Economist Impact Report: Vietnam Excels in Food Affordability and Supply

Ho Chi Minh City, Apr 22 – Vietnam’s food system is currently operating in a state of high-performing paradox.

According to the latest Resilient Food Systems Index (RFSI) by Economist Impact, supported by Cargill, the country ranks 31st out of 60 nations, positioning it squarely in the “middle zone” of global food security.

While Vietnam boasts remarkable strengths in making food affordable and keeping supply lines stable, a massive gap in climate resilience threatens to undermine these hard-won fundamentals.

Cargill is a global food and agricultural leader with over 160 years of experience in sourcing and delivering essential nutrients. In Vietnam, the company acts as a vital link in the supply chain, providing everything from animal feed to financial solutions for local farmers.

Their support of this index reflects a broader corporate mission: to understand where food systems are strong and, more importantly, where they are vulnerable to the next global shock.

The data reveals that affordability is Vietnam’s crown jewel. Scoring 81.22—significantly higher than the global average—the country has succeeded in maintaining stable food costs and broad access to healthy diets across various income groups.

This success isn’t an accident; it’s the result of a robust domestic agricultural base and a distribution network that has proved remarkably stable despite global inflationary pressures.

• Affordability (19th of 60): Strong performance driven by domestic production and efficient local distribution.
• Availability (18th of 60): Exceptional scores in food security policy and maintaining production stability.
• Quality and Safety (29th of 60): Steady progress in food safety frameworks, aligning with international standards.
• The Climate Gap (55th of 60): A low score of 43.13 highlights a critical failure to translate system strength into climate protection.

The report’s most sobering takeaway is Vietnam’s vulnerability to extreme weather. While the country has the policy building blocks in place, it ranks near the bottom for climate risk responsiveness.

For a nation exposed to frequent flooding, salinity intrusion in the Mekong Delta, and unpredictable droughts, this isn’t just a technical oversight—it’s an existential threat to its agricultural output.

Is a 31st-place ranking good enough? Nguyen Ba Luan, Cargill Vietnam’s Country Representative, suggests that while the fundamentals are solid, the system lacks the “coordination” needed to withstand future shocks.

Many of the tools required for resilience—like early-warning systems and climate-smart farming—already exist, but they are often implemented in isolation, limiting their overall impact.

Ultimately, Vietnam’s food system is a case study in what happens when production efficiency outpaces environmental adaptation. To move beyond the “middle zone,” the country must bridge the gap between its strong market foundations and its lagging climate defenses.

For the global food system, where 15 countries produce 70% of the world’s food, Vietnam’s ability to coordinate its resilience isn’t just a local concern—it’s a global necessity.