IFPRI Podcast

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Data in Action: Getting Ahead of Crises: Launch of the Next Generation HungerMapLIVE Apr 17, 2026

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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 Apr 16, 2026

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Agricultural Insurance: Innovations, Policies, and Pathways to Scale by International Food Policy Research Institute

Sustaining Momentum for Nutrition Financing in the Global Development Agenda Apr 15, 2026

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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 Apr 13, 2026

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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 Mar 19, 2026

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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 Feb 18, 2026

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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 Feb 12, 2026

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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 Jan 21, 2026

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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 Jan 13, 2026

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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 Dec 13, 2025

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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

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