rethinking the global food system the role of policy innovations by shenggen fan

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Shenggen Fan, September 2014

Rethinking the global food systemThe role of policy innovations

Shenggen FanDirector General | International Food Policy Research Institute

IFPRI-IRRI Policy SeminarSeptember 26, 2014 | Washington, DC



Outline

A rethinking of the global food system is needed to address emerging challenges

Policy innovations can be game changers

How IFPRI’s strategic research contributes to CGIAR goals and upcoming SDGs



Rethinking the global food system

OLD Food insecurity is mainly a supply

problem

Agricultural intensification with more output

Small(holder) is always beautiful

Self-sufficiency is beneficial

Food systems are safe

Global governance food system dominated by North and UN

NEW Accessibility issues are major

problems

Sustainable intensification with more nutrition

Context specificity matters

Open, transparent, and fair global trade provides more gains

Safety of food systems is increasingly at risk

New players now play a bigger role



Policy innovations can be game changers

Asian Green Revolution Promoted enabling and sustained policies and investments–

infrastructure, market, finance, extension, and input systems

Vietnam’s Doi Moi reforms Implemented land tenure and agric. market reforms (among others),

transforming Vietnam from rice importer to 2nd largest exporter

Thailand’s food security and nutrition policy Launched agricultural and social protection policies with nutrition

interventions to nearly end hunger and child stunting



Food policy research

Provides enabling environment for technology adoption and use, for example

Offers guidance on avoiding or reforming counter-productive policies

AND contributes to food security and nutrition via

• Better allocation of resources

• Improving governance, institutions, markets, and trade

Food policy research has broad impacts

Policy research is crucial



Provided early warning about 2007-08 global food price crisis

Contributed to a broader understanding of crisis and policy responses

• Produced 30 publications and disseminated findings through high-level presentations and briefings

• 7 of 8 proposed urgent actions were adopted as policy recommendations in the Comprehensive Framework for Action by the High Level Task Force on the Global Food Security Crisis

• 2008 G8 Summit report, Double Jeopardy: Responding to High Food and Fuel Prices, drew on IFPRI research to justify revision of biofuel policies

Informing food security policy



Shaping public investment priorities

Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators• Instrumental in helping policymakers understand levels of investment and

human capacity and where to intervene

• Creates a unique international public good

• 2012 G8 Accountability Report and G20 Interagency Report have been very important in calling for sustainable support for ASTI

Statistics of Public Expenditure for Economic Development (SPEED)• Contributes to transparency in public spending

• Provides the most comprehensive and publicly-available public expenditure information for 147 countries and several sectors



Supporting country-led strategies

NIGERIASUPPORTING

AGRICULTURAL POLICY REFORMS

GHANAPROMOTING INNOVATIONS

IN VALUE CHAINS

ETHIOPIASUPPORTING

AGRICULTURE-LED INDUSTRIALIZATION

STRATEGY

BANGLADESHSTRENGTHENING EVIDENCE-

BASED SOLUTIONS TO POVERTY AND HUNGER



IFPRI’s strategic research supports CGIAR goals

• Less rural poverty• Better food security

• Better nutrition and health• Sustainably managed resources

CGIAR goals



CGIAR goals contribute to upcoming SDGs

Improving health,

nutrition & food security

Reducing rural

poverty

Sustainable natural

resource management

1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 12, 17

1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 17

5, 6, 12, 13, 16, 17

1. End poverty2. End hunger3. Ensure healthy lives4. Ensure education 5. Achieve gender equality6. Ensure availability of water and sanitation7. Ensure access to energy8. Promote economic growth and work for all9. Build resilient infrastructure10. Reduce inequality within and among countries11. Make cities safe and sustainable12. Ensure sustainable consumption and

production

13. Take action to combat climate change14. Conserve oceans and marine life15. Protect and promote sustainable use of

terrestrial ecosystems16. Promote peaceful, inclusive societies for

sustainable development17. Strengthen global partnerships



Ensuring sustainable food production—nexus approach to link water, energy and food together

Promoting healthy food systems—experiments and evaluation of value chains for nutrition

Improving markets and trade—not just output markets, new research focusing on input markets: land, water, finance, labor

Transforming agriculture—leveraging the role of medium-size farms?

Building resilience—using a system approach to link short-term relief to long-term development?

Institutions and governance —new institutions and implications of new technologies on institutions

Gender—big push on gender-disaggregated data

IFPRI’s strategic research Pushing the frontiers of knowledge



A call to rethink the global food system cannot be ignored

Policy innovations will be key to create a healthy and sustainable food system for all

The CGIAR (incl. IFPRI) has a critical role to play in achieving this goal in the post-2015 agenda

We must all work together to support country-led strategies

In conclusion

rethinking the global food system the role of policy innovations by shenggen fan

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