In 1975, IFPRI was established with a mission to provide research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.
To celebrate the Institute’s 40th anniversary, on November 18, 2015, we hosted a special event in Washington, DC, “IFPRI at 40: Looking Back, Looking Forward.” During the event, attended by 400 people, we heard from a fascinating group of policymakers, partners, donors, and other friends of IFPRI from around the world who discussed how food policy has evolved over the decades and how it is likely to look in the future.
The range of topics explored included policies for facilitating sustainable food supplies; making agricultural markets and trade work for the poor; and linking agriculture and nutrition.
On this occasion we also celebrated the launch of Compact2025, a bold initiative to end hunger and undernutrition by 2025.
Among the more than 50 speakers were Rob Bertram, USAID; Saulos Chilima, Vice President, Republic of Malawi; Matia Chowdhury, Minister of Agriculture, People’s Republic of Bangladesh; Newai Gebre-ab, chief economic adviser to the prime minister of Ethiopia; German Gonzalez, Secretary, Secretaría de Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutricional (SESAN), Guatemala; Justin Yifi Lin, Peking University; Gerardine Mukeshimana, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Republic of Rwanda; and Roberto Ridolfi, European Commission. Several distinguished speakers provided video messages including Melinda Gates and M. S. Swaminathan.
We have also published 12 stories that reflect on the Institute’s work on key issues, such as social protection, gender, nutrition, and partnerships with key countries, including Bangladesh and Ethiopia. All of the “Making a Difference through Food Policy Research” stories are available as a PDF download. A brief on “The Bang for Its Buck” reviews the impacts of 40 years of IFPRI’s policy research. In addition, we produced the video, “What’s for dinner?” which describes IFPRI’s start and how the Institute has influenced food policy over the last 40 years.
Throughout the year, a number of IFPRI researchers and alumni have been blogging about their work and experiences on our 40th anniversary blog series. Their perspectives are wide-ranging, from climate change and the enigma of South Asian malnutrition to open data and the importance of food policy.
- Special event Program
- 12 "Making a Difference through Food Policy Research" stories
- 40 th Anniversary blog series
- 40 th anniversary videos
- “What’s for Dinner—IFPRI at 40” video
- "Reflections from IFPRI's 40 th Anniversary" video
- 40 th Anniversary presentations on Slideshare
- IFPRI 1975-2015 Timeline
- Brief: The bang for its buck: Impacts of 40 years of policy research at IFPRI
- Synopsis: Food policy in a complex, changing world
- Event
IFPRI at 40: Looking Back, Looking Forward
2015 is a momentous year for IFPRI as we celebrate our 40th anniversary.
- Blog
IFPRI at 40: Making a difference through food policy research
12 stories that describe IFPRI's work on key topical areas
- Blog
Agriculture, nutrition, and health
Most of our health systems are set up to respond to problems, whereas agriculture can be part of a prevention approach.
- Blog
Policy impact and capacity strengthening
Reflections on IFPRI’s country programs
Post by Paul Dorosh, Director of the Development Strategy and Governance Division.
- Blog
IFPRI's First 10 Years
Curtis Farrar surveys the initial ten years of IFPRI, beginning with the genesis of the new institute, the early years, its entry into th
- Blog
The evolution of Open Data
The following post by Nienke Beintema, Head of the
- Blog
Looking back to move forward
My 20th anniversary of working at IFPRI coincides with the 20th anniversary of the UN World Conference on Women in Beijing
- Blog
How will climate change affect the world food system?
Post by IFPRI senior researcher Tim Thomas
- Blog
Unraveling the enigma of South Asian malnutrition
This is a post by IFPRI senior researcher Lawrence Haddad
- Blog
From famine to feast in forty years: Policy matters
The following post by IFPRI Director General Sheng
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 tha
25 Years of Food Policy Research
On the occasion of IFPRI's 25th anniversary, the author has selected a few subjects where the Institute has made an important and recogni