Singapore has been ranked among the world’s ten most resilient food systems, according to the inaugural Resilient Food Systems Index (RFSI) by Economist Enterprise, supported by Cargill. The index evaluates 60 countries on food system resilience across affordability, availability, quality and safety, and climate risk responsiveness. Singapore scored 73.0 overall, placing it 9th globally and leading Southeast Asia.
The RFSI highlights Singapore’s strengths in affordability, with a score of 85.2, and a near-perfect 99.9 for healthy diet affordability. This reflects the effectiveness of Singapore’s food pricing and social support infrastructure. In terms of availability, Singapore ranks 7th globally, underscoring its successful import diversification and supply chain efficiency, crucial for a nation that imports 90% of its food.
However, the index also warns of a significant blind spot: climate risk responsiveness. Singapore scores 57.4 in this area, ranking 35th globally, indicating a need for improved disaster preparedness and agricultural adaptation. This is a common issue across the Asia-Pacific region.
John Fering, Group President of Food APAC at Cargill, commented, “The results offer an independent, data-driven endorsement of Singapore’s Food Story 2 strategy, confirming that a city-state without agricultural land can build a world-class food system through trade, partnership and targeted investment rather than production alone.”
As Singapore designates 2026 as the Year of Climate Adaptation, the nation aims to bolster its import ecosystem and reinforce trade resilience through global partnerships. The RFSI serves as a reminder of the need for collaborative efforts to enhance food system resilience worldwide.
