The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) is pleased to announce that its flagship 2025 Global Food Policy Report, edited by Johan Swinnen and Christopher B. Barrett, has won the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association’s (AAEA) 2026 Quality of Communication Award.
The award recognizes excellence in communicating agricultural and applied economics research to broader audiences. Swinnen and Barrett accepted the award at the AAEA Awards & Fellows Recognition Ceremony on July 27, 2026, during the 2026 AAEA Annual Meeting in Kansas City, Missouri.
Released in May 2025, during IFPRI’s 50th Anniversary year, the report, titled Food Policy—Lessons and Priorities for a Changing World, is a comprehensive reflection on five decades of food policy evolution. Drawing from IFPRI’s own extensive research and that of its global, national, and local partners, the report provides a long-view analysis of policy’s role in shaping healthier, more equitable, resilient, and sustainable food systems.
“We are very honored to receive the AAEA Quality of Communication Award,” said Johan Swinnen, Director General of IFPRI. “The Global Food Policy Report is more than a book and the insights contained in its 24 chapters—it is a global effort to connect research with policy and action. Through report launches in Washington, DC, and countries around the world, IFPRI has engaged policymakers, analysts, development practitioners, and other stakeholders in discussions about how the report’s findings relate to local and global challenges. This recognition reflects the importance of not only generating rigorous evidence, but also communicating it effectively and fostering dialogue on how it can contribute to a better future for food systems and societies worldwide.”
“The themes highlighted in Global Food Policy Report 2025 are more relevant than ever,” said Christopher B. Barrett, Stephen B. and Janice G. Ashley Professor of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University, and Chair of IFPRI’s Strategy and Program Council. “Rising food prices and worsening malnutrition remind us that the world must pursue both long-term investments in sustainable agricultural productivity and immediate actions to address humanitarian needs. This recognition by AAEA underscores the importance of communicating evidence-based solutions that can help policymakers navigate these challenging times.”
The Global Food Policy Report series, launched by IFPRI in 2011, examines major developments affecting food systems, agriculture, nutrition, and rural development around the world, providing evidence-based analysis and policy recommendations for decision-makers and development practitioners. Explore the collection here.
About IFPRI: The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition. IFPRI’s strategic research aims to identify and analyze alternative international and country-led strategies and policies for meeting food and nutrition needs in low- and middle-income countries, with particular emphasis on poor and vulnerable groups in those countries, inclusive development, and sustainability. It is a research center of CGIAR; a worldwide partnership engaged in agricultural research for development. http://www.ifpri.org
Media inquiries: Evgeniya Anisimova, e.anisimova@cgiar.org