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The Economist published an article on food security during the COVID-19 crisis. In the article, Senior Research Fellow David Laborde states, ”Fortunately world food systems today are ‘in a very different situation’ from the crisis of 2007-08,” and further adds, “World food stocks are high. Prices for rice are up, but not to crisis levels.” 

Scidev.net published an article on findings and recommendations of the 2020 Global Food Policy Report (GFPR). The article quoted Director General Johan Swinnen and Rajul Pandya-Lorch. Swinnen states, “As the world struggles to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, economies and livelihoods are disrupted, with the poor [and] vulnerable ones likely to suffer the most. For instance, smallholder farmers, market vendors, women and youth directly relying […]

Economic Times (India) published an article on how the coronavirus has done more than disrupt supply chains. At least 10 countries have introduced restrictions on overseas sales of grains or rice since mid-March, according to IFPRI’s COVID-19 Food Trade Policy Tracker, and while many of those actions might not stick, that such threats were made at all serves as […]

San Jose Mercury News published an article on the COVID-19 pandemic and vulnerabilities to farmworkers and the food supply. Former Director General Shenggen Fan stated that “COVID-19 is a health crisis. But it could also lead to a food security crisis if proper measures are not taken.” Republished in East Bay Times, Center for Health Journalism 

Reuters published an op-ed by Director General Johan Swinnen. As the world battles the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and the social and economic disruption it is generating, concern about the impact it will have on food systems is growing. Swinnen discussed findings and recommendations from the 2020 Global Food Policy Report. The Report states that inclusive food systems play a critical role in […]

The New York Times reported on the global food crisis, a result of the COVID-19 health crisis. Director General Johan Swinnen, stated that there is no shortage of food globally, or mass starvation from the pandemic — yet. But logistical problems in planting, harvesting and transporting food will leave poor countries exposed in the coming months, especially those reliant […]

Business Mirror (The Philippines) published an article on how the Philippines must invest to improve its data system as a tool to prevent food crises as it is currently blind on the extent and degree of food insecurity in the country, according to the 2020 Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC). The GRFC is a joint assessment of acute […]

The Conversation (Africa) published an op-ed by Senior Research Fellow Stuart Gillespie. He wrote that the epidemic and malnutrition, together, will generate long-wave impacts, for years to come. They are also likely to interact with each other – badly. “This will be particularly true in countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Many of these countries’ governments, health and […]

Ghana Times reported on the COVID-19 pandemic. A community spread of the pandemic in Ghana could create a situation comparable to the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak which disrupted food systems and increased food insecurity in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea between 2013 and 2016. The 2018 IFPRI Report,  Competitiveness of the Ghanaian vegetable sector, reported increasing annual imports […]

Dhaka Tribune reported on recommendations to strengthen food systems in the wake of COVID-19. The CGIAR centers made the following statement: “As seen in the response to the social distancing challenges currently affecting boro harvest, scale-appropriate farm mechanization options will also become increasingly important to assure timely operations.” The statement was jointly signed by representatives including IFPRI-Bangladesh Country Representative Akhter Ahmed. Republished […]