Multiple simultaneous pressures on the food system are straining traditional R&D models in agriculture as they try to keep pace with climate volatility, raw material shortages, and trade and supply chain tensions (to name a few).
“Speed is no longer about being first to market,” says Renee Boerefijn, senior director for R&D at Cargill. “It’s about learning faster, scaling responsibly and reducing risk in an increasingly complex system.”
Across its portfolio, Cargill sees ingredient formulation and sensory optimization as key areas in need of R&D innovation, and the company is increasingly leveraging AI and other digital tools to reduce uncertainties, test earlier, and compress timelines.
Boerefijn recently spoke with AgFunderNews to discuss how Cargill is doing this, where it is collaborating with startups and other entities, and the role of agrifood corporates in deploying “responsible AI.”
AgFunderNews (AFN): Cargill has said it is employing AI “across the full innovation journey.” What does this actually entail, and what has the company learned so far?
Renee Boerefijn (RB): At Cargill, applying AI across the full innovation journey means embedding digital and data-driven tools end-to-end, from early consumer insight and concept development through formulation, scale-up and operational execution. Rather than treating AI as a series of standalone pilots, we are integrating it into how innovation happens day to day.
On the product innovation side, AI is built into our consumer insight, sensory science and predictive modeling frameworks. Through proprietary systems such as Cargill’s Heartbeat Sensory Intelligence Program, we combine large-scale consumer data, expert sensory panels and formulation models to predict how products are likely to perform before they reach the market. This allows R&D teams to narrow development pathways earlier, reduce the number of physical trials required and move more quickly from insight to scalable solutions.
What we’ve learned so far is that AI delivers the greatest value when it augments expert judgement rather than replacing it. Speed does not come from automation alone, but from better selection, stronger data foundations and closer collaboration between customers and Cargill. AI shortens feedback loops—but human expertise remains central to interpreting results and making decisions.
AFN: In which areas of the business is Cargill finding AI and digital tools most helpful in accelerating R&D?
RB: We’re seeing the strongest impact where complexity, uncertainty and scale intersect.
One key area is ingredient formulation and sensory optimization, where predictive modeling helps teams understand how ingredients behave across applications, consumer segments and markets. By integrating sensory science with AI and ingredient and component models, we can predict preference, reduce reformulation cycles, and work on innovations that help meet expectations around taste, texture and familiarity—which is critical for repeat purchase.
Another major area is process development and manufacturing, where digital tools support faster scale-up and more reliable production. AI-enabled inspection, simulation and data analytics allow teams to identify risks earlier, optimize processes and move from pilot to industrial scale with greater confidence. Here, model-based sensitivity analyses can be very effective.
AI is also increasingly important in connecting R&D with supply chains and sustainability considerations. By linking formulation choices with sourcing constraints, price volatility and environmental impact earlier in development, teams can design solutions that are not only innovative, but also scalable, affordable and resilient.
AFN: Are there any notable partnerships or collaborations supporting this approach?
RB: Collaboration is foundational to how Cargill accelerates innovation.
We work across a broad ecosystem of startups, technology companies, academic institutions and research partners, recognizing that no single organization can innovate at the required speed alone. These partnerships allow us to combine entrepreneurial agility and scientific insight with industrial-scale execution.
On the product side, one example is NextCoa, a confectionery alternative to chocolate developed by food technology company Voyage Foods. Voyage brings patented technology that transforms upcycled ingredients into cocoa-like flavors and textures, while Cargill applies predictive sensory science, formulation expertise and application know-how to translate that technology into consumer-validated, industrially scalable solutions across confectionery, bakery, ice cream, and for example cereals. Digital tools and AI-driven sensory modeling help both teams assess consumer acceptance and optimise performance much earlier, faster, and accurately than traditional trial-and-error R&D.
In manufacturing, our collaboration with Boston Dynamics shows how AI can accelerate innovation on the factory floor. At our Amsterdam facility, AI-enabled autonomous inspections using the Spot robot now carry out around 10,000 checks per week, helping identify potential safety or equipment issues before they escalate.
Across all of these partnerships, the common thread is using technology to learn faster together, while designing solutions with real-world scale, regulation and consumer acceptance in mind from the outset.
AFN: Why is accelerating innovation and R&D so critical right now? What pressures are driving this urgency?
RB: The urgency reflects the convergence of multiple pressures on the global food system.
Climate volatility, raw material constraints, price instability and shifting consumer expectations are all happening at the same time. Consumers want affordability, transparency, sustainability and indulgence—within the same product—and that combination makes traditional, linear innovation cycles too slow. We also see customers relying more on suppliers like us, meaning we need to deliver on time in full.
From Cargill’s perspective, speed is no longer about being first to market. It’s about learning faster, scaling responsibly and reducing risk in an increasingly complex system. AI and digital tools help compress timelines, reduce uncertainty and allow teams to test assumptions earlier, which is essential when innovation must deliver both performance and resilience.
AFN: As a leading company in agriculture and food, how is Cargill setting a positive example for others
RB: Cargill’s role is to show how innovation can be accelerated and scaled without sacrificing trust, safety or long-term impact.
That means embedding AI and digital tools into everyday operations, from consumer insight to factory floors, while maintaining strong governance through our Responsible AI Program. It also means investing in physical infrastructure such as the Vilvoorde Innovation Centre, which brings R&D, sensory science, regulatory expertise and customer co-creation together under one roof to shorten innovation cycles through collaboration.
External recognition, including Cargill receiving the 2026 Big Innovation Award, reflects this integrated approach: combining advanced technology, partnerships and real-world scalability rather than isolated experimentation.
By acting as a connector between startups, scientists, customers and supply chains, we aim to help turn promising ideas into solutions that work at scale—and ultimately contribute to a more resilient, affordable and sustainable food system.