. When security debates focus narrowly on military defense, we ignore the fact that food security is a pillar of global security and a strategic investment for global development.

Access to sufficient, affordable, and nutritious food is a cornerstone of stability. Resilient food systems resist collapse when conflicts near, and adapt quickly afterward. Resilient crops and livestock, sustainable resources, adequate jobs, and early-warning systems for extreme weather, along with better policies that strengthen food systems, all reduce triggers of conflict — including price volatility and food shortages. In the event of conflict, diversified production systems, sufficient seed reserves, and alternative supply routes help countries adapt and rapidly rehabilitate as conflicts pass.

At a time when the most food-insecure contexts continue to receive only a fraction of the attention they need, leaders must recognize that investment in agricultural research and development is not aid — it is an investment in lasting peace, stability, and prosperity.

The case is compelling. Studies by CGIAR, the world’s largest, publicly funded agrifood research network, show that every dollar invested in agricultural research and development has delivered an estimated $10 in benefits for smallholder farmers, vulnerable communities, and ecosystems. Crucially, this research also benefits high-income countries who increasingly face similar pressures: Wheat originating in CGIAR global south breeding programs now accounts for around 60% of North American and European wheat.

Through sustained investment in agricultural research, international partners such as the Food and Agriculture Organization, multilateral development banks, and CGIAR play a key role in helping governments identify risks, challenges, and needs.

By grounding their agricultural strategies, policies, and pathways in measurable, evidence-based science and innovation, countries can design actionable pathways that strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability across food systems and guide investment in agricultural innovation.

This includes finance itself. As climate, market, and conflict shocks intensify, conventional agricultural finance models are no longer sufficient, making pivoting toward new mechanisms essential.

Models such as result-based impact bonds offer several benefits: alternative “outcome-based” payments to increase investor confidence in agricultural innovation, just as sovereign insurance allows countries to pool risk and secure liquidity against shocks, and blended finance allows multilateral development banks to de-risk agricultural lending by national banks to smallholder farmers.

In the last five years, our organizations have worked closely to raise awareness on the benefits of funding global research institutions. World leaders must prioritize investment in agriculture research and development to equip smallholder farmers with the innovations they need to produce nutritious food, withstand climate shocks and resource scarcity, and strengthen food security for millions. Producing more than 30% of the world’s food, smallholder farmers must be safeguarded to protect our global food security.