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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

Danielle Resnick

Danielle Resnick is a Senior Research Fellow in the Markets, Trade, and Institutions Unit and a Non-Resident Fellow in the Global Economy and Development Program at the Brookings Institution. Her research focuses on the political economy of agricultural policy and food systems, governance, and democratization, drawing on extensive fieldwork and policy engagement across Africa and South Asia.

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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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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.

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The Earth Planet

Africa

countries and regions

Publications

Resource thumbnail

Brief

Harnessing livestock for climate action and food security: A strategic opportunity for Africa and the Global South

2025Costa Junior, Ciniro; Notenbaert, An Maria Omer; Arango, Jacobo; Vos, Rob; Peters, Michael; Cramer, Laura K.; Stapleton, James
Details

Harnessing livestock for climate action and food security: A strategic opportunity for Africa and the Global South

Year published

2025

Authors

Costa Junior, Ciniro; Notenbaert, An Maria Omer; Arango, Jacobo; Vos, Rob; Peters, Michael; Cramer, Laura K.; Stapleton, James

Citation

Costa Junior, C.; Notenbaert, A.; Arango, J.; Vos, R.; Peters, M.; Cramer, L.; Stapleton, J. (2025) Harnessing livestock for climate action and food security: A strategic opportunity for Africa and the Global South. 4 p.

Country/Region

South Africa

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Southern Africa; Livestock; Food Systems; Food Security; Emission Reduction; Mitigation; Climate Action

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-NC-4.0

Source

Source record

Project

Livestock and Climate

Record type

Brief

Resource thumbnail

Book Chapter

What do we know about the future of the agrifood system in South Africa?

2025Meyer, Ferdi; Pienaar, Louw; Davids, Tracy; Kalaba, Mmatlou
Details

What do we know about the future of the agrifood system in South Africa?

South Africa’s primary agriculture sector witnessed profound productivity growth in recent decades, yet structural transformation is stalling due to a combination of sluggish nonfarm growth and persistent structural challenges that inhibit wider societal progress. Looking ahead, the agrifood system is well placed to increase the supply of goods at competitive prices but requires consistency in policymaking and an investment-friendly environment, as well as stronger domestic demand for products. Given the complexity and interconnectedness of the country’s agrifood system, future foresight research should focus on better understanding cross-sector productivity gains and how the entire system can be reoriented to support greater agricultural transformation.

Year published

2025

Authors

Meyer, Ferdi; Pienaar, Louw; Davids, Tracy; Kalaba, Mmatlou

Citation

Meyer, Ferdi; Pienaar, Louw; Davids, Tracy; and Kalaba, Mmatlou. 2025. What do we know about the future of the agrifood system in South Africa? In What do we know about the future of food systems? eds. Keith Wiebe and Elisabetta Gotor. Part Three: What Do We Know About the Future of Food Systems in Selected Countries? Chapter 27, Pp. 159-163. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175514

Country/Region

South Africa

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Southern Africa; Food Systems; Agricultural Sector; Policies; Productivity; Transformation; Economic Development; Forecasting

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Source

Source record

Project

Foresight

Record type

Book Chapter

Resource thumbnail

Journal Article

The digital readiness of agricultural advisory professionals: A South African case study

2024von Maltitz, Lindie; Van Niekerk, Johan A.; Davis, Kristin E.
Details

The digital readiness of agricultural advisory professionals: A South African case study

Agricultural advisory services link producers, the government, the research community, and credit and input supply organisations. This vital role can be enhanced through the efficient use of digital platforms, especially in South Africa, where the advisor-to-producer ratio was last recorded to be 1:1019. According to the last census conducted in South Africa, 92.1% of households own a mobile phone, and only 21.1% do not have access to the internet, providing the platform for timeous interaction between advisors and their clients. The affordability of technology and data services, network coverage, and digital literacy are obstacles in the country that need to be addressed if access to ICTs is to be improved. This article focuses on the readiness of South African agricultural advisors to use digital platforms. Survey research was used to collect data from professionals, and the data was evaluated using a survey instrument that was developed based in part on similar work done in Rwanda. The results show that although most advisors are ready to use digital platforms, many obstacles must be addressed for efficient application.

Year published

2024

Authors

von Maltitz, Lindie; Van Niekerk, Johan A.; Davis, Kristin E.

Citation

von Maltitz, Lindie; Van Niekerk, Johan A.; and Davis, Kristin E. 2024. The digital readiness of agricultural advisory professionals: A South African case study. South African Journal of Agricultural Extension 52(4): 47-65. https://doi.org/10.17159/2413-3221/2024/v52n4a16851

Country/Region

South Africa

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Southern Africa; Advisory Services; Agriculture; Digital Technology

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.17159/2413-3221/2024/v52n4a16851 Source record

Project

Policies, Institutions, and Markets

Record type

Journal Article

Datasets

Dataset

ASTI South Africa Database

2018Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators
Details

ASTI South Africa Database

This dataset includes national-level time series data on researcher capacity by qualification level, age bracket, discipline mix, and commodity, as well as a detailed breakdown of agricultural research investment across government, higher education, nonprofit, and (where possible) private for-profit agricultural research agencies. These data were derived through a series of primary survey rounds conducted by IFPRI’s Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators (ASTI) and in close collaboration with a large network of national collaborators. The ASTI data constitute a powerful resource for national and regional research managers, policymakers, donor organizations, and other stakeholders. ASTI’s key indicators provide both a diagnostic tool for assessing the allocation and use of existing resources and an advocacy tool for increasing resources and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of resource use. The ASTI website offers interactive pages that allow users to access country-level time series data, make cross-country comparisons, create graphs, and download country datasets and publications as well as detailed institutional information on agencies involved in agricultural research. The interactive benchmarking tool on the ASTI website is a convenient map-based instrument allowing users to make cross-country comparisons and rankings based on a wide set of financial and human resource indicators. The detailed ASTI datasets are available in an easy-to-use data download tool. Detailed information on definitions, methodology, and calculation procedures are available at www.asti.cgiar.org

Year published

2018

Authors

Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators

Citation

Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators. 2018. ASTI South Africa Database. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://www.asti.cgiar.org/south_africa. Harvard Dataverse. Version 1. https://www.asti.cgiar.org/south_africa

Country/Region

South Africa

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Southern Africa; Agricultural Research

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-NC-3.0

Source

Source record

Project

Policies, Institutions, and Markets

Record type

Dataset

Dataset

A 2009 Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) Database for South Africa

2014Human Sciences Research Council; International Food Policy Research Institute
Details

A 2009 Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) Database for South Africa

This data study includes South African Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) for the year 2009. The national SAM is built using official supply-use tables, national accounts, state budgets, and balance of payments, and so provides a detailed representation of the South African economy. It separates 49 activities and 85 commodities; labor is disaggregated by education level; and households by per capita expenditure deciles. Information on labor is d rawn from the 2009 Quarterly Labor Force Survey and on households from the 2005 Income and Expenditure Survey. Finally, the SAM identifies government, investment and foreign accounts. It is therefore an ideal database for conducting economywide impact assessments, including SAM-based multiplier analysis and computable general equilibrium (CGE) modeling.

Year published

2014

Authors

Human Sciences Research Council; International Food Policy Research Institute

Citation

Human Sciences Research Council; International Food Policy Research Institute. 2014. A 2009 Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) Database for South Africa. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/24774. Harvard Dataverse. Version 1.

Country/Region

South Africa

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Southern Africa; National Accounting; Social Accounting Matrix

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-NC-3.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.7910/dvn/24774 Source record

Project

Policies, Institutions, and Markets

Record type

Dataset

Dataset

South Africa Limpopo Basin Climate Change Adaptation Dataset

2010Ringler, Claudia; Sun, Yan
Details

South Africa Limpopo Basin Climate Change Adaptation Dataset

This household survey was conducted as part of a project aimed to provide policymakers and stakeholders in South Africa with tools to better understand, analyze, and form policy decisions to adapt to global change. The survey was conducted in the Limpopo River Basin in South Africa during 2005. A total of 794 households from 19 districts, in 5 Water Management Areas (WMAs), across 4 provinces of South Africa were sampled. The South Africa sample was designed to capture the diverse agricultural patterns in the basin area: farming strata, type of cultivation (dry land and irrigation), major and minor crops and livestock, and all the sub-catchment areas in each of the 5 WMAs. Topics covered include household roaster including background information, farm and non-farm activities, assets, basic services, disease, shocks; land ownership and land holdings; farm machinery, farm buildings, wells and pumps, and wage rates; crop production including production cost and income for seasonal crops and for perennial crops; crop water use; livestock production; access to extension, markets and credit; expenditures on food and income; and climate change and adaptation options.

Year published

2010

Authors

Ringler, Claudia; Sun, Yan

Citation

Ringler, Claudia; Sun, Yan. 2010. South Africa Limpopo Basin Climate Change Adaptation Dataset. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. http://hdl.handle.net/1902.1/17092. Harvard Dataverse. Version 1.

Country/Region

South Africa

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Southern Africa; Water Security; Food Security; Climate Change

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-NC-3.0

Source

Source record

Record type

Dataset

Blogs

Scaling up crop insurance in Africa for climate resilience and agricultural transformation
Issue Post
 | 
March 10, 2026

Scaling up crop insurance in Africa for climate resilience and agricultural transformation

By Ruth Hill and Berber Kramer

Advantages of risk management for smallholders.

Co-designing AI agents for agricultural policy
Event Post
 | 
March 04, 2026

Co-designing AI agents for agricultural policy

By Kristin Davis, Eliot Jones-Garcia, Hlamalani Ngwenya, Arielle Rosenthal, Amanda Grossi, and Mia Speier

Generating insights for a rapidly-changing world.

How warring factions gained influence in Sudan's food system – and what it means for the current conflict
Research Post
 | 
February 27, 2026

How warring factions gained influence in Sudan’s food system – and what it means for the current conflict

By Danielle Resnick, Hala Abushama, Khalid Siddig, and Oliver Kiptoo Kirui

Mapping relationships in a devastating war.

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Events

Promoting Resilience through Improved Varieties, Quality Seed, and Better Seed Systems: Lessons from Nigeria
IFPRI Policy Seminar

 | 

February 11, 2026, 9:30 – 11:00 am

Promoting Resilience through Improved Varieties, Quality Seed, and Better Seed Systems: Lessons from Nigeria

Across sub-Saharan Africa, small-scale, resource-poor farmers are disproportionately affected by climatic and market shocks. Providing them with the tools and technologies to manage these shocks is critical to building resilience, especially in Nigeria, with its considerable diversity. This seminar will showcase novel evidence of how improved crop varieties, quality seed, and better seed systems can […]

Launch of the Africa Agriculture Trade Monitor (AATM) 2025
IFPRI Program/Country Event

 | 

December 16, 2025, 12:00 – 2:00 pm

Launch of the Africa Agriculture Trade Monitor (AATM) 2025

AKADEMIYA2063 and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), in partnership with AGRA, are convening a hybrid launch event to unveil and discuss the findings of the Africa Agriculture Trade Monitor (AATM) 2025. This annual publication monitors and highlights trends in African agrifood trade, including intra-African trade, the continent’s participation in global trade, insights into […]

AI and Remote Sensing for Agricultural Insights: From Satellite Imagery to Decision Support 
IFPRI Program/Country Event

 | 

November 20, 2025, 9:30 – 10:30 am

AI and Remote Sensing for Agricultural Insights: From Satellite Imagery to Decision Support 

How can advances in AI and remote sensing improve agricultural decision-making, particularly in contexts where timely, accurate data is difficult to obtain? This webinar explores the intersection of machine learning and satellite imagery, focusing on innovations that enhance monitoring, planning, and climate resilience in food systems.  Ambica Paliwal will share insights on how remote sensing […]

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News

March 08, 2026 | In the News

Hunger crisis is set to get worse in west and central Africa – why and what to do about it (The Conversation)

Countries in west and central Africa are facing a food crisis with multiple causes. Estimates in late December 2025 suggested that 41.8 million people were already in crisis or worse in October-December 2025.

February 17, 2026 | Press Release

IFPRI and Farm Radio International collaborate to give a voice to the most vulnerable farmers by advancing AI tools for African languages

Introducing Longa, an AI-powered speech recognition tool designed to strengthen agricultural communication and inclusivity across sub-Saharan Africa.

February 09, 2026 | Press Release

New IFPRI study introduces breakthrough framework to assess economic risks in developing countries

A groundbreaking approach to understanding how developing economies are affected by multiple, simultaneous shocks.

View all News

Projects

School Meals and School-based Actions for People and the Planet

School Meals and School-based Actions for People and the Planet

…

Private sector-led digital agricultural extension for smallholder farmers: impact evaluation and learning study in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa

Private sector-led digital agricultural extension for smallholder farmers: impact evaluation and learning study in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa

IFPRI, in partnership with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Research Commissioning Centre (RCC) and GSMA, is leading an impact evaluation study and supporting……

Supporting ReSAKSS and CAADP

Supporting ReSAKSS and CAADP

From 2006 to 2020, IFPRI facilitated the Regional Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System (ReSAKSS) to support the implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development……

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