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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.

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David Spielman

David Spielman is the director of IFPRI’s Innovation Policy and Scaling Unit and has been with the institute since 2004. His research agenda covers a range of topics including agriculture and rural development policy; agricultural science, technology, and innovation; plant genetic resources and seed systems; agricultural extension and advisory services; and community-driven rural development.

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Natural Resources and Resilience

Wei Zhang

Senior Research Fellow

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Bio

Wei Zhang is a Senior Research Fellow and Research Lead on Ecosystem Health and Biodiversity in the Natural Resources and Resilience Unit, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). She is the co-lead of the CGIAR Research Initiative on Low-Emission Food Systems (Mitigate+) and leader of Work Package on Living Labs for People (2022-2024). Wei conducts policy-relevant research on the intersection between agriculture, development, nature/environment, and climate change. Her research interests include the economics and behavior of ecosystem service management and biodiversity conservation, natural resource governance, nature-based/nature-positive solutions, participatory action research, and behavioral experiments (games) for experiential learning, with gender and climate change as cross-cutting issues. Wei has extensive experience leading and implementing multidisciplinary research projects in Africa, South Asia, East and Southeastern Asia, and Latin America, and supporting national partners in capacity strengthening. She has also contributed to global research initiatives, such as TEEB for Agriculture and Food, and working groups, such as SESYNC and SNAPP.

Prior to joining IFPRI, Wei worked in the Environment Department, the World Bank, on payment for environmental services. Wei earned a PhD in Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics at Michigan State University with a specialization in Environmental and Resource Economics. She has an MA in Community Development and Applied Economics from the University of Vermont and a BA in International Economics from Renmin University of China.

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Publications

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Journal Article

Climate change can generate enemy‐free space for crop‐feeding herbivores

2026Wyckhuys, Kris A. G.; Pozsgai, Gabor; Finch, Elizabeth A.; Seehausen, M. Lukas; Zhang, Wei; Gc, Yubak D.
Details

Climate change can generate enemy‐free space for crop‐feeding herbivores

Crop-feeding herbivores reduce the world’s food output by approximately 20% and climate change (CC) is bound to deepen those losses. Endemic or introduced consumer organisms (i.e., biological control agents) naturally regulate herbivore populations and secure a quarter of crop yields, but are exceptionally susceptible to CC-related disturbances. Here, we use niche modeling for 14 globally-important herbivores (or pests) to forecast how richness of the associated biological control agents of each pest—as a proxy of service strength—may alter under a CC-driven range expansion. Results show that 57%–100% of pests are bound to lose parasitoid and predator associates. The cassava mealybug Phenacoccus manihoti may experience a 27% decline in parasitoid pressure, whereas cosmopolitan pests of cereal and horticultural crops benefit from 6% to 7% drops in predator pressure. Such ‘enemy release’ can possibly exacerbate pest-induced yield losses and threaten future harvests. Ant-pest associations change in both directions, implying that pests may either face strengthened or weakened biological control. For pests spreading towards or within food-deficit regions in the equatorial belt, parasitoid declines and increases in ant pressure are most pronounced. By exposing the fragility of biodiversity-based ecological safeguards in farmland, our work calls for urgent, integrative, and nature-friendly solutions to uphold food security under environmental change.

Year published

2026

Authors

Wyckhuys, Kris A. G.; Pozsgai, Gabor; Finch, Elizabeth A.; Seehausen, M. Lukas; Zhang, Wei; Gc, Yubak D.

Citation

Wyckhuys, Kris A. G.; Pozsgai, Gabor; Finch, Elizabeth A.; Seehausen, M. Lukas; Zhang, Wei; and Gc, Yubak D. 2026. Climate change can generate enemy‐free space for crop‐feeding herbivores. Global Change Biology 13(3): e70775. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.70775

Keywords

Climate Change; Herbivores; Agroecology; Biodiversity Conservation; Biotic Factors; Intensification; Insect Control; Sustainable Agriculture

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-NC-ND-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.70775 Source record

Project

Low-Emission Food Systems

Record type

Journal Article

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Journal Article

Learning effects of an experiential groundwater resource game in north-eastern Ghana

2026Blackmore, Ivy; ElDidi, Hagar; Obuobie, Emmanuel; Akuriba, Margaret; Zhang, Wei; Ringler, Claudia; Meinzen-Dick, Ruth S.
Details

Learning effects of an experiential groundwater resource game in north-eastern Ghana

The growth of dry season farming in Ghana is putting increased pressure on groundwater resources. Using mixed methods this paper examines the learning effect of an experiential groundwater resource game in Ghana’s Upper East Region that simulates real-life resource use and common-pool resource management dilemmas. Results indicate short and medium-term learnings associated with participation in the game. During the game, group interaction and communication improved cooperation and led to more sustainable game behaviours. The gender-specific analysis indicates that females and males may learn and respond differently to the game. Males exhibited more sustainable game behaviours with increased communication and rules whereas female groups showed more learning from round to round. The positive learning effects from the game persisted 12 months after the intervention. Debriefing and focus group participants mentioned lessons learned about the depletable and shared nature of groundwater resources and the importance of communication and collective governance. Participants also described selecting water conserving crops and creating community watering schedules to manage water use. Findings highlight the important role experiential learning games can play in increasing knowledge, motivation, and agency associated with sustainable natural resource use.

Year published

2026

Authors

Blackmore, Ivy; ElDidi, Hagar; Obuobie, Emmanuel; Akuriba, Margaret; Zhang, Wei; Ringler, Claudia; Meinzen-Dick, Ruth S.

Citation

Blackmore, Ivy; ElDidi, Hagar; Obuobie, Emmanuel; Akuriba, Margaret; et al. 2026. Learning effects of an experiential groundwater resource game in north-eastern Ghana. Journal of Rural Studies 122(February 2026): 103975. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2025.103975

Country/Region

Ghana

Keywords

Western Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Africa; Water Management; Smallholders; Irrigation; Natural Resources Management; Experiential Learning; Groundwater; Small-scale Irrigation; Groundwater Management

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2025.103975 Source record

Project

NEXUS Gains

Record type

Journal Article

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Report

Importance of tenure and governance for multifunctional landscapes

2025Meinzen-Dick, Ruth S.; Zhang, Wei
Details

Importance of tenure and governance for multifunctional landscapes

Agricultural production occurs within landscapes that combine crop fields along with other types of land uses such as animal grazing areas, forests, agroforestry areas, wetlands, and water bodies, each influencing and being influenced by the others (Altieri et al., 2018). While these are often considered separately, there are complex flows of resources—including nutrients, water, energy, and labor—among these different components. What is done on one area will affect others. For example, use of pesticides to increase production of certain crops can kill pollinators that are needed for other crops, or pollute waters that affect fish downstream. Positive externalities are also possible: afforestation can reduce soil erosion and affect the timing and volumes of water flows.

Year published

2025

Authors

Meinzen-Dick, Ruth S.; Zhang, Wei

Citation

Meinzen-Dick, Ruth S.; and Zhang, Wei. 2025. Importance of Tenure and Governance for Multifunctional Landscapes. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179530

Keywords

Tenure; Governance; Frameworks

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Source

Source record

Record type

Report

Events

Rooted in Biodiversity: Transforming Landscapes through Nature-Positive Agriculture
IFPRI Policy Seminar

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March 18, 2026, 9:30 – 11:00 am

Rooted in Biodiversity: Transforming Landscapes through Nature-Positive Agriculture

Agriculture is both a major driver of biodiversity loss and a crucial part of the solution. This seminar will present research and evidence underpinning the World Bank report Rooted: Agriculture Rooted in Biodiversity, which identifies why biodiversity is key for agriculture and examines the constraints, strategies, and investment pathways needed to harness biodiversity and make […]

Rooted in Biodiversity: Transforming Agriculture through Nature-Positive Solutions
IFPRI at External Event

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December 11, 2025, 2:00 – 3:30 pm

Rooted in Biodiversity: Transforming Agriculture through Nature-Positive Solutions

Agriculture is both a major driver of biodiversity loss and a crucial part of the solution. This session will present research and evidence underpinning the forthcoming World Bank report Rooted: Agriculture Rooted in Biodiversity, which identifies strategies and investment pathways to harness biodiversity for resilient agricultural systems. By showcasing sustainable practice bundles, the economics of […]

IFPRI @ CGIAR Science Week
IFPRI at External Event

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April 7 to 12, 2025

IFPRI @ CGIAR Science Week

When humanity has faced its greatest challenges, science and innovation have provided solutions. Today, major and connected global challenges threaten the sustainability of food, land, and water systems, with the most vulnerable people and communities at greatest risk. Recognizing the urgency of these challenges, CGIAR and the Kenyan Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) are […]

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News

April 10, 2025 | Press Release

IFPRI’s Wei Zhang appointed to the prestigious NASEM ad-hoc study committee on the status of insects in North America

IFPRI’s Wei Zhang will participate in the NASEM study that will assess trends in insect abundance, identify research priorities, and recommend actions to slow insect declines in the most vulnerable and ecologically critical areas.

November 11, 2019 | In the News

Diversification promotes sustainable development of agriculture

ScienceNet (China) reported on an international research team of more than 100 experts including IFPRI researchers who confirmed the benefits of biodiversity for agricultural development. Senior Research Fellow Wei Zhang explained that different relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem services are determined by the relative importance of species & how they complement each other, the abundance […]

March 06, 2019 | In the News

Act fast to halt the declining insect numbers (SciDev)

Wei Zhang explains how and why researchers, development practitioners, and policy makers should act to stop dramatically declining insect numbers and protect natural habitats.

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