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With research staff from more than 60 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

Elodie Becquey

Elodie Becquey is a Senior Research Fellow in the Nutrition, Diets, and Health Unit, based in IFPRI’s West and Central Africa office in Senegal. She has over 15 years of research experience in diet, nutrition, and food security in Africa, including countries such as Burkina Faso, Chad, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, and Tanzania.

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IFPRI currently has more than 600 employees working in over 80 countries with a wide range of local, national, and international partners.

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TOPIC

Food Systems

Food systems are the sum of actors and interactions along the food value chain—from input supply and production of crops, livestock, fish, and other agricultural commodities to transportation, processing, retailing, wholesaling, and preparation of foods to consumption and disposal. Food systems also include the enabling policy environments and cultural norms around food. Ideal food systems would be nutrition-, health-, and safety-driven, productive and efficient (and thus able to deliver affordable food), environmentally sustainable and climate-smart, and inclusive. To realize this vision, continued investments must be made in agricultural research and development and technological innovations, paving the way for programs and policies that are based on sound evidence.

IFPRI conducts research and offers policy support on a range of food system issues from farm-level productivity to development of inclusive food value chains to nutrition education—providing evidence for design of food systems that provide people with equitable access to nutritious, sustainable diets and contribute to more broadly to development and well-being.

IFPRI’s research on this topic is closely aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1, SDG 2, SDG 12, SDG 14, and SDG 15.

food_systems

topics

Publications

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Journal Article

Understanding spatial heterogeneity of hidden hunger in Senegal

2025Marivoet, Wim; Ulimwengu, John M.; Sall, Leysa Maty; Fall, Cheickh Sadibou
Details

Understanding spatial heterogeneity of hidden hunger in Senegal

Using household consumption data collected in 2017/18, this paper analyzes patterns of urban and rural food consumption in Senegal. We adopt two methodological approaches: an in-depth (spatial) profiling of current diets and corresponding nutrient intakes and an application of the Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System (QUAIDS). Our findings indicate that Senegal is a typical case of micronutrient deficiency, especially regarding calcium, iron, and vitamin B12. Due to their higher income status and better food access, urban dwellers on average have a more diversified diet with higher nutrient intakes compared to their rural counterparts, especially regarding calcium, vitamin B12, and vitamin A. While the country’s food system in general is unable to assure a nutritious diet for all, the most remote rural departments in Senegal, such as Saraya and Podor, display the highest nutrient deficiencies and therefore should be targeted with priority. Apart from geographical targeting and given their higher responsiveness to price and income changes, policies based on food pricing and income transfers should be implemented to ensure a minimal nutrient intake among the most food-insecure households. These policies could be further complemented with behavioral change campaigns to promote an alternative set of nutrient-rich and cost-effective food items.

Year published

2025

Authors

Marivoet, Wim; Ulimwengu, John M.; Sall, Leysa Maty; Fall, Cheickh Sadibou

Citation

Marivoet, Wim; Ulimwengu, John M.; Sall, Leysa Maty; and Fall, Cheickh Sadibou. 2025. Understanding spatial heterogeneity of hidden hunger in Senegal. Cogent Food & Agriculture 11(1): 2533375. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2025.2533375

Country/Region

Senegal

Keywords

Western Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Africa; Household Consumption; Food Consumption; Diet; Nutrition; Micronutrient Deficiencies; Food Systems; Elasticity of Demand; Nutrient Deficiencies

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2025.2533375 Source record

Record type

Journal Article

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Book Chapter

The (un)affordability of healthy diets in South Asia and the implications for nutrition-sensitive food policies

2025Headey, Derek D.; Raghunathan, Kalyani
Details

The (un)affordability of healthy diets in South Asia and the implications for nutrition-sensitive food policies

Year published

2025

Authors

Headey, Derek D.; Raghunathan, Kalyani

Citation

Headey, Derek D.; and Raghunathan, Kalyani. 2025. The (un)affordability of healthy diets in South Asia and the implications for nutrition-sensitive food policies. In The Agrifood System in South Asia: Pathways to Sustainable Healthy Diets, eds. Samuel Scott, Avinash Kishore, and Derek Headey. Chapter 3, pp. 17-25. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178081

Keywords

Asia; Southern Asia; Food Affordability; Healthy Diets; Food Policies; Nutrition

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Source

Source record

Project

Transforming Agrifood Systems in South Asia

Record type

Book Chapter

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Book Chapter

Gender roles in South Asian food systems

2025Kumar, Neha; Manohar, Swetha; Quisumbing, Agnes R.; Banerjee, Archis; Koirala, Uma
Details

Gender roles in South Asian food systems

Year published

2025

Authors

Kumar, Neha; Manohar, Swetha; Quisumbing, Agnes R.; Banerjee, Archis; Koirala, Uma

Citation

Kumar, Neha; Manohar, Swetha; Quisumbing, Agnes R.; Banerjee, Archis; and Koirala, Uma. 2025. Gender roles in South Asian food systems. In The Agrifood System in South Asia: Pathways to Sustainable Healthy Diets, eds. Samuel Scott, Avinash Kishore, and Derek Headey. Chapter 8, pp. 69-79. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178086

Keywords

Asia; Southern Asia; Gender; Food Systems; Gender Norms; Women; Time Use; Policies; Female Labour

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Source

Source record

Project

Transforming Agrifood Systems in South Asia

Record type

Book Chapter

Blogs

Women at the center: Strengthening empowerment in fragile food systems
IFPRI Blog
 | 
December 03, 2025

Women at the center: Strengthening empowerment in fragile food systems

By Katrina Kosec

A key buffer against crises.

Governing sustainable, climate-resilient, and equitable urban and peri-urban food systems transformations
IFPRI Blog
 | 
November 21, 2025

Governing sustainable, climate-resilient, and equitable urban and peri-urban food systems transformations

By Aditi Chugh and Danielle Resnick

Local actions can support global goals.

Peace on the plate: A 2025 Borlaug Dialogue conversation on food security and global stability
IFPRI Blog
 | 
November 07, 2025

Peace on the plate: A 2025 Borlaug Dialogue conversation on food security and global stability

By Maria DiGiovanni

Addressing the expanding dynamic of conflict and poverty.

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Events

Launch of the Africa Agriculture Trade Monitor (AATM) 2025
IFPRI Program/Country Event

 | 

December 16, 2025, 12:00 – 2:00 pm

Launch of the Africa Agriculture Trade Monitor (AATM) 2025

AKADEMIYA2063 and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), in partnership with AGRA, are convening a hybrid launch event to unveil and discuss the findings of the Africa Agriculture Trade Monitor (AATM) 2025. This annual publication monitors and highlights trends in African agrifood trade, including intra-African trade, the continent’s participation in global trade, insights into […]

Shaping Food Policy in a Changing World: Research Priorities for Greater Impact
IFPRI Policy Seminar

 | 

December 15, 2025, 9:00 – 4:00 pm

Shaping Food Policy in a Changing World: Research Priorities for Greater Impact

Also streaming on Please type your questions into the chat box with name, affiliation, and country. The event video, presenter slides, and podcast will be available in the days following the event. In today’s fast-changing world and evolving food systems, the need for evidence-based food policy has never been more urgent – demanding research that […]

Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF):  Evaluating the Impacts of HGSF Procurement and Delivery Models
IFPRI Program/Country Event

 | 

November 19, 2025, 10:00 – 11:00 am

Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF):  Evaluating the Impacts of HGSF Procurement and Delivery Models

Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF) has the potential to transform food systems, strengthen rural economies, and improve child nutrition. This webinar examines emerging evidence on the impacts of HGSF approaches, from local sourcing strategies to multisectoral coordination, with a focus on research from Gambia’s HGSF program and government insights and perspectives from Cambodia’s HGSF model. Speakers […]

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News

September 26, 2025 | In the News

Saarc Agriculture Centre teams up with IFPRI for food, agriculture research (The Daily Star) 

The Saarc Agriculture Centre (SAC) and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in food and agriculture research, policy analysis, and capacity building across South Asia, The Daily Star reported.  The MoU was signed on September 25 in New York on the sidelines of the […]

September 23, 2025 | Press Release

SAARC Agriculture Centre and IFPRI sign MoU to strengthen food and agriculture cooperation in South Asia

The MoU was signed today by Secretary General of SAARC and Director General of IFPRI at the margins of the UN General Assembly this week in New York.

September 17, 2025 | Press Release

IFPRI and ICAR Convene South Asia Dialogue on Food Policy to Spotlight Priorities for Resilient, Healthy, and Inclusive Food Systems

The dialogue brought together senior policymakers, researchers, and development partners to reflect on how South Asia can secure resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems amid mounting pressures of climate change, malnutrition, and demographic transitions.

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Our experts

Deanna Olney

Deanna Olney

Director, Nutrition, Diets, and Health (NDH), Nutrition,
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David Spielman

David Spielman

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James Thurlow

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Shima Mohamed

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Joseph Nagoli

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Jenny Smart

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