BY BJORN VAN CAMPENHOUT AND CAROLINE MIEHE In many developing countries, poor delivery of public services remains an important problem. Public infrastructure, such as roads or boreholes for drinking water, is poor. The quality of service provided in hospitals or schools is low. Absenteeism and corruption are endemic. Uganda is a case in point: its public service sector suffers from
BY HONOR DEARLOVE Over the past several decades, most food systems around the world have evolved to reduce the prevalence of hunger, but many have introduced a new wave of serious dietary health concerns such as obesity. Resetting the Table: Straight Talk About the Food We Grow and Eat, a new book by Robert Paarlberg, observes that many popular solutions to the
BY VALERIA PIÑEIRO, JOAQUÍN ARIAS AND HONOR DEARLOVE As populations grow and the climate crisis intensifies, sustainable agricultural practices are essential to mitigate negative environmental impacts and increase the efficiency of food systems. But persuading farmers to adopt such practices is often a challenge. How can policy makers promote a shift towards sustainable agriculture in ways that promote meaningful change?
BY ZHE GUO, WAHID QUABILI, LIANGZHI YOU AND DEREK HEADEY Research on the linkages between agriculture, nutrition, and health is hugely hindered by a lack of data: Health and nutrition surveys generally contain little information on agriculture, and agricultural surveys little information on health or nutrition. Yet we know that there are hugely important connections between these different domains, as
In the second half of this year, the United States will host the Summit of the Americas, the triennial hemispheric meeting of presidents and heads of state. This is the second time the summit will be held in the U.S. since the inaugural event in 1994. The gathering comes at a precarious time, with Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC)
BY HONOR DEARLOVE The COVID-19 pandemic presents new challenges to publicly-funded food and agricultural research institutions, as government deficits and weakening economies threaten their traditional funding. A Feb. 2 IFPRI virtual policy seminar explored the ways that these organizations can move forward in a changed landscape, as well as the new opportunities that COVID-19 has created for realizing positive transformation in food
BY LORI BEAMAN, SYLVAN HERSKOWITZ, NIALL KELEHER AND JEREMY MAGRUDER Around the world, youth play sports wherever there is enough space to kick a ball or swing a bat: On fields, beaches, empty streets, or vacant lots. Few activities capture the excitement, energy, and imagination of youth as much as sports. Since the early 2000s, enthusiasm has grown for using
BY ELIZABETH BRYAN, ALEX DE PINTO, GREG SEYMOUR, PRAPTI BHANDARY AND FRANCESCA EDRALIN Bangladesh’s location on the Bay of Bengal, its low-lying coastal delta topography, and its intensive rice monoculture make it one of the most vulnerable countries worldwide to climate threats, including floods, sea level rise, and salinization. Climate adaptation strategies in the agricultural and food production sectors will