Abstract

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security of Malawi and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), supported by Irish Aid and USAID, are organizing a high-level policy conference in Lilongwe, Malawi, September 26-27 in order to bring the three sectors together to unleash the potential for agriculture—as a supplier of food, a source of income, and an engine of growth—to sustainably reduce malnutrition and ill-health.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton spoke at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) on the humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa Thursday, August 11, 2011.

Increasing food price volatility in the wake of the 2007-08 food crisis has raised serious concerns around the world because of its impact on the poor. When the G20 agriculture ministers convene in Paris in June, discussions on how to combat excessive commodity price volatility and address poor people’s food security will be at the top of their agenda. These critical issues will also be a top priority during the Cannes summit in November. In both cases, evidence-based policy solutions will be fundamental to informing the agendas.

Research is an important component in the policymaking process. High-quality, policy-oriented research can improve public policy in developing countries and have significant payoffs in terms of economic growth, hunger and poverty reduction, and other development goals. Thoroughly assessing this research is legitimate and in the interest of all stakeholders involved. However, drawing a direct line between research and the results of a complex policymaking process presents a significant challenge.