Cargill lands BIG Innovation Award as AI strategy delivers measurable gains across global food system

Cargill was named a winner in the 2026 BIG Innovation Awards and was designated a Top 10 Innovator, recognition that highlighted the company’s large-scale use of artificial intelligence and data-driven technologies across its global food and agriculture operations.

• Cargill was named a 2026 BIG Innovation Award winner and a Top 10 Innovator by the Business Intelligence Group, recognizing large-scale, data-driven innovation across its global food and agriculture system.

• The company’s innovation work included AI, automation and analytics initiatives that delivered outcomes such as reduced food waste, operational efficiencies and emissions reductions.

• Judges cited disciplined execution, measurable impact and deep integration of technology into real-world operations as key factors behind the award.

The award was presented by the Business Intelligence Group, which recognized Cargill in the Innovative Organizations category alongside 159 companies, products and leaders judged to be transforming their industries through applied innovation and demonstrable real-world impact.

Cargill disclosed that the recognition reflected a broad innovation strategy spanning automation, robotics, artificial intelligence and predictive analytics. These tools were deployed to address challenges including food security, climate pressures, labor constraints and waste reduction across the company’s global supply chains.

According to the company, these efforts had already delivered measurable outcomes. Cargill pointed to its CarVe computer vision technology, which was used to help reduce food waste, and to its Port Optimizer initiative, which generated a reported 30 times return on investment. The company also cited more than US$15 million in documented benefits from manufacturing analytics programs, alongside a reduction of 31,500 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions linked to vessel optimization and energy-saving upgrades implemented during 2024.

Florian Schattenmann, Chief Technology Officer at Cargill, said the company viewed innovation as a practical tool for addressing real-world needs rather than a purely exploratory exercise.

“Innovation at Cargill is not just about what’s next – it’s about what’s needed,” Schattenmann said. “By embedding AI and advanced analytics in our operations, we were reimagining the way food was made and moved across the globe. This recognition reflected the ingenuity of our teams and the power of innovation to build a more resilient and efficient food system for the future.”

Judges for the BIG Innovation Awards described Cargill’s work as “serious, large-scale innovation executed with discipline, embedded deeply into real operations.” They also highlighted the company’s comprehensive approach, noting that its initiatives spanned multiple technologies and business lines and were supported by robust data and clearly documented outcomes.

Russ Fordyce, chief recognition officer at the Business Intelligence Group, said the 2026 winners illustrated a shift in how innovation was being defined and evaluated across industries.

“The 2026 BIG Innovation Awards winners showed that true innovation was no longer about chasing the latest buzzwords,” Fordyce said. “It was about building intelligent platforms, automating workflows with purpose, and making trust, privacy and resilience the foundation of every breakthrough. These organizations and leaders were not just keeping pace with change, they were shaping the future of global business.”

The BIG Innovation Awards program recognized companies, products and individuals across a wide range of sectors, including health, financial services, logistics, manufacturing and enterprise technology. Nominations were assessed by a panel of business executives, who evaluated entries based on measurable performance, responsible implementation and the ability to influence the future of work and organizational culture.

Cargill’s designation as a Top 10 Innovator placed it among a smaller group of organizations singled out for the scale and consistency of their innovation efforts. The Business Intelligence Group noted that these companies demonstrated not only technical capability but also an ability to integrate new tools into day-to-day operations in ways that delivered tangible business and societal outcomes.

The recognition came as food and agriculture companies continued to face mounting pressure to improve efficiency, resilience and sustainability across complex global supply chains. In that context, Cargill’s award underscored the growing role of data, automation and artificial intelligence in managing large, interconnected food systems at scale, while maintaining a focus on measurable results rather than experimental pilots.

For Cargill, the award served as external validation of an innovation strategy that the company said was already deeply embedded in its operations, with outcomes that could be quantified across financial performance, environmental impact and operational efficiency.