The 2007/08 international food price crisis caused hardship on a number of fronts. The steep rise in food prices led to economic difficulties for the poor and generated political turmoil in many countries.
Sabika Moses Kasaato used to worry about how he would feed his family on his unproductive land in the village of Goma, Uganda.
The Scientific American recently published an edited transcript from an interview with Joachim von Braun, Director General of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
In a recently published commentary in Nature, Joachim von Braun outlines the risks of a global recession on food security in developing countries. “The stage is set for the next international food crisis,” warns von Braun.
Infants and young children are most vulnerable to malnutrition in the first two years of life.
Brief by Joachim von Braun, prepared for CGIAR Annual General Meeting, Maputo, Mozambique, December 1, 2008
Until recently, Dickson Mbogo was a casual laborer at a school near Bombo, Uganda, where he lives with his wife and ten children.
The first International Day of Rural Women was observed on 15 October 2008.
World Food Day 2008 is devoted to addressing two related challenges to global food markets—the recent rapid growth in demand for biofuels and the longer term threats from climate change.
2008 Global Hunger Index and 2008 India State Hunger Index released for World Food Day
The COM+ Alliance has awarded the 2008 COM+ Communication Award to IFPRI for its response to the global food crisis, noting:
The dramatic rise and volatility of food prices over the last year have shaken the global food system.
Rohima (not her real name), a 25-year- old woman, lives in a new corrugated iron one-room house in the Manikganj district of Bangladesh with her husband and two daughters.
Odds are 1 in 20 that a farmer in Senegal will have a farm equipped for irrigation, while in Asia, the odds are 1 in 3.
Hunger and AIDS often coexist and interact: malnutrition and food insecurity heighten susceptibility to HIV exposure and infection, while AIDS in turn exacerbates hunger and malnutrition.
Selling crops used to be a complicated process for Aweke Teshome. The Ethiopian farmer never knew the fair market price for his products, or how they rated in quality. He was forced to sell at whatever price the traders offered.
online at The Economist July 29 - August 8
Joachim von Braun, IFPRI Director General, will be participating in the debate on the proposition: “This house believes there is an upside for humanity in the rise of food prices.”
The benefits least developed countries (LDCs) can draw from a multilateral trade reform as designed by the modalities made public in May 2008 are negligible, and some countries will even face adverse effects.
The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) has recently compiled a web-base bibliography of peer-reviewed applied economics literature to assess the impact of genetically engineered (GE) crops in developing economies.
This year’s World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is addressing “Combating land degradation for sustainable agriculture.” Sponsored by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the decision to focus on agriculture