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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

Timothy Thomas

Timothy Thomas is a Senior Research Fellow in the Foresight and Policy Modeling Unit. His research focuses on the impact of climate change on agricultural productivity. Tim’s work involves developing innovative methods for simulated climate futures and model coordination between climate, crop, water, energy, and economics.

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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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experts

Development Strategies and Governance

Kevin Chen

Senior Research Fellow

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Kevin Chen

Bio

Kevin Chen (陈志钢) is a Senior Research Fellow in the Development Strategies and Governance Unit based in Beijing, China. He is also Director of the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD), jointly established by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and IFPRI. He currently serves as a co-editor of the China Agricultural Economic Review. Kevin has more than 17 years of research and outreach experience in development issues related to agricultural production, markets, trade, environment, and policy.

Before joining IFPRI in 2009, Kevin was Field Director of the China–Canada Small Farmer Adapting to Global Markets Project, jointly funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and Chinese Ministry of Commerce. He was also an Assistant Professor and, later, an Associate Professor with the Department of Resource Economics and Sociology, University of Alberta. Between 2003 and 2004, Kevin served as a co-editor of the Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics. Kevin holds a PhD in Agricultural Economics and Business from the University of Guelph, an MS in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of Maryland, and a BS in Agricultural Economics and Management from Zhejiang Agricultural University.

Publications

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Publications

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Journal Article

In the name of love: Policy imitation, political incentives, and local economic growth

2026Hong, Hai; Zhang, Yunfei; Chen, Kevin Z.
Details

In the name of love: Policy imitation, political incentives, and local economic growth

Year published

2026

Authors

Hong, Hai; Zhang, Yunfei; Chen, Kevin Z.

Citation

Hong, Hai; Zhang, Yunfei; and Chen, Kevin Z. 2026. In the name of love: Policy imitation, political incentives, and local economic growth. Economic Development and Cultural Change 75(1): 309-365. https://doi.org/10.1086/741353

Country/Region

China

Keywords

Asia; Eastern Asia; Policies; Incentives; Political Aspects; Economic Growth; Satellite Imagery; Electronic Commerce

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Links

https://doi.org/10.1086/741353 Source record

Record type

Journal Article

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Journal Article

The impact of targeted transfer programs on labour supply: Evidence from rural China

2026Cheng, Xiaoyu; Chen, Kevin Z.
Details

The impact of targeted transfer programs on labour supply: Evidence from rural China

Year published

2026

Authors

Cheng, Xiaoyu; Chen, Kevin Z.

Citation

Cheng, Xiaoyu; and Chen, Kevin Z. 2026. The impact of targeted transfer programs on labour supply: Evidence from rural China. Economic Analysis and Policy 93(September 2026): 233-249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eap.2026.07.033

Country/Region

China

Keywords

Asia; Eastern Asia; Targeting; Labour Market; Rural Areas; Rural Employment; Poverty Alleviation

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Links

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eap.2026.07.033 Source record

Record type

Journal Article

Resource thumbnail

Journal Article

How does rural governance adaptively address multiple rural development objectives? The case of Qingshan Village, China

2026Wang, Xinxin; Peng, Yijing; Chen, Kevin Z.; Zhang, Wei; Nehring, Ryan; Kumar, Praveen
Details

How does rural governance adaptively address multiple rural development objectives? The case of Qingshan Village, China

Year published

2026

Authors

Wang, Xinxin; Peng, Yijing; Chen, Kevin Z.; Zhang, Wei; Nehring, Ryan; Kumar, Praveen

Citation

Wang, Xinxin; Peng, Yijing; Chen, Kevin Z.; Zhang, Wei; Nehring, Ryan; and Kumar, Praveen. 2026. How does rural governance adaptively address multiple rural development objectives? The case of Qingshan Village, China. Journal of Rural Studies 127(September 2026): 104374. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104374

Country/Region

China

Keywords

Asia; Eastern Asia; Rural Areas; Governance; Rural Development; Adaptive Management; Social Network Analysis; Embeddedness

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Links

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104374 Source record

Record type

Journal Article

Blogs

A new framework for assessing the cost-effectiveness of greenhouse gas mitigation measures: Evidence from China’s dairy farms
Research Post
 | 
September 10, 2025

A new framework for assessing the cost-effectiveness of greenhouse gas mitigation measures: Evidence from China’s dairy farms

By Kevin Chen and Lingling Hou

The most promising ways to limit carbon emissions.

Reinventing payment for environmental services (PES) from the ground up: An alternative, community-driven model in China
Research Post
 | 
April 30, 2025

Reinventing payment for environmental services (PES) from the ground up: An alternative, community-driven model in China

By Yunyi Zhou, Wei Zhang, and Kevin Chen

Lessons from Qingshan village.

How China can address threats to food and nutrition security from the coronavirus outbreak
Issue Post
 | 
February 12, 2020

How China can address threats to food and nutrition security from the coronavirus outbreak

By Kevin Chen, Yumei Zhang, Yue Zhan, Shenggen Fan, and Wei Si

Important steps to avoid potential hiccups in the food supply and other problems during the coronavirus outbreak..

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Events

IFPRI @ 31st UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP31)
IFPRI at External Event

 | 

November 9 to 20, 2026

IFPRI @ 31st UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP31)

IFPRI is pleased to participate in the 31th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP31) being held in Antalya, Türkiye from November 9 to November 20, 2025. COP31 (31st Conference of the Parties) is the latest session of the supreme decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Its core purpose […]

Food Systems Futures: Launch of IFPRI and CAAS Flagship Reports
Series/Special Event

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June 10, 2026, 9:00 – 11:00 am

Food Systems Futures: Launch of IFPRI and CAAS Flagship Reports

The contemporary global economic environment is characterized by heightened complexity and volatility, presenting significant challenges to the sustainable evolution of food systems worldwide.  The International Food Policy Research Institute’s (IFPRI) report, What Do We Know About the Future of Food Systems?, adopts a comprehensive, globally oriented analytical framework to examine viable pathways for transforming food […]

IFPRI @ Asia and the Pacific Food Systems Forum 2026
IFPRI at External Event

 | 

March 16 to 19, 2026

IFPRI @ Asia and the Pacific Food Systems Forum 2026

IFPRI is pleased to participate in the Asia and the Pacific Food Systems Forum 2026, which will be held in Manila, Philippines, from March 16–19, 2026. The hybrid Forum aims to advance the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) $40 billion Food Systems Transformation commitment and bring together government leaders, global experts, development partners, private sector innovators, […]

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News

June 12, 2025 | Press Release

New special issue of Food Policy examines fertilizer and soil health policies in the wake of global crises

Key findings were presented and discussed during the IFPRI policy seminar on June 11.

April 28, 2020 | In the News

Nation resolute in meeting poverty goal (China Daily)

China Daily reported on the goals of China leadership for resolute policy action to minimize the shock from the pandemic and win the battle against absolute poverty. Senior Research Fellow Kevin Chen (Chen Zhigang) stated that President XI has overseen a poverty reduction campaign that is guided by a very mature concept and vision, and the immediate challenges from the […]

March 16, 2020 | In the News

Connection Between Coronavirus and Global Food Systems (One Green Planet)

One Green Planet reported on Covid-19 and the potential for a global food security crisis. There is a connection between disease outbreaks and food insecurity brought on by trade disruptions. Senior Research Fellow Kevin Chen, recommends that policymakers monitor food prices closely, restore operations of regional supply chains in China, increased financial support and corresponding […]

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Research

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