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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

David Spielman

David Spielman is the director of IFPRI’s Innovation Policy and Scaling Unit and has been with the institute since 2004. His research agenda covers a range of topics including agriculture and rural development policy; agricultural science, technology, and innovation; plant genetic resources and seed systems; agricultural extension and advisory services; and community-driven rural development.

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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

Modeling tools

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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

Markets, Trade, and Institutions

Soonho Kim

Senior Data Manager

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Bio

Soonho Kim is a Senior Data Manager in the Markets, Trade, and Institutions Unit. Prior to joining IFPRI, Soonho worked as an Information Management Specialist in the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for six years. She holds a BA in Agricultural Biology from Korea University, Seoul, Korea, and a MS in Microbiology from Seoul National University. She received a PhD in Agricultural and Biological Engineering (major) and Computer Science (minor) from the University of Florida.

Languages spoken: Korean, English

Publications

Publications

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Blog Post

Tracking fertilizer price volatility: Expanding the Food Security Portal’s excessive food price variability early warning system

2025Hernandez, Manuel A.; Yao, Feng; Kim, Soonho
Details

Tracking fertilizer price volatility: Expanding the Food Security Portal’s excessive food price variability early warning system

Fertilizer is a critical input for agricultural productivity, and its increased use has been closely associated with rising agricultural yields in many countries. In developing economies that rely heavily on fertilizer imports and are home to vulnerable smallholder farmers, fertilizer price spikes can pose serious risks. When farmers lack access to effective risk-sharing mechanisms, sudden or excessive increases in fertilizer prices can discourage adoption, disrupt planting decisions, and reduce productivity.

Year published

2025

Authors

Hernandez, Manuel A.; Yao, Feng; Kim, Soonho

Citation

Hernandez, Manuel A.; Yao, Feng; and Kim, Soonho. 2025. Tracking fertilizer price volatility: Expanding the Food Security Portal’s excessive food price variability early warning system. Food Security Portal Blog Post. https://www.foodsecurityportal.org/node/3645

Keywords

Prices; Price Volatility; Food Prices

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Source

Source record

Record type

Blog Post

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Report

Real-time media analysis using large language model (LLM) for the top 5 prioritized pests and diseases

2024Kim, Soonho; Song, Xingyi; Park, Boyeong; Ko, Daeun; Liu, Yanyan
Details

Real-time media analysis using large language model (LLM) for the top 5 prioritized pests and diseases

This report presents a comprehensive overview of the real-time media analysis system developed to assess risks associated with the top five prioritized pests and diseases affecting crops. The activity, under Work Package 2 of the CGIAR Research Initiative on Plant Health, utilizes advanced text mining and machine learning techniques, including a Large Language Model (LLM), to process and analyze media articles. Key achievements include the development of an automated media analysis pipeline to monitor pests and diseases globally, the integration of GPT-4 to classify and extract detailed information from news articles, the creation of a public, interactive Crop Disease Dashboard providing real-time insights, the implementation of a cloud-based interface and REST API for user-friendly interaction and integration, and the ongoing refinement of the system based on human verification and feedback. This innovative approach aims to strengthen crop health monitoring and support policymakers and researchers in mitigating the risks posed by crop diseases and pests.

Year published

2024

Authors

Kim, Soonho; Song, Xingyi; Park, Boyeong; Ko, Daeun; Liu, Yanyan

Citation

Kim, Soonho; Song, Xingyi; Park, Boyeong; Ko, Daeun; and Liu, Yanyan. 2024. Real-time media analysis using large language model (LLM) for the top 5 prioritized pests and diseases. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/172706

Keywords

Artificial Intelligence; Large Language Models; Postharvest Control; Plant Diseases; Plant Disease Control

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Source

Source record

Project

Plant Health

Record type

Report

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Brief

Knowledge Platform for Inclusive and Sustainable Food Markets and Value Chains: IPSR Innovation Profile

2024Vos, Rob; Kim, Soonho; Rangan, V.; Dimaranan, Betina
Details

Knowledge Platform for Inclusive and Sustainable Food Markets and Value Chains: IPSR Innovation Profile

Knowledge Platform to facilitate evidence-based decision-making of governments, businesses, farmers, and practitioners toward more Inclusive and Sustainable Food Markets and Value Chains (KISM). The platform consolidates evidence of existing experiences with product and process innovations within food value chains regarding their inclusiveness (employment and income generation, valueadded sharing, poverty reduction, food security) and sustainability (emissions, supply chain resilience).

Year published

2024

Authors

Vos, Rob; Kim, Soonho; Rangan, V.; Dimaranan, Betina

Citation

Vos, R., Kim, S., Rangan, V. and Dimaranan, B. 2024. Knowledge Platform for Inclusive and Sustainable Food Markets and Value Chains: IPSR Innovation Profile. First edition, May 2024. Montpellier: CGIAR System Organization. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/155327

Keywords

Sustainable Agriculture; Food Security; Markets; Value Chains

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-NC-4.0

Source

Source record

Project

National Policies and Strategies

Record type

Brief

Blogs

Gaza's catastrophe will have long-lasting impacts on lives and livelihoods
Issue Post
 | 
August 08, 2025

Gaza’s catastrophe will have long-lasting impacts on lives and livelihoods

By Rob Vos and Soonho Kim

A landscape of starvation and ruined livelihoods.

Long-lasting devastation to livelihoods from damage to agricultural lands in Gaza
Issue Post
 | 
February 20, 2024

Long-lasting devastation to livelihoods from damage to agricultural lands in Gaza

By Rob Vos and Soonho Kim

The humanitarian crisis continues to worsen.

Despite improved global market conditions, high food price inflation persists
Issue Post
 | 
December 04, 2023

Despite improved global market conditions, high food price inflation persists

By Rob Vos, Joseph Glauber, Soonho Kim, and Will Martin

Continuing pressures on food security in low- and middle-income countries.

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Events

When Data Is Everywhere: Digital Research Methods Transforming Food Systems Science
IFPRI Program/Country Event

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May 14, 2026, 9:00 – 10:00 am

When Data Is Everywhere: Digital Research Methods Transforming Food Systems Science

In an era of data abundance, novel digital research methods are reshaping how we study and improve food systems. Building on earlier sessions focused on speech-based AI and farmer-generated data, this discussion broadens the lens, bringing together two researchers who are applying cutting-edge digital tools to address complex questions in the food domain.  First, Soonho Kim (Senior Data Manager, IFPRI) will introduce how Agentic AI […]

ICTforAg 2024: Localizing impact
IFPRI at External Event

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May 28, 2024, 9:00 – 5:00 pm

ICTforAg 2024: Localizing impact

Event: May 28, 2024 – 9:00am to 5:00pm EDT. This event explores the localization of ICT, responsible AI in agriculture, the potential for AI to increase farm profitability, empowering citizen science, and harnessing digital solutions for sustainable and regenerative farming practices.

CGIAR Platform for Big Data in Agriculture 2020
IFPRI at External Event

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October 19 to 23, 2020

CGIAR Platform for Big Data in Agriculture 2020

IFPRI is participating in the CGIAR Big Data Platform Conference on October 19-23, 2020. The need for resilient food systems comes into stark relief during a crisis. Responses must be agile and adaptive, facilitating the quickest possible recovery while equipping these systems to adaptively manage or avert crises in the future. The event theme, Digital […]

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Research

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