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The Wire (India) published an op-ed by Research Fellow Avinash Kishore who wrote about irrigation issues in the Eastern India state of Bihar. It is the first time agricultural needs have placed as a top concern in an election. He stated, “The state must also combine the provision of irrigation with public procurement of rice and wheat and improved access to […]

Faz.net (Frankfurter Allgemeine [Germany]) interviewed Director General Johan Swinnen on the predicted global food crisis as a result of the COVID-19 health crisis. Swinnen said, “IFPRI models show that the economic recession and lockdowns without intervention could cause 150 million people to become extremely poor– 80 million in Africa, 40 million in Asia. I’m not talking about poverty, I’m talking about extreme poverty, poverty affects a […]

Daily Trust (Nigeria) reported on COVID-19, nutrition, and pregnancy. Poor diet is a common experience of low-income households during the lockdown. IFPRI said poor households in low and middle-Income Countries, like Nigeria, would have dramatic income effects due to “widespread unemployment resulting from COVID-19 mitigation measures” (see blogpost, COVID-19 lockdowns are imposing substantial economic costs on countries in Africa by James Thurlow).  Also reflecting both […]

Borgen Project published an article on global food security and COVID-19. Former Director General Shenggen Fan stated, “COVID-19 is a health crisis. But it could also lead to a food security crisis if proper measures are not taken.” 

Daily Star published an article saying that In the wake of a sluggish progress in the government’s Boro procurement program, the food ministry has lifted the ceiling for paddy and wheat purchase from an individual farmer to six tonnes from the previous three tonnes. An IFPRI study said paddies usually have a higher level of moisture and it is difficult for farmers to dry their […]

Trade4DevNews published an interview with Senior Research Fellow David Laborde who discussed the challenges and opportunities for food security in least developed countries amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and presents the IFPRI Food Export Restrictions Tracker. Laborde stated that keeping the flow of goods, in particular food products, within countries and across countries as undisrupted as possible, is key, and something governments must […]

Bloomberg published an article stating President Donald Trump’s billions in bailout payments for farmers probably pushed the U.S. past international treaty limits on subsidies, potentially inviting retaliation from trading partners. Senior Research Fellow Joseph Glauber explained that trade rules have complex procedures for determining which “crop year” to attribute aid payments. Whether other countries pursue retaliation this time will probably […]

Futuro a Fondo (Spain) published an article that stated today, over 2 billion hectares of formerly productive land are degraded, and by 2030, food production will require another 300 million hectares of land. Land degradation can be neutralized through the search for solutions, with strong community participation and cooperation at all levels. IFPRI’s research was quoted, “Precision innovation is a long-term […]

Telangana (India) published an article on the food crisis that grew out of the COVID-19 health crisis. The levels of malnutrition and Severe Acute Malnourishment (SAM) are bound to go up significantly. Those who will bear the brunt of this debacle the most are children and expectant mothers, who must have healthy and nutritious food now but are […]

Successful Farming (Agriculture.com) published an article stating U.S. farm income, under pressure this year from the trade war and coronavirus pandemic, could fall off a cliff next year when record-setting federal payments are due to end. Senior Research Fellow Joseph Glauber said, Farm income has been pretty flat for a long time now influenced by large global crops that have […]