IFPRI Podcast

International Food Policy Research Institute

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.

  1. Navigating Risk: Challenges in Agricultural Commodity Shipping and Insurance Markets

    4D AGO

    Navigating Risk: Challenges in Agricultural Commodity Shipping and Insurance Markets

    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

    1h 28m
  2. Promoting Resilience with Improved Varieties, Quality Seed, and Better Seed Systems

    FEB 12

    Promoting Resilience with Improved Varieties, Quality Seed, and Better Seed Systems

    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

    1h 33m
  3. Advancing Poverty Graduation in Fragile Contexts: A New Agenda for Research and Policy

    JAN 21

    Advancing Poverty Graduation in Fragile Contexts: A New Agenda for Research and Policy

    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

    1h 31m
  4. Reducing Food Loss and Waste: A Food Systems Perspective

    JAN 13

    Reducing Food Loss and Waste: A Food Systems Perspective

    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

    1h 31m
  5. Shaping Food Policy in a Changing World: Research Priorities for Greater Impact

    12/13/2025

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

    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

  6. Impact of Global Change on Food Security in 2050: Assessing Risks Through the Lens of Food Trade

    11/19/2025

    Impact of Global Change on Food Security in 2050: Assessing Risks Through the Lens of Food Trade

    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

    1h 33m
  7. Trading the Crosswinds: Macro Outlook, Trade Uncertainty & Agricultural Markets

    11/18/2025

    Trading the Crosswinds: Macro Outlook, Trade Uncertainty & Agricultural Markets

    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

    1h 32m
  8. Empowerment in Crisis: Gender-Responsive Solutions for Fragile Food Systems

    11/12/2025

    Empowerment in Crisis: Gender-Responsive Solutions for Fragile Food Systems

    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

    1h 33m

About

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.