IFPRI Podcast

IFPRI Podcast

International Food Policy Research Institute
Country USA
Genres Education
Language EN
Episodes 500
Latest 30.06.2026

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries. Established in 1975, IFPRI currently has more than 600 employees working in over 50 countries. It is a research center of CGIAR, a worldwide partnership engaged in agricultural research for development. The podcast covers IFPRI's research findings, policy recommendations, and expert discussions on global food security and nutrition issues.

Episodes

  • Agricultural Trade at a Crossroads with Latin American, Caribbean, and African Perspectives for Post-MC14 30.06.2026 1h 52m
    Policy Seminar | IFPRI Policy Seminar Agricultural Trade at a Crossroads with Latin American, Caribbean, and African Perspectives for Post-MC14 Organized by IFPRI, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), and the CGIAR Science Program on Policy Innovations June 30, 2026 Agricultural trade is facing an increasingly complex environment shaped by geopolitical tensions, climate pressures, and growing trade disruptions. These developments are reshaping trade flows, affecting food security, and challenging the ability of existing institutions and policy frameworks to respond effectively. These pressures are also creating new opportunities for developing regions to strengthen their competitiveness, resilience, and participation in global markets. Understanding these changes is essential for identifying practical pathways toward a more inclusive, sustainable, and predictable agricultural trading system. Join us for the launch of Agricultural Trade at a Crossroads—with Latin American, Caribbean, and African Perspectives for Post-MC14 (https://hdl.handle.net/10568/183392). This seminar will bring together the book’s authors, policymakers, representatives from international organizations, development partners, and other stakeholders to discuss the future of agricultural trade and trade governance, including key findings of the book and priorities for a constructive agenda following the 14th Ministerial Conference of the WTO. Four thematic panels will cover global developments, Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, and opportunities for cooperation. Discussions will highlight implications for food security, sustainability, competitiveness, regional integration, and the future of the WTO, as well as opportunities for strengthening dialogue and collaboration between Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa. Opening Remarks Ruth Hill, Director, Markets, Trade, and Institutions, IFPRI H.E. Girma Amente, African Union High Representative to the World Trade Organization More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/agricultural-trade-at-a-crossroads-with-latin-american-caribbean-and-african-perspectives-for-post-mc14/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription
  • Inequality within and outside the household: Reflections from Agnes Quisumbing’s career 24.06.2026 1h 35m
    Policy Seminar | IFPRI Policy Seminar Inequality within and outside the household: Reflections from Agnes Quisumbing’s career June 24, 2026 Throughout a career spanning more than four decades, Agnes Quisumbing has made major contributions to research on intrahousehold allocation, poverty and economic mobility, women’s empowerment, and the design and implementation of gender-sensitive agricultural programs. Stemming from her long-standing interest in inequality, Agnes’s work on gender, property rights, and women’s empowerment examines how inequality within the household intersects with broader societal inequalities. Join us for this policy seminar highlighting Agnes’s research contributions, which will bring together colleagues and collaborators to examine the research and policy impact of her work. The event will feature a panel discussion of her legacy, as well as a keynote address from Agnes and reflections from Dan Gilligan, Director of IFPRI’s Poverty, Gender, and Inclusion Unit, and Purnima Menon, IFPRI’s Director of Strategy and Partnerships, IFPRI. Opening Remarks Daniel Gilligan, Director, Poverty, Gender, and Inclusion (PGI), IFPRI Keynote Reflections Agnes Quisumbing, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Panel Discussion: Reflections on Agnes’s Contributions to Research and Policy Ruth Meinzen-Dick, Research Fellow Emeritus, IFPRI Maria Floro, Professor Emerita, College of Arts & Sciences, American University Markus Goldstein, Vice President and Senior Fellow, Center for Global Development Jemimah Njuki, Director, Gender, Women and Civil Society, African Development Bank Group (AfDB) Closing Remarks Purnima Menon, Director of Strategy and Partnerships, IFPRI Moderator Hazel Malapit, Senior Research Coordinator, IFPRI More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/inequality-within-and-outside-the-household-reflections-from-agnes-quisumbings-career/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription
  • Weather, Money, and Shifting Bets: What’s Driving Food Commodity Markets? 23.06.2026 1h 30m
    IFPRI-AMIS Seminar Series | IFPRI Policy Seminar Weather, Money, and Shifting Bets: What’s Driving Food Commodity Markets? Co-organized by IFPRI and Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) June 23, 2026 Global food commodity markets are entering a new phase in which traditional indicators may no longer provide a clear view of market dynamics. While supply conditions for key crops appear quite promising, a closer look reveals a more complex picture—shaped by climate risks, macroeconomic pressures, and shifting market behavior. Join us for this seminar that will bring together insights from market monitoring, macro analysis, and transportation to examine what is driving food commodity markets today—and where to expect future sources of risk and uncertainty. Presentations will unpack the conditions driving agricultural market behavior, and GEOGLAM will provide updates on crop conditions and the evolving threat from El Niño. The discussion will focus on the growing linkages between commodity markets and energy and transport markets and on renewed investor interest in agricultural commodities, the role of market speculation, and how to interpret these signals in today’s markets. Overview of Macroeconomic Prospects John Baffes, Senior Agriculture Economist, Development Economics Prospects Group, World Bank Overview of Crop Conditions and Emergence of El Niño Brian Barker, Principal Faculty Specialist, Department of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland; Co-Lead, GEOGLAM Crop Monitors (AMIS) Panel Discussion Kona Haque, Former Head of Research, ED&F Seth Meyer, Director and Associate Professor, Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute, University of Missouri Mads Frank Markussen, Head of Freight Research, CM Navigator Concluding Remarks Joseph Glauber, Research Fellow Emeritus, IFPRI Moderator Monika Tothova, Senior Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) Secretary More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/weather-money-and-shifting-bets-whats-driving-food-commodity-markets/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription
  • Engines of Growth in Fragile Contexts: Launching the IFPRI–UNU-WIDER research partnership 10.06.2026 1h 55m
    Policy Seminar | IFPRI Policy Seminar Engines of Growth in Fragile Contexts: Launching the IFPRI–UNU-WIDER research partnership Organized by IFPRI and United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER) June 10, 2026 Fragile and conflict-affected settings account for a growing share of global poverty. Roughly 2 billion people live in these areas, accounting for 25% of the world’s population but 72% of the world’s extreme poor. At the national level, many fragile economies struggle to sustain growth, create jobs, and recover from repeated shocks. Yet even amid conflict, climate stress, and political instability, some communities continue to adapt, work, trade, and invest. For these “islands of resilience,” local livelihoods, skills, trust, and collective action support local economic activity that connects to broader growth trajectories. Understanding these dynamics can help identify how strategic support can strengthen resilience, recovery, and livelihoods in at-risk economies. Join us for this event marking the launch of the IFPRI–UNU-WIDER research partnership, which will work with local partners to generate evidence on the engines of growth that sustain economic activity amid fragility. This seminar will bring together researchers, donors, policy stakeholders, and implementation partners to discuss why some local economies remain resilient under stress, what evidence is needed to guide investment and programming, and how policy can support locally grounded pathways to economic recovery. This event was supported by the CGIAR Food Frontiers and Security Program. We gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by CGIAR funders through the CGIAR Trust Fund. For more information visit: https://www.cgiar.org/cgiar-research-porfolio-2025-2030/food-frontiers-and-security/. Welcome Remarks Daniel Gilligan, Director, Poverty, Gender, and Inclusion (PGI), IFPRI Patricia Justino, Director, UNU-WIDER Presentations from IFPRI and UNU-WIDER Katrina Kosec, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Patricia Justino, Director, UNU-WIDER Panel Discussion: Unlocking Local Economies for Resilient Recovery Maya Ragab, Head of Programmes, Cairo International Centre for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping, and Peacebuilding (CCCPA) Elizabeth Radin, Senior Director of Research, International Rescue Committee (IRC) Luis Felipe López-Calva, Global Director, Prosperity Vertical, World Bank Group Closing Remarks Daniel Gilligan, Director, Poverty, Gender, and Inclusion (PGI), IFPRI Moderator Kibrom Abay, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/engines-of-growth-in-fragile-contexts-launching-an-ifpri-unu-wider-research-partnership/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription
  • Success Pathways for Scaling Biofortified Crops 13.05.2026 1h 33m
    Success Pathways for Scaling Biofortified Crops by International Food Policy Research Institute
  • Financing Social Protection in Low- and Middle-Income Countries 30.04.2026 1h 31m
    Policy Seminar | IFPRI Policy Seminar Financing Social Protection in Low- and Middle-Income Countries Co-organized by IFPRI and the CGIAR Science Program on Policy Innovations April 29, 2026 Social protection and safety net programs have expanded significantly across many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in the last two decades. Despite this progress, the expansion and coverage of these programs remain uneven, leaving nearly 2 billion people in LMICs without access to social protection. Innovative financing mechanisms and domestic funding have helped some LMICs make important strides in expanding their social protection programs, but fiscal constraints prevent other countries from doing so. These challenges are becoming more pronounced amid reduced international development aid and the effects of regional and global shocks, even as such shocks necessitate the expansion of social safety nets to protect poor and vulnerable populations. This policy seminar will discuss lessons learned from countries and organizations that have implemented large-scale social protection programs. It will bring together government representatives, practitioners, and researchers to share important insights and global, regional, and national statistics related to financing social protection and safety net programs. Welcoming Remarks Daniel Gilligan, Director, Poverty, Gender and Inclusion (PGI), IFPRI Global Experience and Lessons on Financing Social Protection and Safety Net Programs in LMICs Ugo Gentilini, Lead Economist, Social Policy (MENAAP region), World Bank Cases and Experiences from Africa Kibrom Abay, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Panel Discussion: Lessons and Experiences from Selected Countries Raafat Shafeek, Assistant Minister for Social Protection and Executive Director, Takaful and Karama Program, Ministry of Social Solidarity (MoSS), Egypt Asmita More, Deputy Collector (Land Acquisition), Gadchiroli, Govt. of Maharashtra, India Lynette Ochuma, Ag. Secretary, Directorate of Social Development (DSD), Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (MLSP), Kenya Buthaina Al-Iryani, Social Policy & Public Finance Specialist, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Ival Cummings-John, Social Development Advisor, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Closing Remarks Clemens Breisinger, Director, CGIAR Science Program on Policy Innovations Moderator Melissa Hidrobo, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/financing-social-protection-in-low-and-middle-income-countries/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription
  • How does Trade Risk Influence Agricultural Policy? 28.04.2026 1h 28m
    How does Trade Risk Influence Agricultural Policy? by International Food Policy Research Institute
  • A Narrow Strait, Global Consequences: Hormuz Strait and Fertilizer Markets 23.04.2026 1h 31m
    IFPRI-AMIS Seminar Series | IFPRI Policy Seminar A Narrow Strait, Global Consequences: Hormuz Strait and Fertilizer Markets Co-organized by IFPRI and Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) April 23, 2026 Fertilizer markets have entered a phase of heightened uncertainty, where geopolitical risks intersect with highly concentrated production, energy dependence, and fragile logistics. These risks are no longer hypothetical. The Strait of Hormuz represents a critical chokepoint for fertilizer trade, with around 35 percent of global urea flows, over one quarter of ammonia trade, just above 20 percent of phosphates, and roughly 45 percent of global sulfur exports transiting the Strait. Ongoing restrictions on maritime traffic through Hormuz underscore its role as a key pressure point in global fertilizer supply chains. Even partial or temporary disruptions can reverberate through markets, while a prolonged or intensified disruption would pose serious challenges for securing adequate nutrient supplies ahead of future cropping seasons. Moreover, even in the event of an easing or reopening, restarting production, logistical normalization, and contract re‑alignment would take time, delaying a full recovery in supply flows. This IFPRI-AMIS seminar looks ahead to assess how fertilizer markets may evolve under these conditions. Drawing on the latest market intelligence and trade analysis, speakers will examine transmission channels from constrained shipping and elevated insurance risks to energy‑driven production costs, price volatility, and regional supply vulnerabilities. The discussion will focus on implications for major importing regions, risks to fertilizer affordability and application decisions, and potential knock‑on effects for agricultural production and food security, as well as policy and market responses to strengthen preparedness in an increasingly uncertain global environment. Opening Remarks Monika Tothova, Senior Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) Secretary Landscape of Fertilizer Markets Delphine Leconte-Demarsy, Fertilizer consultant, Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) Changes in Fertilizer Trade Flows Shawn Arita, Associate Director and Associate Research Professor, Agricultural Risk Policy Center, North Dakota State University (NDSU) Panel Discussion Africa: Maria Wanzala, Director of Policy, African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP) Brazil: Joana Colussi, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University India: Shalender Singh, Chief Manager, Marketing, Krishak Bharati Cooperative Limited United States: Veronica Nigh, Chief Economist, The Fertilizer Institute Concluding Remarks Joseph Glauber, Research Fellow Emeritus, IFPRI More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/a-narrow-strait-global-consequences-hormuz-strait-and-fertilizer-markets/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription
  • Data in Action: Getting Ahead of Crises: Launch of the Next Generation HungerMapLIVE 17.04.2026 1h 16m
    Policy Seminar | IFPRI Policy Seminar Data in Action: Getting Ahead of Crises: Launch of the Next Generation HungerMapLIVE Co-organized by IFPRI and the World Food Programme (WFP) | Convening alongside the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings April 17, 2026 As global food security challenges intensify, using timely and reliable data to forecast food insecurity and malnutrition crises can prevent emerging shocks from escalating into humanitarian crises. This high‑level event brings together the World Food Programme, IFPRI and key partners for the launch of World Food Programme’s next‑generation HungerMapLIVE platform. Designed to strengthen global early warning systems, this latest generation incorporates richer indicators, enhanced forecasting, subnational modeling, advanced analytical capabilities and AI-enabled insights that help policymakers, researchers, and practitioners better anticipate and respond to food security and nutrition risks. Please join us for this debut and live demonstration of the latest HungerMapLIVE platform and a discussion on how timely data enables rapidly improving approaches to forecasting and early warning. The HungerMapLIVE platform will be inaugurated by The Honorable Cindy McCain, WFP’s Executive Director. A distinguished panel of experts will subsequently examine: New innovations to support more accurate early warning, including the responsible use of AI as an analytical enabler Approaches to filling existing data gaps The urgent need for sustained investments in strong data ecosystems to ensure sound food security and nutrition analytics Opportunities for deeper collaboration to support smarter and earlier decision-making The event will also feature remarks from policymakers and representatives of multilateral and regional development banks who rely on early warning systems to inform their operations, policies and investments. Welcome Remarks Johan Swinnen, Director General, IFPRI Opening Remarks on the Global Hunger Crisis and the Case for Faster, Data-Driven Action The Honorable Cindy McCain, Executive Director, World Food Programme (WFP) Launch of HungerMapLIVE Introducing HungerMapLIVE and live demonstration: Jean-Martin Bauer, Director, Food Security and Nutrition Analysis, World Food Programme (WFP) Innovation Spotlights – AI x Food Security Forecasting Yanyan Liu, Senior Research Fellow in the Markets, Trade, and Institutions, IFPRI Philipp Zimmer, Researcher, World Bank Group High-Level Panel Discussion: From Early Warning to Early Action Moderated by Kyriacos Koupparis, Head, Early Warning and Forecasting Unit, World Food Programme (WFP) Shobha Shetty, Global Director, Agriculture and Food, World Bank Laura Rojas Sánchez, Chief of the Disaster Risk Management Unit at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Dan Gilligan, Director of the Poverty, Gender, and Inclusion, IFPRI Jean-Martin Bauer, Director, Food Security and Nutrition Analysis, World Food Programme (WFP) Moderator Charlotte Hebebrand, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, IFPRI More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/data-in-action-getting-ahead-of-crises-launch-of-the-next-generation-hungermaplive/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription
  • Agricultural Insurance: Innovations, Policies, and Pathways to Scale 16.04.2026 1h 43m
    Agricultural Insurance: Innovations, Policies, and Pathways to Scale by International Food Policy Research Institute
  • Sustaining Momentum for Nutrition Financing in the Global Development Agenda 15.04.2026 1h
    Martin J. Forman Memorial Lecture | IFPRI Policy Seminar Sustaining Momentum for Nutrition Financing in the Global Development Agenda 35th Annual Martin J. Forman Memorial Lecture April 15, 2026 Recognizing France’s tremendous leadership of the 2025 Nutrition for Growth Summit (N4G), IFPRI and the Forman lecture selection Committee are delighted to announce that Her Excellency Éléonore Caroit, France’s Minister Delegate to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Responsible for Francophonie, International Partnerships, and French Nationals Abroad has been invited to deliver the 35th Martin J. Forman Memorial Lecture. France’s leadership of the N4G Summit held in France helped to cement nutrition as a core development priority, reaffirmed a global commitment to fight all forms of malnutrition and emphasized the importance of policy coherence, continuity and long-term commitment. Importantly, the summit also delivered one of the strongest mobilizations since N4G began in 2013, generating 517 new commitments from 160 actors across 75 countries, spanning policy reforms, financing pledges, and programmatic actions. France’s stewardship helped ensure that the summit not only renewed global political attention to nutrition but also produced concrete, trackable commitments and a platform for continued accountability. The French government continues to emphasize the importance of following through on the N4G summit and of keeping nutrition front and center of the global policy agenda, also through its leadership of the G7. The annual lecture commemorates Martin J. Forman, who headed the Office of Nutrition at USAID for more than 20 years and made a significant impact on international nutrition. The lecturer is invited to present personal views about major issues related to malnutrition. Welcome Remarks from IFPRI Johan Swinnen, Director General, IFPRI Welcome Remarks from the Forman Family Kenan Forman, Son of Martin J. Forman Martin J. Forman Memorial Lecture Éléonore Caroit, Minister Delegate to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, France Discussant Remarks Matthew Freeman, Executive Director, Stronger Foundations for Nutrition Abigail Perry, Global Program Lead for Nutrition, World Bank Moderator Purnima Menon, Senior Director for Food and Nutrition Policy, IFPRI More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/sustaining-momentum-for-nutrition-financing-in-the-global-development-agenda/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription
  • Conflict in the Middle East: Reverberations for Food Systems 13.04.2026 1h 59m
    While the global food system has largely adjusted to the disruptions in agricultural commodities and fertilizers following the invasion of Ukraine, the new conflict in the Middle East introduces a new set of challenges at a time when markets and supply chains remain vulnerable to geopolitical shocks. Disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of the world’s oil and natural gas, as well as fertilizers, transit. Concerns about potential impacts on production sites in the region have added to the uncertainty. These developments have implications for countries heavily reliant on Gulf producers for oil, gas, and fertilizers, as well as for food-import dependent economies in the Gulf, should agricultural shipments to the region face prolonged delays. While the immediate effects on trade flows and prices are still unfolding, higher energy and fertilizer costs can influence agricultural production decisions and, over time, shape food security outcomes. Understanding these dynamics early is important for anticipating where pressures may emerge and how they may interact with existing vulnerabilities. As global food systems become increasingly exposed to conflict-related and geopolitical risks, timely analysis is essential for informing both rapid response and longer-term resilience efforts. Clear insights into potential stress points and market adjustments can help governments, value chain actors, development partners, and humanitarian organizations prepare and respond effectively. The event will feature: Presentations from IFPRI experts, who will provide an up‑to‑date assessment of these developments and discuss their implications for vulnerable low‑ and middle‑income countries. A second panel of senior representatives from governments, international organizations, and the private sector, who will reflect on how they are addressing the immediate effects of the crisis and share perspectives on priorities for strengthening resilience and improving risk management strategies going forward. An opportunity for questions, comments, and discussion. Moderated by: Charlotte Hebebrand, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, IFPRI Opening Remarks Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director, CGIAR Johan Swinnen, Director General, IFPRI Ramifications for Asian Economies Albert Park, Chief Economist, Asian Development Bank Food Security Considerations and MDB toolkits Renaud Seligmann, Director for Strategy and Operations, World Bank Planet Vice Presidency Early Analyses Market Responses to the Conflict in the Middle East: Joseph Glauber, Research Fellow Emeritus, IFPRI Understanding Vulnerabilities at the Country Level: James Thurlow, Director, Foresight and Policy Modeling, IFPRI Comments on Rapid Analysis: Mark Diamond, Economist-IBRD Lead, World Bank Group Team, International Financial Institutions Dept., Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) External Panel on Rapid Response and Risk Management Moderated by: Anna Gawel, Managing Editor, Devex Humanitarian Needs: Rania Dagash-Kamara, Assistant Executive Director, Partnerships and Innovation, World Food Programme (WFP) Considerations for Food Import Dependent Gulf Countries: Josef Schmidhuber, Chief Sustainability Officer, Pure Harvest Smart Farms, UAE Considerations for India: Rakesh Kapur, Joint Managing Director, Indian Farmers Fertilizers Cooperative (IFFCO) Food Security Investments in Times of Conflict: Jonah Gold, Managing Director of Insurance, US International Development Finance Corporation More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/conflict-in-the-middle-east-reverberations-for-food-systems/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription
  • Rooted in Biodiversity: Transforming Landscapes through Nature-Positive Agriculture 19.03.2026 1h 31m
    Rooted in Biodiversity: Transforming Landscapes through Nature-Positive Agriculture by International Food Policy Research Institute
  • Navigating Risk: Challenges in Agricultural Commodity Shipping and Insurance Markets 18.02.2026 1h 28m
    IFPRI-AMIS Seminar Series | IFPRI Policy Seminar Navigating Risk: Challenges in Agricultural Commodity Shipping and Insurance Markets Co-organized by IFPRI and Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) February 18, 2026 Shipping is at the heart of global agricultural trade, with more than 80 percent of staple crops and oilseeds moving by sea, yet maritime routes have become increasingly uncertain. Attacks on vessels in strategic corridors, drought‑restricted passages, and sharply rising war‑risk insurance premiums have created levels of exposure not seen in years. Bulk agricultural cargoes are inherently sensitive to handling and transit conditions. Physical vulnerabilities—affecting the cargo or the vessel—can lead to complex, costly claims, with insurers tightening terms as geopolitical and climate‑related risks escalate. Disruptions to bulk shipping affect freight costs, trade balances, and ultimately, the economic stability of import‑dependent countries. Insurance markets, particularly war‑risk underwriting, now exert significant influence over the viability of trade lanes. In some high‑risk corridors, premiums have surged or coverage has become unavailable, threatening trade continuity. This seminar brings together experts from the shipping, insurance, and agricultural economics communities to examine the evolving challenges facing maritime logistics. Speakers will discuss the latest developments in freight costs, insurance markets, war‑risk coverage, cargo‑damage risks, and macro‑market implications to provide clarity on an increasingly complex and volatile risk landscape. Moderator Opening Remarks Monika Tothova, Senior Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) Secretary Maritime Logistics (Report) Hidenobu Tokuda, Economic Affairs Officer, Transport Section, Trade Logistics Branch, UNCTAD Insurance & Risk Transfer (Report) Veith Huesmann, Chief Analyst, International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) Panel Discussion The panel will discuss the most critical issues in shipping logistics and insurance, including geopolitical tensions driving war-risk exposures; rising premiums and cost pressures; climate-related losses; and aging fleets, technical failures, cybersecurity threats, and digital vulnerabilities. Panelists will identify the resulting implications for agricultural trade and import-dependent regions in 2026 and beyond. Dmytro Furda, Commercial Director, Tiryaki Agro (Turkiye) Bridget Diakun, Senior Risk and Compliance Analyst, Lloyd’s List Intelligence Joseph Glauber, Research Fellow Emeritus, IFPRI Closing Remarks Joseph Glauber, Research Fellow Emeritus, IFPRI More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/navigating-risk-challenges-in-agricultural-commodity-shipping-and-insurance-markets/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription
  • Promoting Resilience with Improved Varieties, Quality Seed, and Better Seed Systems 12.02.2026 1h 32m
    Policy Seminar | IFPRI Policy Seminar Promoting Resilience through Improved Varieties, Quality Seed, and Better Seed Systems: Lessons from Nigeria Part of the Fragility to Stability Seminar Series February 11, 2026 Across sub-Saharan Africa, small-scale, resource-poor farmers are disproportionately affected by climatic and market shocks. Providing them with the tools and technologies to manage these shocks is critical to building resilience, especially in Nigeria, with its considerable diversity. This seminar will showcase novel evidence of how improved crop varieties, quality seed, and better seed systems can lead to improved outcomes in productivity, resilience, and nutrition across several Nigerian states. The event will bring together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to present and reflect on this evidence, providing insights into adoption, demand, willingness to pay, complementarity of inputs, yields, and household consumption. The discussion will center on lessons for promoting improved inputs across similar settings, with a focus on how inputs can most effectively be marketed to vulnerable households to promote resilience. Introduction and Opening Remarks Oliver Kiptoo Kirui, Research Fellow and Acting Program Leader, IFPRI Nigeria Internal Displacement and the Promotion of Agricultural Intensification in Nigeria Rewa Misra, Head National Policy and Innovative Finance, HarvestPlus-IFPRI Interventions to Accelerate Varietal Turnover and Enhance Seed Resilience in Northern Nigeria Catherine Ragasa, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI New Evidence on the Productivity, Profitability, and Welfare Impacts of Insect-Resistant Cowpea in Nigeria Mulubrhan Amare, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Panel Discussion Chinedu Agbara, Partner, Sahel Consulting Jonathan Mockshell, Scientist and Project Leader, Alliance Bioversity & CIAT Muhyideen Oyekunle, Maize Breeder/Lecturer, Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) Jada Mohammed, Oxfam Novib Closing Remarks Arun Baral, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), HarvestPlus-IFPRI Moderator Kate Ambler, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/promoting-resilience-through-improved-varieties-quality-seed-and-better-seed-systems-lessons-from-nigeria/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription
  • Advancing Poverty Graduation in Fragile Contexts: A New Agenda for Research and Policy 21.01.2026 1h 30m
    Policy Seminar | IFPRI Policy Seminar Advancing Poverty Graduation in Fragile Contexts: A New Agenda for Research and Policy Co-organized by IFPRI and Mercy Corps January 21, 2026 Multifaceted livelihoods interventions that target households in extreme poverty are extremely effective in reducing extreme poverty, with consistent gains in income, consumption, savings, and psychosocial well-being. These interventions, often called graduation models, have been widely evaluated, but most evidence comes from stable rural settings. In fragile and conflict-affected environments where poverty is increasingly concentrated, household-level interventions may not be sufficient to drive sustained poverty reduction. In today’s climate of constrained funding and compounding crises, there is a pressing need to understand how to adapt, scale, and sustain graduation models to deliver more cost-effective, resilient, and inclusive outcomes in contexts marked by fragility, displacement, and recurrent climate- and conflict-related shocks. Convened by Mercy Corps and IFPRI, this seminar will present new research, emerging program insights, and opportunities for continued learning to make graduation model interventions more impactful, inclusive, and resilient in fragile settings. The discussion will build on Mercy Corps’ recent report, Closing the Gap: Adapting Poverty Graduation for Fragile Contexts, which highlights evidence-based opportunities to adapt graduation design and delivery. The seminar will convene leading researchers, donors, policymakers, and implementing partners to showcase emerging evidence from IFPRI, Mercy Corps, and other partners. Together, participants will distill lessons from diverse experiences, explore frontiers for innovation and learning, and chart a forward-looking agenda to strengthen the impact, scalability, and resilience of poverty graduation in fragile contexts—laying the groundwork for deeper collaboration across the research and implementation community. Introduction and Opening Remarks Jeeyon Kim, Director of Research, Food Security, Mercy Corps Highlights from Recent Findings - The Impact of a Nutrition-Sensitive Graduation Model Program on Child Nutrition: Experimental Evidence from Ethiopia: Kalle Hirvonen, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI - Displacement and Development: Evidence from a Graduation Program for Somalia’s Ultra-Poor: Jessica Leight, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI - The impact of connecting poverty graduation and market systems development in refugee contexts: evidence from DREAMS Uganda: Daniel Hudner, Senior Researcher, Resilience and Market Systems, Mercy Corps Panel Discussion Chaired by: Kibrom Abay, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Radu Ban, Senior Program Officer, Women’s Economic Empowerment, Gates Foundation Wendy Chamberlin, Senior Technical Advisor, Resilience, Trickle Up Julie Kedroske, Director, Social Protection Program, Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) Kibrom Tafere, Economist, Development Research Group, World Bank Closing Remarks Daniel Gilligan, Director, Poverty, Gender, and Inclusion Unit, IFPRI More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/advancing-poverty-graduation-in-fragile-contexts-a-new-agenda-for-research-and-policy/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription
  • Reducing Food Loss and Waste: A Food Systems Perspective 13.01.2026 1h 31m
    Policy Seminar | IFPRI Policy Seminar Reducing Food Loss and Waste: A Food Systems Perspective Co-organized by IFPRI and the Tata-Cornell Institute for Agriculture and Nutrition, Cornell University January 13, 2026 Reducing food loss and waste is essential for building more efficient value chains, lowering the climate footprint of agri‑food systems, and improving farmer livelihoods. This seminar brings together new insights and emerging evidence on how to tackle this challenge from multiple angles. In the first segment, Jocelyn Boiteau and Prabhu Pingali will share key findings from their new book, Wasted Potential: Tackling Food Loss and Waste Across Transforming Food Systems. Their work takes a holistic view of where losses occur from production through consumption, and how smarter policies and investments can meaningfully reduce them. The book importantly also highlights the need for better metrics and approaches to understanding where and why losses occur. This book launch will be followed by presentations on new IFPRI research on innovative approaches to measuring and reducing food loss and waste in perishable foods. This includes research on the use of artificial intelligence to improve food loss measurement accuracy, reducing spoilage in meat supply chains, and other emerging tools for understanding and addressing losses in highly perishable products. The seminar will conclude with an open Q&A exploring promising directions for future research and practical, cost‑effective strategies to reduce food loss and waste at scale. Moderator & Opening Remarks Alan de Brauw, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Speakers Prabhu Pingali, Professor, Charles Dyson School of Applied Economics & Management, & Director, Tata-Cornell Institute for Agriculture & Nutrition, Cornell University Vivian Hoffmann, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Carolyne Maina, Program Director, Technoserve Assan Ng’ombe, Resilience Officer, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) Closing Remarks Ruth Hill, Director, Markets, Trade, and Institutions, IFPRI Download and read the book: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-97411-3? More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/reducing-food-loss-and-waste-a-food-systems-perspective/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription
  • Shaping Food Policy in a Changing World: Research Priorities for Greater Impact 13.12.2025 6h 7m
    Special Event IFPRI Policy Seminar Shaping Food Policy in a Changing World: Research Priorities for Greater Impact Organized by IFPRI, with support from the Gates Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation December 15, 2025 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 is timely, inclusive, and tailored to context. Reliable data and rigorous analysis are essential, but research must also evolve – and become more timely, more relevant, and more inclusive of diverse voices and disciplines. Strengthening how we generate, communicate, and apply evidence is key to ensuring food systems deliver better outcomes for people and the planet. Join us at IFPRI for a high-level seminar that brings together researchers, policymakers, development partners and leading food system thinkers who have helped deliver science-based impact around the world to explore: • The role of food policy research in shaping past policies, programs, and investments • Emerging research questions and challenges in a rapidly shifting global landscape • How research and outreach must adapt to strengthen pathways from evidence to impact • How research institutions can adapt to remain responsive in a rapidly changing world To mark IFPRI’s 50th anniversary, the event will also celebrate the contributions of the Institute’s alumni and launch the Institute’s new research strategy. 00:00:00 - Inaugural Session - https://on.soundcloud.com/hQG0uzZiCahbvJl2nh 01:09:45 - Making an Impact: Successes and Future Approaches - https://soundcloud.com/ifpri/ifpri-special-event-15dec2025?si=6aa560adbae34d58b27556ff6b048009&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing#t=01%3A09%3A45 02:11:13 - Accelerating Research-to-Impact Pathways - https://on.soundcloud.com/4EYzsVYT2iJsK8ozIf 02:57:44 - IFPRI Alumni Roundtable on Food Policy Research Opportunities and Challenges - https://on.soundcloud.com/ormRkwIbioYaCBBAwV 04:19:22 - Launch of the New IFPRI Strategy - https://on.soundcloud.com/WT0KvQVucGjr81xEV1 05:59:54 - Closing Session - https://on.soundcloud.com/IUw6Lzy3Avpqe3HJRf More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/shaping-food-policy-in-a-changing-world-research-priorities-for-greater-impact/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription
  • Impact of Global Change on Food Security in 2050: Assessing Risks Through the Lens of Food Trade 19.11.2025 1h 32m
    Policy Seminar | IFPRI Policy Seminar The Impact of Global Change on Food Security in 2050: Assessing the Risks Through the Lens of Food Trade Organized by IFPRI in partnership with MIT Abdul Latif Jameel Water and Food Systems Lab/FACT Alliance November 19, 2025 Trade is crucial to achieving food security. The Jameel Index for Food Trade and Vulnerability (Jameel Index) is a valuable new tool to guide policy and investment decisions that support sustainable international development and food security through food trade. The Index provides food trade vulnerability scores for more than 180 countries by synthesizing global indicators into a composite vulnerability index to better understand how food trade dynamics can affect food security. It combines a range of meta-indicators to assess food trade vulnerability for nine staple crops and economically important agricultural commodities. The online platform also allows users to customize the Index to reflect their policy or investment questions. This seminar will present results from the Jameel Index for global change scenario projections to 2050, with inputs from IFPRI’s Food Modeling Framework. IFPRI’s IMPACT-GLOBE modeling linkage and new bespoke bilateral trade model, developed specifically for the Jameel Index, uses a set of population and economic growth, along with climate change scenarios. The seminar will present findings related to food trade, food import vulnerability, and food security, along with insights on drivers of these findings. Following the presentation of results, a panel of food trade and development experts will discuss policy implications. A general Q&A session will follow the panel. Presentations of Global Change Results on Food Trade and Security Kenneth Strzepek, Climate, Water, and Food Specialist MIT Center for Sustainability Science and Strategy J-WAFS Timothy Thomas, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Faaiqa Hartley, Scientist, IFPRI Sherwin Gabriel, Scientist, IFPRI Panel Discussion Paola De Almieda, Food, Agriculture and Water Portfolio Head – Operating Advisor, Pegasus Capital Advisors Ruth Hill, Director, Markets, Trade, and Institutions, IFPRI Mark Rosegrant, Research Fellow Emeritus, IFPRI Moderator Greg Sixt, Director, Food and Climate Systems Transformation (FACT) Alliance, Research Manager for Climate and Food Systems, Abdul Latif Jameel Water and Food Systems Lab More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/the-impact-of-global-change-on-food-security-in-2050-assessing-the-risks-through-the-lens-of-food-trade/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription
  • Trading the Crosswinds: Macro Outlook, Trade Uncertainty & Agricultural Markets 18.11.2025 1h 31m
    Policy Seminar | IFPRI Policy Seminar Trading the Crosswinds: Macroeconomic Outlook, Trade Policy Uncertainty, and Agricultural Commodity Markets Co-organized by IFPRI and Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) November 18, 2025 Prospects for global grain and oilseed production remain broadly favorable, but the agricultural trade environment continues to face significant uncertainties. Trade policy developments—including the potential for retaliatory measures—are reshaping traditional trade flows and creating challenges for market participants. These shifts are occurring alongside broader macroeconomic factors such as currency movements, rising energy prices, and demand fluctuations, all of which add complexity to global supply chains. Join us for this seminar featuring the World Bank’s latest Commodity Market Outlook, which will offer insights into the macroeconomic drivers influencing agricultural trade and price dynamics. It will include an update on short-term market fundamentals for wheat, maize, and soybeans, highlighting key developments and potential risks. Industry representatives and traders from various regions will also share how they are responding to uncertainty through risk management strategies, adjustments, and other adaptations to the evolving trade landscape. Opening Remarks Monika Tothova, Senior Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) Secretary Macroeconomic Outlook Shaping Agricultural Trade and Prices John Baffes, Senior Agriculture Economist, Development Economics Prospects Group, World Bank Summary of Short-term Developments on Wheat, Maize, and Soybean Markets Alexander Karavaytsev, Senior Economist, International Grains Council Panel Discussion Moderated by Monika Tothova, Senior Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) Secretary and Valeria Piñeiro, Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), IFPRI Scott Gerlt, Chief Economist, American Soybean Association (ASA) Dmytro Furda, Commercial Director, Tiryaki Agro (Turkiye) Raphael Blanc Vieira, Commercial Director, Agribrasil Ole Houe, Chair, Grain Trade Australia Closing Remarks Valeria Piñeiro, Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), IFPRI More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/trading-the-crosswinds-macroeconomic-outlook-trade-policy-uncertainty-and-agricultural-commodity-markets/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription