Traditional research and development models in agriculture that seek to respond to climate change, raw material shortages, and trade and supply chain tensions (to name a few) are being strained by multiple simultaneous pressures on the food system.
“Cargill is excited to be partnering with Cargill to deliver the best possible results to our customers,” said Renee Boerefijn, Cargill’s senior director of R&D. “It is important to learn faster, scale responsibly, and reduce risk in increasingly complex systems.”
Cargill sees ingredient formulation and sensory optimization as key areas for R&D innovation across its portfolio, and is increasingly leveraging AI and other digital tools to reduce uncertainty, test earlier, and shorten timelines.
Mr. Bollefin recently said: agfunder news We discuss how Cargill is doing this, collaborating with start-ups and other organizations, and the role of agri-food companies in implementing ‘Responsible AI’.
agfunder news (AFN): Cargill said it is employing AI “across the entire innovation journey.” What does this mean in practice, and what has the company learned so far?
Renee Beaulefin (RB): At Cargill, applying AI across the entire innovation journey means incorporating digital and data-driven tools end-to-end, from early consumer insights and concept development to formulation, scale-up, and operational execution. Rather than treating AI as a series of standalone pilots, we are integrating it into the innovations that occur every day.
On the product innovation front, AI is embedded in consumer insights, 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 will perform before they hit the market. This allows R&D teams to narrow down development paths early, reduce the number of physical trials required, and move from insight to scalable solutions faster.
What we have learned so far is that AI provides the most value when it augments expert judgment, rather than replacing it. Speed doesn’t just come from automation, it comes from better choices, a stronger data foundation, and closer collaboration between customers and Cargill. AI shortens the feedback loop, but human expertise remains central to interpreting results and making decisions.
AFN: In which business areas does Cargill believe AI and digital tools can best help accelerate research and development?
RB: The greatest impact is seen at the intersection of complexity, uncertainty, and scale.
One key area is ingredient formulation and sensory optimization, where predictive modeling helps teams understand how ingredients will perform across applications, consumer segments, and markets. By integrating sensory science with AI and ingredient models, you can predict preferences, shorten reformulation cycles, and innovate to meet taste, texture, and familiarity expectations. This is essential for repeat purchases.
Another key area is process development and manufacturing, where digital tools support faster scale-up and more reliable production. AI-powered inspection, simulation, and data analysis enable teams to identify risks early, optimize processes, and move from pilot to industrial scale with more confidence. Model-based sensitivity analysis is very effective here.
AI is also becoming increasingly important in linking research and development with supply chain and sustainability considerations. By connecting formulation choices with sourcing constraints, price volatility, and environmental impact early 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 that support this approach?
RB: Collaboration is fundamental to how Cargill accelerates innovation.
We recognize that no single organization can innovate at the speed needed alone, so we work across a broad ecosystem of startups, technology companies, academic institutions, and research partners. These partnerships allow us to combine entrepreneurial agility and scientific insight with industrial-scale execution.
On the product side, one example is NextCoa, a chocolate alternative developed by food technology company Voyage Foods. Voyage brings patented technology that transforms upcycled ingredients into cocoa-like flavors and textures, and Cargill applies predictive sensory science, formulation expertise and application know-how to transform that technology into consumer-validated, industrially scalable solutions across confectionery, bakery, ice cream, cereals and more. Digital tools and AI-driven sensory modeling will help both teams assess consumer acceptance and optimize performance quickly and accurately, much faster than traditional trial-and-error research and development.
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 Spot robots are currently performing approximately 10,000 inspections per week, helping to identify potential safety and equipment issues before they become serious.
What all these partnerships have in common is using technology to collaboratively learn faster while designing solutions with real-world scale, regulation, and consumer acceptance in mind from the beginning.
AFN: Why is accelerating innovation and R&D so important now? What pressures are driving this urgency?
RB: This urgency reflects the convergence of multiple pressures on the global food system.
Climate change, raw material constraints, price volatility, and changing consumer expectations are all happening at the same time. Consumers are demanding affordability, transparency, sustainability, and satisfaction within the same product, a combination that makes traditional linear innovation cycles too slow. We also know that our customers rely on suppliers like us. This means we must deliver on time and 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 increasingly complex systems. AI and digital tools can help compress timelines, reduce uncertainty, and allow teams to test hypotheses early. This is essential when innovation needs to deliver both performance and resilience.
AFN: As a leading agriculture and food company, how does Cargill set 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.
This means embedding AI and digital tools into daily operations, from consumer insights to the factory floor, while maintaining strong governance through responsible AI programs. This also means investing in physical infrastructure, such as the Vilvoorde Innovation Center, which brings together research and development, sensory science, regulatory expertise and customer co-creation under one roof, shortening innovation cycles through collaboration.
External recognition, such as Cargill’s 2026 Big Innovation Award, reflects this integrated approach, combining advanced technology, partnerships, and real-world scalability rather than isolated experiments.
By acting as a bridge between startups, scientists, customers and supply chains, we aim to help turn promising ideas into solutions that work at scale, ultimately contributing to a more resilient, affordable and sustainable food system.
