Learning from successes in agricultural development is now more urgent than ever. Progress in feeding the world’s billions has slowed, while the challenge of feeding its future millions remains enormous and is subject to new uncertainties in the global food and agricultural systems.

In late 2008, IFPRI, with support from The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, embarked on a project to identify and assess interventions in agricultural development that have substantially reduced hunger and poverty; to document evidence about where, when, and why these interventions succeeded; to learn about the key drivers and factors underlying success; and to share lessons to help inform better agricultural policy and investment decisions in the future. Following a rigorous review process, the project ultimately identified 20 proven successes in agricultural development. This event will present highlights of these successes – what worked, why it worked, and what we can learn.

Rajul Pandya-Lorch is the Millions Fed project leader and serves as Chief of Staff in the Director General’s Office and Head of the 2020 Vision Initiative at IFPRI. David J. Spielman is the Millions Fed research lead and research fellow in IFPRI’s Knowledge, Capacity, and Innovation Division. Prabhu Pingali is Deputy Director, Agricultural Development, at The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Raul Montemayor is the co-chair of the Millions Fed Advisory Committee and General Secretary of the Federation of Free Farmers Cooperatives, Inc., Philippines. Joachim von Braun is Director General of IFPRI.

Copies of the book, Millions Fed: Proven Successes in Agricultural Development, will be available at the event.