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Who we are

With research staff from more than 70 countries, and offices across the globe, IFPRI provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.

researcher spotlight

Timothy Thomas

Timothy Thomas is a Senior Research Fellow in the Foresight and Policy Modeling Unit. His research focuses on the impact of climate change on agricultural productivity. Tim’s work involves developing innovative methods for simulated climate futures and model coordination between climate, crop, water, energy, and economics.

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What we do

Since 1975, IFPRI’s research has been informing policies and development programs to improve food security, nutrition, and livelihoods around the world.

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Food Security Portal

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Where we work

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Where we work

IFPRI currently has more than 480 employees working in over 70 countries with a wide range of local, national, and international partners.

IFPRI Regional Programs

IFPRI Country and Regional Offices

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experts

Agrifood Innovation and Resilience

Judy Chambers

Director – Program for Biosafety Systems

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Bio

Judith Chambers is the Director for the Program for Biosafety Systems in the Agrifood Innovation and Resilience Unit. Her international team supports interested partner countries in Africa and Asia on the technical development and implementation of evidence-based biosafety systems and independent decision-making for the use of precision genetics to support innovative agriculture research and products.

Dr. Chambers began her professional journey with a PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of Pennsylvania where she studied the molecular action of various animal viruses related to HIV. Her postdoctoral studies were conducted at an entrepreneurial biotech company, where she focused on agriculture applications and specifically on the molecular characterization of Bt genes (CryIF) for insect pest control. For the next two decades, she served in various public and private sector positions where she developed and managed initiatives to ensure that the opportunities of biotechnology could be applied to the agricultural issues facing many developing countries. She served as the Senior Biotechnology Advisor at USAID and co-developed the first public-private sector initiative on agriculture biotechnology to support developing country agriculture needs. At a former private agriculture biotechnology company, she served as Director for International Government Affairs and supported the company’s philanthropic efforts to share its proprietary technology with resource poor, small-scale farmers who work every day to bridge the food security gap.

Dr. Chambers has devoted her career to ensuring that the technical and policy systems are in place to expand farmer choice and technology access. Her long history of involvement with agriculture biotechnology and development has provided her with a reflective global insight on how evidence-based decision-making supports agricultural genetic innovations on behalf of resource poor farmers and consumers.

Publications

Events

IFPRI @ 2026 World Food Prize: Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue
IFPRI at External Event

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October 20 to 22, 2026

IFPRI @ 2026 World Food Prize: Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue

IFPRI is participating in the 2026 Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue. This year’s theme, “Before Hunger Wins,” highlights the urgent challenges facing global food security, including intensifying conflict, climate volatility, and deepening inequality. The Dialogue will bring together world leaders and experts to share knowledge, explore partnerships, and discuss strategies for addressing critical issues in […]

AI Policy Considerations for Food, Land, and Water Systems
IFPRI Policy Seminar

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September 15, 2026, 9:30 – 11:00 am

AI Policy Considerations for Food, Land, and Water Systems

Amid rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI), there is growing interest in using AI as a tool to advance food systems transformation. AI has significant potential to transform policy research in food, land, and water systems (FLWS) by enhancing accessibility, efficiency, and responsiveness in policy analysis, but only if tools are rigorously tested, made transparent, […]

AI for Food Security Forum
IFPRI at External Event

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April 30, 2026, 8:30 – 6:30 pm

AI for Food Security Forum

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Food Security Forum, brings together U.S. and global policymakers, technology developers, financers, researchers, and implementing partners working at the forefront of AI for food security. Join CSIS, and the member organizations of the AI Collaborative: Food Security, for cross-cutting discussions that explore the promises and risks of AI-enabled technologies for food […]

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