IFPRI Podcast

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

Policy Seminar | IFPRI Policy Seminar Empowerment in Crisis: Gender-Responsive Solutions for Fragile Food Systems Co-organized by IFPRI and the CGIAR Science Program on Food Frontiers and Security | Part of the Fragility to Stability Seminar Series November 12, 2025 Crises—whether driven by conflict, climate shocks, or economic instability—rarely affect everyone equally. Women and girls often bear the heaviest burdens, facing heightened food insecurity, disrupted livelihoods, and increased risks to their health and safety. Yet, women are not only victims of crisis—they are powerful drivers of resilience and recovery. “Empowerment in Crisis: Gender-Responsive Solutions for Fragile Food Systems” brings together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to examine how gender inequalities are deepened by crises, and how response strategies can be designed to reverse these patterns. The discussion will highlight practical approaches that place women at the center of crisis response and recovery—strengthening their voices, protecting their rights, and harnessing their leadership to build more resilient and equitable food systems. Introduction and Opening Remarks Anna Okello, Director, Food Frontiers and Security Science Program, CGIAR The State of Gender Equality in Fragile Settings Josephine Appiah-Nyamekye Sanny, Director of Communications, Afrobarometer Promoting Women’s Empowerment Amid Fragility: Key Findings from Nigeria and Malawi Vivian Effem-Bassey, Project Manager, ActionAid Nigeria Jordan Kyle, Research Fellow, IFPRI Agnes Quisumbing, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Panel Discussion Aletheia Amalia Donald, Senior Economist, World Bank Africa Gender Innovation Lab Suzan Gopuk, Senior Technical Advisor – Food Security and Livelihood, GIZ Nigeria Nkechi Ilochi-Kanny, Director Business Development and Innovation, ActionAid Nigeria Moderator and Closing Remarks Katrina Kosec, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/empowerment-in-crisis-gender-responsive-solutions-for-fragile-food-systems/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription

Policy Seminar | IFPRI Policy Seminar Informing Crisis Response in Sudan Co-organized by IFPRI and the CGIAR Science Program on Food Frontiers and Security | Part of the Fragility to Stability Seminar Series October 22, 2025 The recent resurgence of armed conflicts in Africa is increasing the need and urgency for investments in shock-responsive humanitarian and social assistance programs. Armed conflicts both increase the need for aid and greatly complicate delivery of humanitarian services to vulnerable populations. In addition, humanitarian organizations are facing an increasing funding gap because of dwindling donor aid. These challenges are forcing humanitarian organizations to revisit the effectiveness and cost-efficacy of their programs and services for conflict-affected populations. The choice and relative efficacy of alternative modalities and delivery of humanitarian or social assistance programs in these communities remains an active area of debate. The armed conflict in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023, has created the world’s largest displacement crisis, and has left over 30 million of the 47.5 million Sudanese population needing multifaceted humanitarian assistance. To help inform the crisis response, this policy seminar will bring together researchers, practitioners, and humanitarian organizations working in Sudan to share and discuss recent evidence on preferences and impact of alternative modalities to deliver humanitarian aid amid armed conflict. Introduction and Opening Remarks Johan Swinnen, Director General, IFPRI Laurent Bukera, Country Director and Representative, UN World Food Programme (WFP), Sudan Highlights From Recent Findings Khalid Siddig, Senior Research Fellow and Leader of the Sudan Program, IFPRI Kibrom Abay, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Gabrielle Fox, Chief of Party, Cash Consortium of Sudan (CCS) Panel Discussion Alex De Waal, Executive Director, World Peace Foundation, Tufts University Samantha Chattaraj, ‏Emergency Coordinator, UN World Food Programme (WFP), Sudan Lena Mahgoub, Convener of the Sudan Social Protection Alliance (SSPA), Former Federal Minister of Labor and Social Development and Co-Founder of Impact Hub Khartoum Closing Remarks Katrina Kosec, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Moderator Hala Abushama, Research Analyst, IFPRI More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/informing-crisis-response-in-sudan/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription

IFPRI-AMIS Seminar Series | IFPRI Policy Seminar Navigating the Food Security Nexus: Commodity Prices, Inflation, and Exchange Rates Co-organized by IFPRI and Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) October 21, 2025 Join us for a seminar exploring the complex interplay between global food commodity prices and domestic food price inflation, and the implications for food security. Drawing on recent analytical work and market monitoring, the session will examine how international price movements transmit through domestic markets, often exacerbated by exchange rate fluctuations and macroeconomic volatility. Fluctuations in exchange rates pose an additional and compounding challenge in how global food commodity prices affect domestic markets. Even when international commodity prices level off, a depreciating currency can still lead to higher local food prices, especially in countries that rely heavily on imports. We will examine why food inflation has disproportionately affected low-income countries—where currency depreciation has amplified the impact of rising global prices, pushing nutritious diets further out of reach for vulnerable populations. The discussion will also highlight how broader macroeconomic conditions, including labor costs and profit margins, have intensified price pressures beyond what commodity shocks alone can explain. Insights from recent studies will shed light on the speed and asymmetry of price transmission, the role of trade integration, and the implications for food security and nutrition. We will also discuss policy responses and market transparency mechanisms—such as AMIS—that can help mitigate volatility and improve resilience. Moderator Opening Remarks Monika Tothova, Senior Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) Secretary Presentation: Addressing high food price inflation for food security and nutrition David Laborde, Director, Agrifood Economics and Policy Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Panel Discussion Moderated by Monika Tothova, Senior Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) Secretary and Joseph Glauber, Research Fellow Emeritus, IFPRI Helia Costa, Economist, Structural Policy and Research Division of the Economics Department, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Fabio Santeramo, Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Sciences, Food, Resource Economics and Engineering, University of Foggia Michael Adjemian, Professor, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Georgia Karl Pauw, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Closing Remarks Joseph Glauber, Research Fellow Emeritus, IFPRI More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/navigating-the-food-security-nexus-commodity-prices-inflation-and-exchange-rates/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription

Policy Seminar | IFPRI Policy Seminar Tackling extreme poverty and financing for food systems in Africa Organized by IFPRI and partners on the margins of the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings October 17, 2025 Join speakers from IFPRI, IFAD, UNU-WIDER and the World Bank for a high-level seminar exploring two major African priorities – poverty reduction and food systems transformation in sub-Saharan Africa. Speakers will highlight the need to make progress on reducing poverty in fragile and conflict-affected areas across the continent, and the need to examine how most effectively to finance food systems amidst declining external funding flows. An inaugural World Bank- UNU-WIDER report on poverty and fragility, being previewed at this seminar, indicates that Sub-Saharan Africa has become the epicenter of the poverty–fragility nexus, with some 70% of people in fragile and conflict affected areas now living in the region and half of the world’s extreme poor projected to reside in fragile SSA states by 2030. The Africa Report on External Development Financial Flows to Food Systems, recently released by IFAD, AKADEMIYA2063, and IFPRI—analyzes the volume and composition of development finance directed toward African food systems, and implications of decreasing external flows, also for national financing strategies. This timely discussion will spotlight urgent financing needs and policy pathways to reduce poverty in the most vulnerable regions of Africa and strengthen food systems across the continent. It will also underscore the critical role of robust evidence and data-driven analysis in guiding effective financing strategies and policies —particularly as governments and development partners confront the dual pressures rising fragility and declining external flows. By grounding decisions in rigorous research, stakeholders can better align resources with impact and chart more resilient, equitable paths forward. Opening Remarks Luis Felipe López-Calva, Global Director, Poverty Global Department, World Bank Group Patricia Justino, Director Designate, United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER) Report Presentations Breaking the Fragility-Poverty Trap (World Bank Group, UNU WIDER) Maria Eugenia Genoni, Senior Economist, Poverty and Equity Global Practice, World Bank Africa Report – External Development Financial Flows to Food Systems (IFAD, AK2063 and IFPRI): Key Findings John Ulimwengu, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI High-level Panel Kamal Gutale, Permanent Secretary for the Office of the Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia Enilde Sarmento, Macroeconomist-Adviser, International Monetary Fund (IMF); member of Mozambique’s delegation to the annual meetings; former National Director, Directorate of Economic Policies and Development, Ministry of Economy and Finance Diane Menville, Associate Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Financial Operations Department, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Ana María Ibáñez, Vice President for Sectors and Knowledge, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Johan Swinnen, Director General, IFPRI Moderator Charlotte Hebebrand, Director of Communications & Public Affairs, IFPRI More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/tackling-extreme-poverty-and-financing-for-food-systems-in-africa/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription

CGIAR Seminar Series | Series/Special Event The EU Deforestation Regulation: Policy Implications and Research Frontiers Co-organized by IFPRI, CGIAR, and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) October 14, 2025 In June 2023, the European Union (EU) adopted its Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR)—a landmark policy designed to reduce global deforestation and forest degradation driven by EU consumption. Under the regulation, key commodities with the biggest impacts on deforestation—soy, cattle, palm oil, cocoa, coffee, wood, and natural rubber—cannot be placed on the EU market or exported unless they are free of deforestation and legally produced. The EUDR was scheduled for entry into force in December 2025 and in June 2026 for small and micro enterprises, but a one-year delay was proposed by the European Commission on 23 September, due to capacity concerns with the IT system set up for due diligence reporting by businesses. Join us for this virtual event convening policymakers, development practitioners, researchers, and industry representatives to examine how the EUDR is likely to reshape trade dynamics, sustainability standards, and development priorities across the globe. As countries and companies prepare for EUDR implementation, this seminar will examine how they can seize upon opportunities and mitigate risks associated with it. Leading voices from government, research, industry, and civil society will discuss how to ensure equitable and inclusive production aligned with EUDR requirements across diverse production systems, and how to address knowledge and technology gaps to support data-driven, smallholder-friendly solutions. Moderator Welcome Remarks Charlotte Hebebrand, Director of Communications & Public Affairs, IFPRI Session 1 Rationale and Scope of the EUDR: Lisa Kirfel-Rühle, Deputy Head of Division 122 Agriculture, Rural Development, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) Global Deforestation Trends & Outlook, and Key Considerations Arising from EUDR Implementation: Beria Leimona, Theme Leader, Climate Change, Energy and Low-Carbon Development, The Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) International Cooperation Framework: Simon Gmeiner, Policy Officer, European Commission Session 2 Engaging on the EUDR: H.E. Andri Hadi, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Kingdom of Belgium, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and the European Union Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil Certification: Mohd Hasbollah Suparyono, Chief Operating Officer, Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) Considerations for Mercosur Countries: Valeria Piñeiro, Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), IFPRI China’s Efforts to Source Zero Deforestation Soybeans from Brazil: Kevin Chen, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Session 3 Inclusive Pathways for Smallholders in Deforestation-Free Supply Chains: Izzana Salleh, Secretary General, Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) EUDR implications for coffee and cocoa smallholders in Africa: Vanessa Adams, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Level4International Identification of Production Origin and Public Verification for Deforestation – Free Agricultural Supply Chains in Colombia: Sandra Durango, Postdoctoral Fellow, Alliance Bioversity and CIAT More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/the-eu-deforestation-regulation-policy-implications-and-research-frontiers/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription

Policy Seminar | IFPRI Policy Seminar Mobility in a Fragile World: Evidence to Inform Policy Co-organized by IFPRI, the CGIAR Science Program on Food Frontiers and Security, and the Louvain Institute of Data Analysis and Modeling in Economics and Statistics (LIDAM), IRES | Part of the Fragility to Stability Seminar Series September 18, 2025 Migration today reflects a complex interplay of demographic pressures, conflict, poverty, climate change, and economic shocks. Worldwide, one in every seven people is a migrant—that is, someone who changes his or her country of usual residence, irrespective of the reason for migration—or a refugee forced to leave his or her home, often without warning, for reasons including war, violence, or persecution. Over the past two decades, international migration and forced displacement have surged, with more than 100 million additional people on the move—a large share of whom originate from rural areas, driven by a lack of economic opportunities, environmental degradation, and insecurity. The number of refugees has doubled since the early 2000s, with most hosted by low- and middle-income countries. Ongoing conflicts and intensifying climate crises have compounded vulnerabilities, leaving 80% of displaced people facing acute food insecurity. Climate change-related displacement disproportionately affects women, who are also at heightened risk of violence and exploitation during migration journeys and in host communities. This policy seminar will explore these complex dynamics and assess how economic analysis, machine learning, and policy innovation can contribute to more inclusive, equitable, and effective responses to migration and forced displacement. Moderator Welcome Remarks Katrina Kosec, Interim Deputy Director, CGIAR Science Program on Food Frontiers and Security; Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Opening Remarks Ruth Hill, Director, Markets, Trade, and Institutions, IFPRI Setting the Stage: The Migration Challenge Anna Maria Mayda, Professor of Economics, School of Foreign Service and Department of Economics, and Incoming Director, Institute for the Study of International Migration (ISIM), Georgetown University (GU) Research in Action: This three-part session will showcase how current research is shaping better migration policies Silvia Peracchi, Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute of Economics and Social Research (IRES), Louvain Institute of Data Analysis and Modeling in Economics and Statistics (LIDAM), UCLouvain Francisco Ceballos, Research Fellow, IFPRI Thomas Ginn, Research Fellow, Center for Global Development Building the Evidence Base for Smarter Policy in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Contexts: What Are the Gaps and Needs Panelists Andrew Harper, Special Advisor on Climate Action, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Damien Jusselme, Head, Data Science and Analytics (Foresight), International Organization for Migration (IOM) Jean-Francois Maystadt, Professor, Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique (FNRS), Louvain Institute of Data Analysis and Modeling in Economics and Statistics (LIDAM) / Institut de Recherches Économiques et Sociales (IRES), Université catholique de Louvain, and Lancaster University Management School Closing Remarks Kate Ambler, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/mobility-in-a-fragile-world-evidence-to-inform-policy/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription

IFPRI-AMIS Seminar Series | IFPRI Policy Seminar Fertilizers in a Shifting Global Landscape – Trends, Trade, and Sustainability Co-organized by IFPRI and Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) September 16, 2025 Fertilizers—both mineral and organic—are indispensable inputs in modern agriculture. Yet, recent years have seen unprecedented volatility in fertilizer prices, trade flows, and policy responses, reshaping the landscape for producers, traders, and farmers alike. This event will explore the evolving dynamics of the global fertilizer market and its critical role in food security and agricultural sustainability. Drawing on the latest research and market intelligence from AMIS, FAO’s Food Outlook and IFPRI, this session will unpack the key drivers behind recent market disruptions and recovery patterns, including the environmental footprint of fertilizer use, and a variety of policy developments affecting market access and affordability. Opening Remarks Monika Tothova, Senior Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) Secretary Charlotte Hebebrand, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, IFPRI Presentations Current Situation on the Fertilizer Markets: Delphine Leconte-Demarsy, Fertilizer consultant, Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) US Tariffs and Fertilizer Trade: Shawn Arita, Associate Director and Associate Research Professor, Agricultural Risk Policy Center, North Dakota State University (NDSU) Policy Reforms and Fertilizer Use: Fertilizer Subsidies and Alternatives: Ruth Hill, Director, Markets, Trade, and Institutions, IFPRI Discussion Moderated by Monika Tothova, Senior Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) Secretary and Charlotte Hebebrand, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, IFPRI Maria Antip, Fertilizer consultant, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Veronica Nigh, Senior Economist, The Fertilizer Institute Links: More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/fertilizers-in-a-shifting-global-landscape-trends-trade-and-sustainability/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription

Book Launch | IFPRI Policy Seminar What Do We Know About the Future of Food Systems? Co-organized by IFPRI and the CGIAR This event is also part of the Policy Innovations Global Webinar Series of the CGIAR Science Program on Policy Innovations July 23, 2025 Food systems have achieved remarkable progress in recent decades, but moving forward, they will face significant challenges in delivering the many outputs and services—such as poverty alleviation, nutrition and health, livelihoods, and environmental sustainability—we expect and need. By combining sophisticated analysis and close engagement with stakeholders, we can identify and explore the likely impacts of different future scenarios based on alternative development pathways and external factors. These results can help inform the decisions we make about food systems today. This event marks the launch of What Do We Know About the Future of Food Systems?, a collection of short chapters that synthesize current knowledge about different aspects of the future of food systems. Written by more than 100 scientists from around the world with expertise in a wide range of related disciplines and regions, these chapters provide accessible overviews of the latest foresight research on each topic, guide readers toward more detailed information, and offer insights into how our knowledge of future trends can be improved. The launch will present an overview of the book and highlight key findings from select chapters, followed by a panel discussion featuring speakers from country partners, regional organizations, and donor agencies. Moderator Welcome Elisabetta Gotor, Principal Scientist, Performance, Innovation and Strategic Analysis, Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT Opening Remarks Sandra Cristina Kothe Milach, Chief Scientist, CGIAR Overview Keith Wiebe, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Selected Chapter Highlights Impact area: Poverty – Karl Pauw, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Driver: Innovation – Daniel Mason-D’Croz, Senior Research Associate, Department of Global Development, Cornell University Region: West and Central Africa – Dolapo Enahoro, Senior Agricultural Economist, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) Commodity: Aquatic Foods – Chin Yee Chan, Scientist, WorldFish Panel Discussion Vanessa da Fonseca Pereira, Advisor at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) and analyst at Embrapa Kindie Tesfaye Fantaye, Head, Climate Adaptation and Resilience, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) Ruben Echeverria, Senior Advisor Agriculture Development, Gates Foundation Closing Remarks Clemens Breisinger, Program Leader for the Kenya Strategy Support Program; Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Elisabetta Gotor, Principal Scientist, Performance, Innovation and Strategic Analysis, Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT Links: More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/what-do-we-know-about-the-future-of-food-systems/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription

IFPRI Policy Seminar The Future of Youth Jobs in Agrifood Systems in Africa Hosted by IFPRI, the CGIAR Policy Innovations Program, the CGIAR Gender Equality and Inclusion Accelerator, and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) July 15, 2025 Africa’s population is the youngest of any region, affording the continent an adequate workforce to drive economic and social transformation. However, African economies are finding it difficult to create employment opportunities for this “youth bulge”—opportunities that are needed to advance on SDG target 8.6 to substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training (NEET). As of 2020, more than 20 percent of young men and women in Africa fell into this category. African youth wield growing political and social power as they vent their frustrations about the lack of opportunities. Although youth-led protests and their underlying causes are not new in Africa, the recent movements represent an important moment for the region’s youth. The agrifood system in Africa remains the backbone of national economies and provides more than half of jobs in most African countries. Thus, it still holds substantial potential to absorb or catalyze youth engagement in productive activities in Africa. But this change will not happen by itself. It will require sustained efforts in policy research and development. While much of the literature and debate on the employment crisis have focused on the role of agriculture in absorbing Africa’s youth, the scope of debate and research should be expanded to include the role of youth across the entire food system. Introduction and Opening Remarks Sandra Cristina Kothe Milach, Chief Scientist, CGIAR Alice Ruhweza, President, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) Steven Were Omamo, Director for Africa, and Director for Development Strategies and Governance, IFPRI Jobs in Agrifood System in Africa Luc Christiaensen, Lead Agricultural Economist, Eastern and Southern Africa, World Bank Landscape of youth engagement in agrifood system in selected African countries Kibrom Abay, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Youth aspirations and constraints in Nigeria/Rwanda Jessica Heckert, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Initiatives to support young women: learnings from AGRA Catherine Rusagara, Head, Youth Entrepreneurship for the Future of Food and Agriculture, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) Panel Discussion: How can Africa create more jobs for the youth: Cases and success stories from youth-led initiatives and experiences? Moderated by Nana Amoah, Director – Gender, Youth and Inclusiveness, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) Innocent Ogirinye Adoga, Youth Initiative for Sustainable Agriculture (YISA), Nigeria Mashoko Chakanyuka, Head of Youth Employment in Agriculture, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) Kisanet Haile Molla, Spatial Engineer, Civil Engineer, Youth Representative for Infrastructure, World Bank Elizabeth Mwende, Agricultural Engineer, and Youth Representative, the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub Esther Kimani, CEO and founder, Farmer Lifeline Technologies Janette C. Toroitich, Agripreneur, Kenya Closing Remarks Clemens Breisinger, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI; Interim Director, Policy Innovations, CGIAR Nicoline de Haan, Interim Director, CGIAR Gender Equality & Inclusion (GEI) Accelerator Boaz Blackie Keizire, Director for Policy and State Capability, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) Moderator Christine Mwangi, Research Officer, IFPRI Links More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/the-future-of-youth-jobs-in-agrifood-systems-in-africa/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription

Policy Seminar | IFPRI Policy Seminar Worsening food insecurity, waning response capacity: Options for a better way forward Co-organized by IFPRI, the Food Security Information Network (FSIN) and the CGIAR Science Program on Food Frontiers and Security | Part of the Fragility to Stability Seminar Series July 2, 2025 Food crises arise from the complex interplay of conflict, poverty, climate variability, and economic shocks, resulting in acute food insecurity among vulnerable populations. According to the latest Global Report on Food Crises (2025), the number of people facing severe levels of acute food insecurity has tripled over the past decade, rising from around 100 million in 2016 to nearly 300 million people in 2024. The report warns that intensifying conflict in areas prone to food crises could worsen these conditions, policy uncertainty in major economies could slow income growth around the world, and budget cuts could erode humanitarian assistance, as well as capacities to monitor and anticipate drivers of acute food insecurity. This seminar will assess these prospects and discuss ways to counteract them. Speakers will discuss: • Trends in acute food insecurity and major drivers • Challenges posed by budget cuts by major aid donors and impacts on food crisis response capacities • Obstacles faced by early warning, early action systems in collecting adequate data to monitor and anticipate food crises and address drivers • Insights from AI-driven predictive modeling approaches to overcome select data challenges and better inform anticipatory and preventive action Opening Remarks Johan Swinnen, Director General, IFPRI Global food crises, fragility, and prospects: Trends and drivers Presentation of the key findings of the 2025 Global Report on Food Crises Sara McHattie, Global Coordinator, Food Security Information Network (FSIN) What are the consequences for food insecurity risks of waning international humanitarian and development assistance? EC perspectives and responses Simona Bortolotti, Policy Officer, Sustainable Agrifood Systems and Fisheries Unit, Directorate General for International Partnerships, European Union Implications of foreign aid cuts for climate resilience and food insecurity Kalle Hirvonen, Research Fellow, UNU-WIDER and Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Challenges to humanitarian assistance and anticipatory action amid Sudan’s worsening food crisis Nigist Abebe, Regional Representative, Chemonics International; Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping National Officer, World Food Programme (WFP) Sudan A new approach to assess food insecurity trends and drivers to better inform early action systems Luca Russo, Independent consultant and co-lead of study on trends and drivers of acute food insecurity commissioned by the Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC) Using AI-informed modeling to overcome challenges to data collection and predict food crises Yanyan Liu, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Concluding Remarks Rob Vos, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Moderator Katrina Kosec, Interim Deputy Director, CGIAR Science Program on Food Frontiers and Security; Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Links: More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/worsening-food-insecurity-waning-response-capacity-options-for-a-better-way-forward/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription

IFPRI Policy Seminar Fertilizer, soil health, and economic shocks: Policy lessons learned from recent events Organized by IFPRI, Food Policy, and the CGIAR Science Program on Policy Innovations June 11, 2025 Join us for a discussion of key findings from a recent special issue of Food Policy exploring the complex interactions between fertilizer use, soil health management, and economic shocks in various agricultural systems. Governments around the world have long implemented policies to enhance agricultural productivity through inorganic fertilizer application and soil management, yet recent global disruptions, from the 2020–2022 food, fuel, and fertilizer price crisis to ongoing climatic uncertainties, have challenged the effectiveness of these interventions. Authors and editors of the special issue will present evidence on the medium-term effects of rising fertilizer prices and their implications for global demand, highlighting the disproportionate effects on smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income countries. The discussion will also cover issues related to the role of targeted subsidy programs, integrated soil fertility management, and site-specific nutrient approaches. A panel of fertilizer experts will discuss how these insights can support policymakers seeking to mitigate price volatility, strengthen soil health, and ensure resilience in agricultural production, particularly during adverse weather events and economic shocks. This seminar offers critical perspectives for researchers, policymakers, and agribusiness leaders working to build more sustainable and equitable food systems in an increasingly uncertain world. Introduction and Opening Remarks Ruth Hill, Director, Markets, Trade, and Institutions, IFPRI Christopher Barrett, Stephen B. and Janice G. Ashley Professor of Applied Economics and Management, Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY A synthesis of recent evidence on the policy dimensions of fertilizer, soil health, and economic shocks Kibrom Abay, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Country and cross-country policy experience: A conversation with the authors Moderated by David J. Spielman, Director, Innovation Policy and Scaling, IFPRI Akuffo Amankwah, Senior Economist, World Bank Catherine Ragasa, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Jaweriah Hazrana, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Arizona State University Pauline Chivenge, Senior Scientist, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Panel Discussion: How do we build resilience to future shocks in international and domestic fertilizer markets? Moderated by Charlotte Hebebrand, Director, Communications and Public Affairs, IFPRI Peter Odhiambo Owoko, Head, Policy Coordination, Directorate of Agricultural Policy Research and Regulations, State Department for Crop Development & Agricultural Research, Kenya Latha Nagarajan, Director, Sustainable Opportunities for Improving Livelihoods with Soils (SOILS) Consortium, International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) Shamie Zingore, Director of Research and Development, African Plant Nutrition Institute (APNI) Avinash Kishore, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Closing Remarks Ruth Hill, Director, Markets, Trade, and Institutions, IFPRI Links: More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/fertilizer-soil-health-and-economic-shocks-policy-lessons-learned-from-recent-events/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription

Global Food Policy Report IFPRI Policy Seminar 2025 Global Food Policy Report | Food Policy: Lessons and Priorities for a Changing World May 28, 2025 Over the last 50 years, the world’s food systems have evolved tremendously amid major economic, environmental, and social changes. Throughout this period, policy research has played a critical role in providing evidence and analysis to inform decision-making that supports agricultural growth, better livelihoods, and improved food security, nutrition, and well-being for all. IFPRI’s 2025 Global Food Policy Report—a special edition marking the Institute’s 50th anniversary. This year’s flagship report examines the evolution and impact of food policy research and assesses how it can better equip policymakers to meet future challenges and opportunities. Despite meaningful progress over the last half-century, conflict, climate change, rising inequality, and geopolitical tensions remain major challenges to reducing poverty, hunger, and malnutrition. As we approach 2050, policy research and analysis will be essential to help build sustainable healthy food systems in this changing world. Thematic presentations from IFPRI’s leading researchers will explore the role of evidence in shaping policies over the past 50 years, as well as the potential for research to address emerging challenges and opportunities. A keynote lecture by Michael Kremer, Chair of the Innovation Commission and joint winner of the 2019 Economics Nobel Prize, will address innovations for the future. Following these remarks, a distinguished panel of experts will discuss priorities for policy research in the decades to come. Welcome Remarks Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director, CGIAR Unveiling of IFPRI’s flagship Global Food Policy Report Johan Swinnen, Director General, IFPRI Christopher B. Barrett, Stephen B. and Janice G. Ashley Professor of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University Thematic GFPR presentations James Thurlow, Director, Foresight and Policy Modeling (FPM) Unit, IFPRI Ruth Hill, Director of Markets, Trade and Institutions (MTI) Unit, IFPRI Steven Were Omamo, Director, Development Strategies and Governance (DSG) Unit and Director for Africa, IFPRI Shalini Roy, Senior Research Fellow, Poverty, Gender, and Inclusion (PGI) Unit, IFPRI and Agnes Quisumbing, Senior Research Fellow, Poverty, Gender, and Inclusion (PGI) Unit, IFPRI Stuart Gillespie, Nonresident Senior Fellow, IFPRI and Deanna Olney, Director, Nutrition, Diets, and Health (NDH), IFPRI David Spielman, Director, Innovation Policy and Scaling (IPS) Unit, IFPRI Keynote Address and Strategy Discussion: A Focus on Innovations for the Future Michael Kremer, Professor in Economics; Director of Development Innovation Lab; and Faculty Director, Development Economics Center, University of Chicago; and 2019 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences Forward Looking Panel Discussion on Food Policy Research Priorities Moderator: Purnima Menon, Senior Director, Food and Nutrition Policy; Acting Senior Director, Transformation Strategy, IFPRI Alice Ruhweza, President, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) Ramesh Chand, Member, National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) Joan Matji, Global Director, Child Nutrition and Development, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Ruben Echeverria, Senior Advisor, Agriculture Development, Gates Foundation Santiago Alba-Corral, Vice-President, Programs and Partnerships, International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada Marianne Grosclaude, Practice Manager, Agriculture and Food Global Practice, World Bank Moderator Charlotte Hebebrand, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, IFPRI Links: More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/2025-global-food-policy-report-food-policy-research-for-a-brighter-future-looking-towards-2050/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription

IFPRI-AMIS Seminar Series | IFPRI Policy Seminar 2025 Outlook for Wheat, Maize, and Soybean Crops Co-organized by IFPRI and Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) May 13, 2025 Global grain and oilseed markets are facing great uncertainty as producers in the northern hemisphere complete their spring plantings. While some dryness has affected winter crop regions in both North America and Europe, sowing conditions remain favorable. Market participants are closely observing rapid policy developments related to tariffs and possible retaliatory measures. The changing trade landscape will also affect the overall macroeconomic environment, with impacts expected on energy prices, exchange rates, and growth prospects, and further implications for agricultural production and trade. Opening Remarks Joseph Glauber, Research Fellow Emeritus, IFPRI Presentations Overview of macroeconomic prospects: John Baffes, Senior Agriculture Economist, Development Economics, World Bank Overview of crop conditions: Brian Barker, Principal Faculty Specialist, University of Maryland; GEOGLAM Crop Monitor for AMIS lead, and Global Crop Monitor lead Overview of wheat, maize and soybeans: Seth Meyer, Chief Economist, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Discussion Moderated by Monika Tothova, Senior Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) Secretary Di Yang, Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Erin Collier, Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Nathan Kemp, Senior Economist, International Grains Council (IGC) Moderator Monika Tothova, Senior Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) Secretary Links: More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/2025-outlook-for-wheat-maize-and-soybean-crops/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription

IFPRI Policy Seminar Ending Hunger and Malnutrition: Keeping Our Eyes on the Road Organized by IFPRI in collaboration with the World Bank IFPRI Seminar during World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF) Spring Meetings April 22, 2025 While global agricultural commodity prices have come down from the high levels seen in recent years, the world remains far off track in meeting the SDG2 of ending hunger and malnutrition by 2030. Last year, close to 300 million people faced food crisis while the number of people on the cusp of famine doubled. Efforts to address hunger and malnutrition are facing considerable hurdles, including protracted as well as new conflicts, cuts in official development assistance, inefficiencies in the global financing architecture, an increasingly fragmented political landscape and multipolarizing international order. How can the world mobilize more public and private resources to tackle the current food crisis, create more robust value chain and trade channels, and set countries on a path towards peace, stability and economic growth? Timed to align with the WB-IMF Spring Meetings, this event will convene policymakers, representatives of international organizations, private sector and food system experts for a stocktaking of where we find ourselves and to chart solutions towards more aligned domestic and international, public and private financing flows aimed at ending hunger and malnutrition. Picking up on the Spring Meetings’ core theme of jobs as a path to prosperity, the important role of jobs in food value chains and improved livelihoods for furthering food security and nutrition will also be explored. This policy seminar will: Take stock of recent data, trends and outlooks for food and nutrition security, with a focus on the most vulnerable countries. Discuss challenges and opportunities in resourcing, regional and global cooperation, and innovation to bend the curve of hunger and malnutrition. Examine research findings and share policy recommendations to prevent and prepare for food crises, while broadening the focus to strengthening value chains and markets in developing countries. Opening Session Moderator: Ruth Hill, Director, Markets, Trade, and Institutions, IFPRI Speakers Shobha Shetty, Global Director, Agriculture and Food, World Bank Johan Swinnen, Director General, IFPRI Maximo Torero, Chief Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) High-level Panel on Challenges and Opportunities Moderator: Purnima Menon, Senior Director, Food and Nutrition Policy; Acting Senior Director, Transformation Strategy, IFPRI Speakers John Steenhuisen, Minister of the Department of Agriculture, South Africa Arnel de Mesa, Assistant Secretary for Special Concerns and for Official Development Assistance (ODA) and the DA Spokesperson, Department of Agriculture Alvaro Lario, President, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Gilles Morellato, Head of Official Development Assistance team at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs Rania Dagash-Kamara, Assistant Executive Director Partnerships and Innovation, World Food Programme (WFP) Deep Dive: The Role of Value Chains in Boosting Food and Nutritional Security Moderator: Loraine Ronchi, Global Lead for Science, Knowledge and Innovation in Agriculture and Food, World Bank Speakers Alice Ruhweza, President, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) Ayodeji Balogun, Group CEO, the Africa Exchange (AFEX) Matthias Berninger, EVP, Head of Public Affairs, Sustainability and Safety, Bayer Global Joseph Glauber, Research Fellow Emeritus, IFPRI Closing Remarks Martien van Nieuwkoop, Director, Agricultural Development, Gates Foundation Links: More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/ending-hunger-and-malnutrition-keeping-our-eyes-on-the-road/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription

IFPRI Webinar How Can We Improve Food Security Monitoring in Conflict-Affected Regions? Machine Learning for Spatially Granular Food Security Mapping Co-organized by IFPRI and the CGIAR Initiative on Foresight March 25, 2025 Machine learning is transforming agricultural and food security research, enabling more accurate and timely insights. The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) is advancing data-driven approaches in various domains, including crop-type mapping, maize yield estimation, and boat detection. These innovations demonstrate the potential of machine learning in addressing complex challenges and informing policy decisions. A key challenge in this space is food security monitoring in fragile and conflict-affected settings, where timely, granular data is often lacking but essential for policymakers, humanitarians, and researchers. Traditional methods, such as in-person household surveys, are often expensive, infrequent, and spatially coarse, limiting their ability to provide timely insights at local scales. To address these challenges, IFPRI has developed a machine learning-based approach to estimate Food Consumption Scores—which is the most commonly used food security indicator by WFP and partners— at a granular village-tract level in Myanmar. This model leverages multiple data sources—including phone survey data, earth observation, crowd-sourced data, and GIS (Geographic Information System) datasets—to generate spatially explicit and near real-time food security assessments. During this seminar, we will discuss the development and application of this approach, the key data and modeling techniques used, and how this method can be scaled for other conflict-affected regions. We will highlight challenges such as data representativeness, feature selection, and model validation, and share insights into improving food security predictions. Finally, we will outline the broader implications of integrating machine learning with earth observation and survey data to support humanitarian efforts and policy decisions. Moderator and Opening Remarks Jawoo Koo, Senior Research Fellow, Natural Resource and Resilience Unit, IFPRI Presentations Joanna van Asselt, Associate Research Fellow, Development Strategies and Governance Unit, IFPRI Zhe Guo, Senior GIS Coordinator, Foresight and Policy Modeling Unit, IFPRI Links: More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/how-can-we-improve-food-security-monitoring-in-conflict-affected-regions-machine-learning-for-spatially-granular-food-security-mapping/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription

Significant levels of food loss and waste continue to have negative impacts on food security and the environment, and Sustainable Development Goal 12.3, which aims to halve food loss and waste worldwide by 2030, remains out of reach. Join us on “12.3 Day” 2025 to take stock of efforts and opportunities to make progress toward this important goal. Organized by the Embassy of Denmark in Washington, DC, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), and the World Resources Institute (WRI), this event will examine commitments and best practices implemented around the world; and most importantly, explore how to go from big promises to real, tangible actions to reduce food loss and waste. We will discuss: National Commitments in Global Forums. 2025 is a significant year for multilateral global efforts to tackle climate change and bolster food systems. Countries are submitting new Nationally Determined Contributions prior to COP30 and Food Systems Transformation Action Plans prior to the UN Food Systems Summit +4, presenting a unique opportunity to embed food loss and waste in national plans while also laying the groundwork for implementation. Corporate Commitments. 13 large food retailers and their suppliers have committed to the 10x20x30 Food Loss and Waste Initiative, which aims to slash food waste across supply chains. Many are demonstrating real results, giving a look at how businesses can effectively team up to scale action. Evidence-Based Solutions One Third, established in 2015 by the Danish government as the first think tank solely dedicated to reducing food loss and waste, has gathered evidence on effective solutions and how to scale them. This virtual event is free and open to the public to attend. Please share this event with interested colleagues and networks. Welcome Remarks Brian Lipinski, Associate II, Food Program, World Resources Institute (WRI) Johan Swinnen, Director General, IFPRI; Member, Champions 12.3 Leadership Group Alan de Brauw, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Presentations Jacob Jensen, The Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries of Denmark (Video Remarks) Anne Bordier, Director of Food Initiatives, World Resources Institute (WRI) Panelists Lea Stoustrup Brandt, Special Advisor / Head of Secretariat, One\Third Carolyne Maina, Program Director, Technoserve Inc, NutriSave Program Moderator Brian Lipinski, Associate II, Food Program, World Resources Institute (WRI) Links: More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/no-time-to-waste-moving-from-commitments-to-action-on-food-loss-and-waste/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription

IFPRI-AMIS Seminar Series | IFPRI Policy Seminar Biofuels and the Global Vegetable Oil Market Co-organized by IFPRI and Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) March 4, 2025 Production of biodiesel fuel in Brazil, the European Union, Indonesia, and the United States has grown by nearly 40 percent over the past five years, driven largely by subsidies and government mandates. Government regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions have also boosted demand for vegetable oils and created new markets for used cooking oils (UCO), altering commodity trading patterns and price dynamics. The seminar will present overviews of the global vegetable oil market and the market for used cooking oil for fuel, followed by a moderated expert panel discussion representing views from across the globe. A question and answer session will follow. Overview of the Global Vegetable Oil Market Di Yang, Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Overview of the Global Market of Used Cooking Oil Pierre Charlebois, Private Consultant, former Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Discussion Moderated by Monika Tothova, Senior Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) Secretary and Joseph Glauber, Research Fellow Emeritus, IFPRI -Brazil Soybean Market: Eduardo Vanin, Proprietário, Agrinvest Commodities -Indonesia Biodiesel Mandates: Jasmine Osinski, Agricultural Attaché, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)/Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)—Jakarta -US Biodiesel Market: Scott Gerlt, Chief Economist, American Soybean Association (ASA) -EU Biodiesel Market: Mohamed El-Fatih Abu-Samra, Market Officer, DG Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission (EU) Moderator -Donald Boucher, Director General, Sector Development and Analysis Directorate, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC); Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) Chair Links: More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/biofuels-and-the-global-vegetable-oil-market/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription

Co-organized by the Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF) & IFPRI Undernutrition during childhood and early adolescence has long-term consequences for development and health, and for girls it can affect the survival and wellbeing of their children. Diet-related risk School meal programs are an effective way to boost children’s nutrition and wellbeing, including physiological development and academic performance. These programs can also play an important role in food systems transformation by ensuring access to healthy diets, supporting equitable livelihoods, and contributing to environmental sustainability. However, data on large-scale school meal programs have historically been fragmented and inconsistent, despite the global prevalence of these programs and evidence of their positive impact. The Global Survey of School Meal Programs © https://gcnf.org/global-survey/ seeks to address this gap, collecting the most comprehensive data to date on national and large-scale school feeding programs, with information on 167 countries. It provides comprehensive global data on school meal coverage, financing, food baskets, laws and policies, home-grown school feeding, and more, thus serving as a foundation for monitoring global progress over time. The Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF) https://gcnf.org/ and IFPRI invite you to the official launch of the third Global Survey report, School Meal Programs Around the World, 2024 edition, with results from the 2022 school year. The survey is implemented by GCNF, with funding from USDA and The Rockefeller Foundation and expert input from IFPRI and other lead researchers and organizations. The resulting data provide governments and other stakeholders with an up-to-date global database of standardized information on school meal programs to make informed decisions. GCNF and IFPRI will present results from the latest survey, which concluded in August 2024, and a distinguished panel of experts will discuss implications of the survey for policy, research, advocacy, implementation, and business. Highlights of the 2024 survey results are already available in English and six other languages on GCNF’s website here https://gcnf.org/global-reports/ . The full report, School Meal Programs Around the World, 2024 edition, and additional resources will be released on the day of the event. Introductory Remarks Purnima Menon, Senior Director, Food and Nutrition Policy; Acting Senior Director, Transformation Strategy, IFPRI Mary Muinde, Chief of Staff to the First Lady of Kenya Fabio Veras Soares, Researcher, International Policy Centre for Inclusive Development, Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPCid/IPEA), Government of Brazil Neo Sediti, Director, National School Nutrition Programme, Government of the Republic of South Africa Dana Thomas, Managing Director, Food is Medicine, The Rockefeller Foundation Overview of Survey Results Arlene Mitchell, Executive Director, Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF) Liliane Bigayimpunzi, Survey Coordinator for Africa, GCNF Ayala Wineman, Research and Survey Specialist, GCNF Panel: Putting the Survey Results into Use- Policy, Research, Advocacy, Implementation and the Business Perspective Marie Tamagnan, Senior Operations Advisor, Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) Mduduzi Mbuya, Director, Knowledge Leadership, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) Beatrice Wamey, President, Nascent Solutions Mia Blakstad, Social Protection Specialist, The World Bank Carmen Burbano, Director of School Meals and Social Protection, UN World Food Program (WFP) and Director of the School Meals Coalition Secretariat Closing Remarks Catherine Bertini, former Executive Director, UN World Food Program (WFP) Moderator Aulo Gelli, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Links More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/official-launch-of-the-third-global-survey-of-school-meal-programs/

This event is co-organized by IFPRI and The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) Research Consortium for School Health and Nutrition Undernutrition during childhood and early adolescence has long-term consequences for development and health, and for girls it can affect the survival and wellbeing of their children. Diet-related risk factors are estimated to cause 20% of global mortality, and changes in food systems have led to rapid shifts to unhealthy diets and reductions in physical activity, contributing to the increase in rates of overweight and obesity. Moreover, current dietary and population trends will exacerbate risks to humans and the planet. School feeding programs, or school meals, are a widely implemented safety net with documented impacts across social protection, education, health and nutrition dimensions, and substantial projected economic returns to investment. Globally, programs reach over 400 million children for a total investment of over $50 billion a year. By being most effective for the most disadvantaged children, school meal programs can “level the playing field” in education, health, and nutrition. Experiences in high- and middle-income countries have also linked school meals to food systems transformation, where food procurement for school meals is used as an outlet for commercial farmers. National governments in LIMCs have shown interest in explicitly linking food systems transformation with the school feeding market through “home-grown” school feeding (HGSF). In HGSF, the “structured demand” for school food and related services is channeled to smallholders and other supply chain actors with the intent of stimulating agricultural productivity, increasing incomes, improving diets, and reducing food insecurity. More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/school-meals-in-the-21st-century-emerging-evidence-and-future-directions/ Welcome and Introduction Purnima Menon, Senior Director, Food and Nutrition Policy; Acting Senior Director, Transformation Strategy, IFPRI Donald Bundy, Professor, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) School Meals are Evolving: Has the Evidence Kept up? Harold Alderman, Research Fellow Emeritus, IFPRI New Evidence from Impact Evaluations Impact evaluation of the home-grown school meal model in Jordan: Simone Lombardini, Evaluation Officer, World Food Programme (WFP) Impact evaluation of the home-grown school meal model in The Gambia: Benedetta Lerva, Economist, Development Impact (DIME), Development Economics, The World Bank Impact evaluation of an added milk intervention to a micronutrient fortified school feeding program in crisis settings: Lilia Bliznashka, Research Fellow, IFPRI Panel Discussion: Moving from evidence to action Mangani Katundu, Secretary for Education, Government of Malawi Donald Bundy, Professor, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) Lynnette Neufeld, Director, Food and Nutrition Division, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Kagwiria Koome, Manager, Food, The Rockefeller Foundation Mia Blakstad, Window Manager, Food and Nutrition, The World Bank Arlene Mitchell, Executive Director, Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF) Moderator and Closing Remarks Aulo Gelli, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Links: Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription