Food Safety

Food safety and food security are intrinsically linked, not only to each other, but also to the safety and availability of water, human health, and market access. Poverty cannot be reduced and health and nutrition cannot be improved without ensuring access to safe food for all people.

Unsafe food and water can harm the food security and livelihoods of the poor. Yet food safety standards sometimes hamper poor populations’ access to markets. IFPRI researchers and partners are providing evidence to policymakers on the importance of food and water safety as well as on the issues that arise in providing food and water safety. For example, can certain institutional mechanisms such as cooperatives, food safety certification, and contract farming facilitate poor producers’ access to markets? And are there cost-effective strategies for minimizing food and water safety risks? The answers to these and other questions will help policymakers craft effective solutions to providing safe food and water for all.

IFPRI’s research on this topic is closely aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1, SDG 2, SDG 3, and SDG 6.