2014-2015 Global Food Policy Report

This 2014–2015 Global Food Policy Report is the fourth in an annual series that provides a comprehensive overview of major food policy developments and events. In this report, distinguished researchers, policymakers, and practitioners review what happened in food policy in 2014 at the global, regional, and national levels, and—supported by the latest knowledge and research—explain why. This year’s report is the first to also look forward a year, offering analysis of the potential opportunities and challenges that we will face in achieving food and nutrition security in 2015.

The 2014–2015 Global Food Policy Report also presents data for several key food policy indicators, including country-level data on hunger, agricultural research spending, and capacity for food policy research. In addition to illustrative figures, tables, and a timeline of food policy events during the past year, the report also presents the results of a global opinion poll on the current state of food policy.

Researchers and food policy experts examined a wide range of crucial questions:

• How can middle income countries, which despite becoming more affluent are still home to the majority of the world’s hungry people, address their food and nutrition security challenges?
• What is the role of improved sanitation in shaping key nutrition outcomes, especially for children?
• How can we support smallholder farmers in “moving up” in agriculture or “moving out” of the sector altogether?
• What social protection measures help shield vulnerable people effectively and efficiently against an increasing number of shocks?
• How can we best build and regulate the capacity of actors along the food chain to tackle food safety and health risks?
• How should we address food and nutrition security of people living in conflict zones?
• What policies can support the sustainable development of the aquaculture sector as the global demand for fish skyrockets?
• What have been the major developments in regions and countries where poor and hungry people reside?