Food policy for the poor

When the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) began in 1975, its first concern was the urgent world food situation at that time. Since then, IFPRI has spent the intervening decades broadening its research programs and tackling research questions in new ways. At the same time, IFPRI has kept its sights on the ultimate goal of alleviating hunger and malnutrition and has become a respected source of research and analysis on policies related to food and agriculture in developing countries. The first step in overcoming hunger and malnutrition is to understand what works and what doesn’t, and this is the task that has engaged IFPRI since its founding.

This compilation of highlights from IFPRI’s research over the years shows how work done at IFPRI has contributed to the body of knowledge concerning the factors that contribute to agricultural development and increases in agricultural productivity and their impact on poverty, hunger, and malnutrition. In addition to conducting studies and analyzing results, IFPRI has steadily advanced its efforts to spread this knowledge and understanding to wide groups of academics, development practitioners, and policymakers around the world.

While it is satisfying to look back on past accomplishments, this compilation also serves another purpose: it offers an occasion to remind ourselves that there is still much work to be done to bring about a healthy and productive life for all people.