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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 […]

Sohu.com published an article on the impact COVID-19 could have on food systems and the food supply. Director General Johan Swinnen predicts that the global economic recession caused by the blockade and other anti-epidemic measures that restrict business activities will lead to reduced food consumption and reduced nutritional status. People’s real income will decrease, and the expenditure on food will […]

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 […]

Sunday Times (Sri Lanka) published an op-ed by Jeevika Weerahewa and Senior Research Fellow Devesh Roy on the complexity of what the impact on Sri Lanka’s economy might be during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.  The authors suggest a number of ways to prepare and alleviate some of the hardships. “Imports might be constrained for some time; Sri Lanka should use the crisis-driven […]

Press Release Point published an article on how the COVID-19 pandemic is far more than a health crisis: it is affecting societies and economies. IFPRI estimates (blog post, Poverty and food insecurity could grow dramatically as COVID-19 spreads), for example, that 140 million additional people could fall into poverty this year as a result of the virus. 

Niconico (Japan) published an article (Japan) on healthcare for infants and children. PHND Division Director Marie Ruel stated the importance for parents to have an accurate idea of ​​nutrition in resolving malnutrition among infants in food-deficient developing countries. Ruel states, “If you make mistakes in early childhood, you can create damage that can’t compensate for your subsequent growth, especially the development of […]

Die Zeit (Germany) published a news article on food supplies during the pandemic and wrote about IFPRI’s COVID-19 Food Trade Policy Tracker.

Reuters reported on the predicted devastation of COVID-19 in Africa. Senior Research Fellows James Thurlow and David Laborde Debucquet were quoted in the report. Thurlow states, “About 80% of urban Africans get their food through informal food markets. So even if it’s coming off the farm and coming out of the factories, if you cannot buy it, it’s as good as not […]

Medical News reported on IFPRI’s 2020 Global Food Policy Report and its findings and recommendations. Johan Swinnen, the report’s lead author and IFPRI’s director general, says that “control measures such as limited interactions that countries have been implementing since the WHO declared COVID-19 a global pandemic last month (11 March) are interfering with economic activities worldwide.” He adds, “vulnerable groups can contribute […]

Daily Hunt (India) published an article on the plight of the poor in developing countries amid the spread of coronavirus. Director General Johan Swinnen states, “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 […]