Statement by IFPRI Director General Shenggen Fan from the G20 Agriculture Ministers Meeting

April 23, Washington D.C.— As policymakers gather for the upcoming G8 and G20 meetings, and as decisionmakers, international organizations, and civil society meet for Rio+20, major food policy developments from 2011 can provide lessons and guidance for 2012 and the future.

Beirut, 7 February 2012 (UN Information Service) – Participants in an international conference on Arab food security today concluded two days of meetings with a call to highlight the need to focus on supporting job-creating growth for the poor in countries with household-level food insecurity, and on encouraging exports to finance food imports and agriculture in countries with macro-level food insecurity.

Beirut, 6 February 2012 – The Deputy Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) Nadim Khouri called for the need to take advantage of available opportunities to improve food security in the region through trade and foreign investments to ensure benefits for all.

February 6—Poverty and income inequality rates in the Arab world are higher than official numbers have suggested. Food security and poverty are particularly closely linked in Arab countries due to high vulnerability to food-related external shocks, including food price volatility, natural disasters, increasing water scarcity, and conflicts.

Dhaka—Nearly 250 high-level policymakers, leading researchers, and representatives of development organizations are gathering here from October 4-5 to discuss investment plans, priorities, and policies to advance agricultural development, achieve food and nutrition security, and improve the health and well-being of all Bangladeshi citizens.

Press Statement
by Shenggen Fan, Director General, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
June 23, 2011 — Paris, France

Just three years after the 2007-2008 food crisis, the food security of poor and vulnerable people is once again being threatened as the prices of agricultural commodities soar and become more volatile. Urgent action is needed now to address the problem and its underlying causes.

Press Statement
Shenggen Fan, Director General, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Press statement
Shenggen Fan, Director General, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

International conference to discuss opportunities and obstacles

Washington — A new report by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) challenges previous analyses of the food price crisis of 2007-08. Using recently available data, Reflections on the Global Food Crisis identifies the key causes of the price surge, its consequences for the world’s poor people, and the implications for future policies.

By Shenggen Fan
Director General, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Accra—Following a decade of minimal growth, spending on agricultural research and development (R&D) in Ghana increased dramatically after 2002.

Sana’a – Policymakers, researchers, and donors are considering a seven point action plan to improve food security in Yemen by 2020. The discussions are taking place at the Food Security Strategy Workshop hosted by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, Government of Yemen, in collaboration with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

To Meet the First Millennium Development Goal of Halving Hunger

By Shenggen Fan, Director General, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

The UN food summit closes with a strong statement on agriculture, but fails to adequately address trade, biofuels, safety nets, and implementation

By Joachim von Braun Director General, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Experts, Farmers, and Policymakers Gather to Discuss Options and Strategies

New Study Examines Plight of Poor Living on Less than 50 Cents a Day

Washington, DC—Despite much progress reducing poverty worldwide, a substantial number of the world’s poorest people are being left behind, according to a new report by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).