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

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experts

Development Strategies and Governance

Bart Minten

Senior Research Fellow/ Program Leader of the Myanmar Strategy Support Program

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Bio

Bart Minten, a Belgian citizen, is a Senior Research Fellow in the Development Strategies and Governance Unit. Since 2020, he has been out-posted in Yangon, Myanmar, as the Program Leader of the Myanmar Strategy Support Program, focusing on research, capacity building, and outreach and communication of research related to food and agricultural issues in Myanmar. Previously, he worked in Addis Ababa as the Program Leader of the Ethiopia Strategy Support Program and in the New Delhi Office, where his work focused on agricultural value chains in South Asia. Prior to joining IFPRI, he was a Senior Research Associate for the Cornell Food and Nutrition Policy Program in Madagascar. He also has held the position of Assistant Professor at the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Economics, KU Leuven, as well as teaching positions at Cornell University and the University of Antananarivo, Madagascar. Bart received his PhD in Agricultural and Resource Economics from Cornell University and his bio-engineering degree from KU Leuven.

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Publications

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Journal Article

Traders and agri-food value chain resilience: The case of maize in Myanmar

2025Goeb, Joseph; San, Cho Cho; Belton, Ben; Synt, Nang Lun Kham; Aung, Nilar; Maredia, Mywish; Minten, Bart
Details

Traders and agri-food value chain resilience: The case of maize in Myanmar

Year published

2025

Authors

Goeb, Joseph; San, Cho Cho; Belton, Ben; Synt, Nang Lun Kham; Aung, Nilar; Maredia, Mywish; Minten, Bart

Citation

Goeb, Joseph; San, Cho Cho; Belton, Ben; Synt, Nang Lun Kham; Aung, Nilar; et al. 2025. Traders and agri-food value chain resilience: The case of maize in Myanmar. World Development Perspectives 39(September 2025): 100699. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wdp.2025.100699

Country/Region

Myanmar

Keywords

Asia; South-eastern Asia; Agricultural Value Chains; Resilience; Maize; Agricultural Prices

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Links

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wdp.2025.100699 Source record

Record type

Journal Article

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Brief

Global rice price declines and expected effects on monsoon paddy farming: Insights from key informants

2025Minten, Bart; Aung, Zin Wai; Htar, May Thet; Masias, Ian
Details

Global rice price declines and expected effects on monsoon paddy farming: Insights from key informants

This brief draws on interviews with 51 agro-input retailers across 10 states and regions to assess how falling international rice prices may affect monsoon paddy cultivation in their communities. Key Findings: In May 2025, international rice prices (in real terms) reached their lowest level in the past 15 years, one-third lower than in May 2024. Myanmar’s dual exchange rate system has further depressed local rice prices. In addition to low export prices, rising marketing and processing costs—driven by persistent electricity shortages and transportation challenges—have widened the gap between farmgate prices and end-market prices (both domestic and export). According to informants, fertilizer (urea) prices rose 12 percent, while paddy prices fell by an average of 21 percent (median decline: 29 percent) in May 2025 compared to a year earlier. In response to weaker price incentives, respondents expect monsoon paddy area to decline by 11 percent and fertilizer use to drop by 18 percent compared to the 2024 monsoon season. Expected declines in paddy prices, cultivated areas, and yields are likely to reduce production, lower farm incomes, and increase rural poverty in 2025 – especially concerning given farmers’ relative resilience in recent years. Recommended Actions: To ensure adequate incentives for paddy farmers, the dual exchange rate system should be revised to give exporters—and, by extension, farmers—fairer and more predictable returns. Barriers to efficient domestic trade and processing—such as roadblocks, restrictive regulations, poor transportation infrastructure, and limited access to fuel and electricity—should be addressed to narrow the growing gap between producer and consumer prices.

Year published

2025

Authors

Minten, Bart; Aung, Zin Wai; Htar, May Thet; Masias, Ian

Citation

Minten, Bart; Aung, Zin Wai; Htar, May Thet; and Masias, Ian. 2025. Global rice price declines and expected effects on monsoon paddy farming: Insights from key informants. Myanmar SSP Research Note 121. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175338

Country/Region

Myanmar

Keywords

Asia; South-eastern Asia; Prices; Rice; Agriculture; Exports; Farmers

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Source

Source record

Record type

Brief

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Report

Myanmar Monthly Food Price Report – May 2025

2025Htar, May Thet; Minten, Bart; Masias, Ian
Details

Myanmar Monthly Food Price Report – May 2025

The rapidly evolving agricultural and food security situation in Myanmar requires a high frequency, systematic, and comprehensive approach to monitoring. The Myanmar Monthly Food Price Report synthesizes food price trends using publicly available datasets, focusing on key agricultural crops and highlighting regional differences in rice prices. By analyzing these trends, the report aims to provide insights into the broader agricultural market and the factors driving food price fluctuations in Myanmar.

Year published

2025

Authors

Htar, May Thet; Minten, Bart; Masias, Ian

Citation

Htar, May Thet; Minten, Bart; and Masias, Ian. 2025. Myanmar Monthly Food Price Report – May 2025. Monthly Food Price Report: May 2025. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175274

Country/Region

Myanmar

Keywords

Asia; South-eastern Asia; Food Security; Food Prices; Crops; Agricultural Marketing

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Source

Source record

Record type

Report

Blogs

Resource-poor rice farmers in Myanmar suffer double impact from political conflict
IFPRI Blog
 | 
November 12, 2024

Resource-poor rice farmers in Myanmar suffer double impact from political conflict

By Hiroyuki Takeshima, Zin Wai Aung, Ian Masias, and Bart Minten

Productivity erodes amid turmoil.

Impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on vegetable value chains in Ethiopia
IFPRI Blog
 | 
April 13, 2020

Impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on vegetable value chains in Ethiopia

By Seneshaw Tamru, Kalle Hirvonen, and Bart Minten

As restrictions take effect, a survey shows reductions in food trade and consumption.

2019 Global Food Policy Report Ethiopia Launch: Achieving rural Africa's inclusive transformation
IFPRI Blog
 | 
May 09, 2019

2019 Global Food Policy Report Ethiopia Launch: Achieving rural Africa’s inclusive transformation

By Nahume Yadene and Bart Minten

Ethiopia's rural areas are at risk. Revitalizing them, and rural regions across Africa, requires a sustained strategic effort.

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Events

32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists
IFPRI at External Event

 | 

August 2 to 7, 2024

32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists

The triennial International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE-2024), centred on the theme “Transformation Towards Sustainable Agri-Food Systems” is scheduled from August 2-7, 2024, in New Delhi, India. The conference offers a distinctive platform, providing a golden opportunity for the agricultural academic institutions and researchers to convene in person, exchange knowledge, and actively contribute to the […]

2022 Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA) Annual Meeting
IFPRI at External Event

 | 

July 31 to August 2, 2022

2022 Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA) Annual Meeting

Virtual Event: July 31, 2022 – 10:00 AM to August 2, 2022 – 6:15 PM PDT. IFPRI is participating in the 2022 Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA) Annual Meeting.

Retail food prices at the country level and implications for food security
IFPRI Policy Seminar

 | 

March 29, 2022, 9:30 – 11:00 am

Retail food prices at the country level and implications for food security

Virtual Event: March 29, 2022 – 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM EDT. How are rising food prices, further aggravated by the invasion of Ukraine, being transmitted at the country level? This policy seminar will examine how global commodity prices are transmitted at the national level and what other country-specific aspects influence retail prices.

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News

April 27, 2020 | In the News

The global food system, under pressure (ARA Newspaper)

ARA Newspaper (Spain) published an article on the current food supply. Globally, from Peru to the US, tons of vegetables and dairy are thrown in the trash while some countries limit exports. Senior Research Fellow Bart Minten stated, “Africa is heavily dependent on food imports, especially rice and cereals. Last year’s harvests were very good and there are enough reserves in […]

March 10, 2019 | In the News

Will the latest superfood come from Africa? Ethiopian traditional fruit is a dream to avoid wheat – and it was already patented in Europe (YLE)

Finland’s YLE released an article highlighting the country’s gluten-free crop, teff, gaining traction as a superfood, essential ingredient, and top export. Senior Research Fellow Bart Minten and Research Fellow Kalle Hirvonen were interviewed in the article, cautioning major exportation of the crop as it would increase domestic prices for Ethiopians.

July 19, 2018 | Press Release

NEW BOOK: Higher Investments in Research, Adoption of New Technologies to Improve Productivity and Export Potential of Teff

Addis Ababa: Ethiopia could increase production of its gluten-free and nutrient-rich cash crop teff, and tap into the expanding domestic and international markets, by ramping up investments in basic research; adopting new and better technologies; improving input distribution systems; and extending markets , according to a new book launched by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in Addis Ababa today.   “Teff makes a considerable contribution to Ethiopians’ incomes and food security, and has potential to provide […]

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