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Who we are

With research staff from more than 60 countries, and offices across the globe, IFPRI provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.

Erick Boy

researcher spotlight

Erick Boy

Erick Boy is the Chief Nutritionist in the HarvestPlus section of the Innovation Policy and Scaling Unit. As head of nutrition for the HarvestPlus Program since 2008, he has led research that has generated scientific evidence on biofortified staple crops as efficacious and effective interventions to help address iron, vitamin A, and zinc deficiency in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and South Asia.

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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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Where we work

IFPRI currently has more than 600 employees working in over 80 countries with a wide range of local, national, and international partners.

IFPRI Regional Programs

IFPRI Country Programs

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partnerships

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, the Foundation works with partners to create impactful solutions so that people can take charge of their futures and achieve their full potential. In the United States, it aims to ensure that everyone—especially those with the fewest resources—has access to the opportunities needed to succeed in school and life. Read more

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Projects

Agrifood Investment Prioritization

Agrifood Investment Prioritization

This work is part of IFPRI’s ongoing country level-analyses to identify and rank agrifood investments based on their cost-effectiveness in achieving multiple development goals. Using……

Food & Agricultural System Transformation Research (FASTR)

Food & Agricultural System Transformation Research (FASTR)

Odisha has made significant strides in its journey in agriculture through initiatives such as the Samrudhi Agricultural Policy-2020, digitization of its key development schemes, developing……

Economywide Risk Assessments

Economywide Risk Assessments

Developed using advanced machine learning, simulation, and data mining techniques, these country briefs provide detailed risk assessments of key economic indicators. Produced by IFPRI, the……

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Publications

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Journal Article

Whole maize flour could enhance food and nutrition security in Malawi

2025Ngoma, Theresa Nakoma; Taleon, Victor; Mvumi, Brighton M.; Gama, Aggrey P.; Palacios-Rojas, Natalia; Matumba, Limbikani
Details

Whole maize flour could enhance food and nutrition security in Malawi

Maize is the staple cereal in Malawi, with a daily per capita consumption of 383 g (dry matter basis), primarily consumed in the form of nsima, a thick porridge. We combined a milling experiment with focus group discussions (FGDs) to provide insights into mass and nutrient losses during maize grain dehulling and maize flour consumption patterns in rural Malawi. Milling batches (30 kg) of four maize grain varieties were dehulled at three abrasive disk dehullers under controlled conditions. The impact of maize variety and dehuller design on mass and nutrient losses during dehulling was statistically significant (p < 0.05), with a mean mass loss of 28.1 ± 5.7%, and nutrient losses of 9.8 ± 1.9% for protein, 61.7 ± 2.0% for zinc, and 47.7 ± 3.6% for iron. Six FGDs conducted in rural areas of Lilongwe District revealed a preference for refined flour due to convenience and cultural norms, despite the nutritional benefits of whole grain flour, which was recognized for its ability to provide satiety, particularly during periods of maize scarcity. Participants also highlighted switching between flour types based on seasonal maize availability, social stigma associated with whole grain flour, and awareness of nutrient losses during dehulling. Given Malawi’s precarious food insecurity situation, transitioning from dehulled maize flour nsima to whole maize flour or less refined nsima, is imperative. Our study findings can have food and nutritional savings for other southern Africa countries where the dehulling is a common practice.

Year published

2025

Authors

Ngoma, Theresa Nakoma; Taleon, Victor; Mvumi, Brighton M.; Gama, Aggrey P.; Palacios-Rojas, Natalia; Matumba, Limbikani

Citation

Ngoma, Theresa Nakoma; Taleon, Victor; Mvumi, Brighton M.; Gama, Aggrey P.; Palacios-Rojas, Natalia; and Matumba, Limbikani. 2025. Whole maize flour could enhance food and nutrition security in Malawi. Discover Food 5(1): 40. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-025-00311-y

Country/Region

Malawi

Keywords

Africa; Eastern Africa; Southern Africa; Maize; Maize Flour; Nutrition; Food Security; Milling; Food Losses

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-025-00311-y Source record

Record type

Journal Article

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Brief

Tanzania: Cost effective options for inclusive and sustainable development

2025Aragie, Emerta; Thurlow, James; Xu, Valencia Wenqian; Jones, Eleanor
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Tanzania: Cost effective options for inclusive and sustainable development

In this policy brief, we present research findings of a systematic evaluation and ranking of investment options for Tanzania’s agrifood system based on their cost-effectiveness in achieving multiple development outcomes, including agrifood gross domestic product (GDP) growth, agrifood job creation, poverty reduction, declining rates of undernourishment, and lowering diet deprivation. Additionally, the study assesses their environmental footprint, focusing on water consumption, land use, and emissions. Investments in extension and advisory services on livestock are shown to be the most cost-effective in expanding agrifood GDP and jobs. We also find that targeting SME processors generates stronger impacts on jobs, while extension services in agronomy are particularly cost-effective in fostering growth. Similarly, investing in extension services in agronomy and livestock, along with support to SME processors, yields significant gains in social outcomes, though with varying effects on poverty, hunger, and diet quality. However, many cost-effective investments have relatively high environmental footprints, highlighting potential tradeoffs. The study further reveals shifts in the cost-effectiveness ranking of investment options over time and when extreme production shocks occur.

Year published

2025

Authors

Aragie, Emerta; Thurlow, James; Xu, Valencia Wenqian; Jones, Eleanor

Citation

Aragie, Emerta; Thurlow, James; Xu, Valencia Wenqian; and Jones, Eleanor. 2025. Tanzania: Cost effective options for inclusive and sustainable development. Agrifood Investment Prioritization Country Series Brief 4. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute.

Keywords

Tanzania; Africa; Eastern Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Agrifood Systems; Economics; Environment; Poverty Reduction

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Source

Source record

Record type

Brief

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Brief

Country profile – Ethiopia: Gender, climate change, and nutrition linkages

2025Bealem, Tigist Endashaw; Ferguson, Nathaniel; Thomas, Timothy S.; Zerfu, Taddese Alemu; Bryan, Elizabeth
Details

Country profile – Ethiopia: Gender, climate change, and nutrition linkages

This brief provides an overview of Ethiopia’s climate risks, gender dynamics, and nutrition challenges and includes discussion of how these issues are intertwined, an overview of the policy landscape, and recommendations for strengthening the integration of gender, climate change and nutrition in the country. With a population of approximately 126.5 million people as of 2023, Ethiopia ranks as the second most populous country in Africa and stands out as one of the region’s fastest-growing economies, with an economic growth rate of almost 10% per year over the last 15 years (World Bank, 2024). Ethiopia’s agrifood system accounted for 48% of Ethiopia’s national GDP and 77.2% of employment in 2019. Pri mary agriculture alone contributed more than 1/3 of GDP and 2/3 of employment, while other parts of the agrifood system such as processing, trade, and input supply contributed 12.8 percent to GDP and 9.4 percent to employment (Diao et al., 2023). The sector is dominated by smallholder farmers who cultivate a diverse array of crops, including cereals, pulses, oilseeds, fruits, and vegetables (Dawid & Mohammed, 2021). Women make up more than 40% of the agriculture labor force and head approximately 25% of all farming households in the country (World Bank, 2019).

Year published

2025

Authors

Bealem, Tigist Endashaw; Ferguson, Nathaniel; Thomas, Timothy S.; Zerfu, Taddese Alemu; Bryan, Elizabeth

Citation

Bealem, Tigist Endashaw; Ferguson, Nathaniel; Thomas, Timothy S.; Zerfu, Taddese; and Bryan, Elizabeth. 2025. Country profile – Ethiopia: Gender, climate change, and nutrition linkages. Project Note May 2025. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/174904

Country/Region

Ethiopia

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Eastern Africa; Climate Change; Gender; Nutrition; Economic Growth; Agrifood Systems

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Source

Source record

Record type

Brief

Events

Release of the Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) for Ghana
IFPRI Program/Country Event

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August 24, 2023, 5:30 – 7:00 am

Release of the Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) for Ghana

Event: August 24, 2023 – 5:30 AM- 7:00 AM EDT. IFPRI is co-hosting the release of the Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) for Ghana under the Nexus Project in partnership with the Ghana Statistical Service and the Institute for Statistical, Social and Economic Research.

A Decade of the Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI): Lessons from Using Empowerment Metrics
IFPRI Policy Seminar

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February 16, 2022, 9:30 – 11:00 am

A Decade of the Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI): Lessons from Using Empowerment Metrics

Virtual Event: Feb 16, 2022 – 09:30 AM to 11:00 AM EST. This Special Event will reflect on what has been accomplished and learned by applying WEAI and pro-WEAI in diverse contexts.

Tackling child undernutrition at scale: Insights from national and subnational success cases
IFPRI Policy Seminar

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April 1, 2021, 9:30 – 11:00 am

Tackling child undernutrition at scale: Insights from national and subnational success cases

Virtual Event: APR 1, 2021 – 09:30 AM TO 11:00 AM EDT. Lessons from these deep research programs offer hope that big change is possible and provide specific direction for countries striving to accelerate progress on nutrition

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Blogs

Models as assets for food security: The impacts of IFPRI's IMPACT, RIAPA, and SPAM models
IFPRI Blog
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May 15, 2025

Models as assets for food security: The impacts of IFPRI’s IMPACT, RIAPA, and SPAM models

By Alix Underwood, Eleanor Jones, Karl Pauw, Keith Wiebe, and Liangzhi You

Essential tools for shaping policies and decisions.

Integrating gender and nutrition into climate policy: Insights from the GCAN Initiative in Nigeria
IFPRI Blog
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May 12, 2025

Integrating gender and nutrition into climate policy: Insights from the GCAN Initiative in Nigeria

By Musa Tukur Yakasai, Bello Yakasai, Yohanna Moses, Bedru Balana, Elizabeth Basauri Bryan, Augustine Iraoya, and Claudia Ringler

Grounding action in research and collaboration.

Overcoming policy, finance, and technology supply constraints to unleash small-scale irrigation in Nigeria
IFPRI Blog
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April 14, 2025

Overcoming policy, finance, and technology supply constraints to unleash small-scale irrigation in Nigeria

By Bedru Balana, Musa T. Yakasai, Nuruddeen M. Musa, Augustine Iraoya, and Claudia Ringler

Bringing human-centered design to smallholder agriculture.

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