Amit Gupta, addressing the World’s Food Security challenges

Food insecurity in South Asia and the Gulf region has decreased since the COVID-19 pandemic, but is surprisingly still higher than 2015 levels. According to the FAO, the Prevalence of Undernourishment (PoU) in India is considered moderate at 12%, but with a population of over 1.4 billion, this translates to a whopping 175 million undernourished individuals.

India is not alone facing this challenge, with food insecurity posing a serious risk to many others. Pakistan has, for example, been running a 3-year average of 42% on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES). Resolving underlying causes of hunger, including inadequate crop production, pestilence and disease is key to overcoming food insecurity globally. The maintenance of food supply chains is especially crucial for Gulf countries that rely on importing much of their food.

Indeed, localized efforts and bottom-up approaches have attained some success in overcoming long-term food insecurity, but success requires corporate ingenuity and often, a reworking of traditional agricultural practices. Amit Gupta of Agrifields DMCC has been an instrumental leader in reshaping and securing such supply chains, supporting long-lasting food security and tackling this challenge in India and beyond. His combination of fertilizer development and personal philanthropy marks him as a noteworthy leader in private sector innovation for sustainability.

Amit Gupta is a veteran of the agriculture business, creating an international network for sourcing and delivering fertilizer globally. He founded Agrifields DMCC as much more than a global commodities company, envisioning something bolder: a company that could foster agricultural instruction, health, safety, and rural development.

Furthermore, on top of already existing corporate programs, Amit Gupta of Agrifields took another step towards developing the base of rural society, establishing the Agrifields Charitable Foundation as an entity dedicated to supporting sustainability. Gupta’s vision has over the years materialized, supporting village transformation, enhancing agricultural education, and the strengthening local healthcare and sanitation services.

Fundamentally, addressing food scarcity necessitates revitalizing and educating rural societies, with companies serving as key movers in the effort to find solutions to food insecurity and malnourishment. Indeed, true development means dignifying those at the base of society. In India, nearly 68% of citizens live in rural communities, while across the Gulf, farmers and their produce struggle in the mostly arid regions. Countries on the Arabian Peninsula, for example, import over 80% of their food, relying heavily on strong national finances and consistent international supply chains. Despite ranking highly on the FAO food security metrics, Gulf states are precariously dependent on an intricate web of connections stemming all the way back to farms abroad.

Amit Gupta’s Agrifields DMCC and Agrifields Foundation have been vital in reshaping the outlook for food security in South Asia, with a global perspective in mind. His vision has spearheaded the integration of corporate know-how with local revitalization, more intimately connecting the disparate ends of food exporters and importers.

The mission of Agrifields Foundation, one close to Amit Gupta’s own personal mission, pairs well with his interests in space exploration. He said, “Looking up at the stars reminds you how small you are, but also how much is possible. It helps you think bigger, and that’s something the agribusiness world desperately needs — long-term thinking, not short-term extraction.”

If the private sector is to make a difference, efforts must be purpose-driven, and business models need to be built on strong, integrated relationships. However, for this to be sustainable in the long term, these actions must be built upon foundations that are both morally accountable and commercially viable, addressing the root causes of food insecurity. Leadership and vision are the frontrunners of future change.

With decades invested in global agricultural development, learning from the failures of other industry leaders is possible, allowing impactful industry leaders to chart their path forward with responsible leadership and dedicated ethics. Adversity often inspires innovation, and now is the time when food insecurity demands innovative leadership. Shooting for the stars is not a hyperbolic goal; it’s the mindset that holds changemakers to higher standards.