Research Post

Bridging the gap between research and policymaking.

Productivity erodes amid turmoil.

The power of bundled solutions

How development organizations think about gender.

Building on improvements in Infant mortality.

Starch-heavy diets, the reach of extension instruction, and other issues.

Avenues to empowerment.

Examining the effectiveness of vouchers and marketing information.

Nutritional benefits of enhanced biofortification.

Insights into buying behavior.

Many dimensions of combating climate change.

A study points to reforms.

Improving market incentives.

Enfoques para el desarrollo de políticas del sistema alimentario.

Tools for food system policy development.

Charting economic paths forward.

Promise for boosting yields and income.

Our study tested two behavioral interventions—budgeting and sales planning—to understand and mitigate this paradox.

Does the threat of climate change significantly undermine strategies focusing on agriculture?

Transforming food systems is promising but complex, requiring strong evidence and rigorous evaluations to ensure effective interventions.

Tradeoffs must be carefully managed.

New opportunities as mobile phone use grows in farming areas.

Survey insights on production, pests, and marketing.

The downsides of emergency trade measures.

Targeting interventions to benefit public health.

A new tool developed by IFPRI and IFAD.

Women in rural coffee production face opportunities and obstacles.

What an array of studies shows about a key nutritional challenge

Positive impacts of a program in Kenya.

New data on diets.

Evolving practices with potential impacts for nutrition.

Fostering cooperative natural resource management.

Why simplified linear approaches may fall short.

Safety nets can buttress households against climate shocks.

New evidence quantifies significant negative health effects.

Benefits of a TV show’s positive messages.

A major research and policy effort transitions to African leadership.

Delay has a range of positive impacts.

Local effects of global shocks persist.

Impacts of a large-scale approach.

An experiment shows women face disadvantages.

Compelling personal stories as a learning and motivational tool.

Helping smallholders tap new technologies.

Complex challenges for farmers amid a continuing food crisis.

Local impacts of a national development strategy.

Food system impacts of war,

Helping farmers purchase and sell livestock.

Balancing nutrition and climate.

Introducing the Food Import Vulnerability Index (FIVI).

IFPRI assessments provide key information for policymakers.

A chatbot experiment.

Impacts of an unfolding humanitarian emergency.

How food systems fared amid disruption.

Fostering cooperative local governance.

New customs duties reverberate in communities.

A meta-analysis shows that broadly, IPV programs work.

A new tool to address the gender data gap in agricultural development.

A study shows changed patterns of deforesation.

Growing and underappreciated risks.

Documenting a shifting landscape of commerce.

A new project focuses on building resilience.

Links between infrastructure and improved nutrition and health.

Developing the tools of resource management.

A promising approach to micronutrient deficiencies.

Potential limits of in-person interviews.

Potential limits of in-person interviews.

Many short- and long-term benefits to health and well-being.

The Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI) offers a variety of ingredients for local insights.

How can trainings help to overcome social and economic barriers?

Changes in nitrogen dioxide emissions reflect migration, other changes.

Shedding light on a key segment of the food system.

Improving nutrition in Bangladesh farming households.

Creating a healthier food environment.

Using videos to test skewed perceptions of improved crop varieties.

Assessing how household diets fall short.

An experiment suggests survey fatigue can skew results.

Integrating AI into the policy process.

Evaluating the impacts of workfare.

Closing the gender data gap in agricultural development.

Education programs for parents yield continuing benefits.

Strong evidence of the relationship between small-scale irrigation, food security, diet quality, and nutrition.

Testing ways to expand digital financial inclusion.

Analyzing effects on attitudes toward government assistance.

The diverse benefits of repurposing support programs.

Persistent biases hold back women shop owners.

Positive health and nutrition results persist even in adverse circumstances.

Practical ways to evaluate and advance women’s empowerment.

Examining complex relationships around a key resource.

A problem for the growing dairy industry.

Building incentives to foster more effective teaching and learning.

Closing gender gaps in agricultural knowledge.

Developing a tool to assess gender and policymaking.

High inflation threatens nutrition and livelihoods.

Gender roles shift slowly in the post-Soviet era.

Challenges and opportunities for women to engage in more profitable work.

Research links high food prices to wasting and stunting.

Impacts of cash assistance programs reach beyond spending power.

The best places for grid-based, solar, and diesel powered equipment.

The importance of digital financial inclusion.

Benefits of a “nudge” approach.

Effects of lost income and food insecurity linger, particularly for for women, a study shows.

A show set in a maternal health clinic offers perspectives on women’s health.

A show set in a maternal health clinic offers perspectives on women’s health.

A new phase in understanding how such programs can empower women.

Benefits of scaling up integrated pest management.

A pilot program promotes and studies mobile banking.

Modeling shows lowered GDP and agricultural production for 2022.

The power of consumer opinion.

Translation option: Dans un article publié récemment sur ce blog, nous avons analysé comment la propagation de la maladie associée au nouveau coronavirus (COVID-19) peut détériorer l’économie mondiale, entraînant des effets sur   la sécurité alimentaire et aux efforts de réduction de la pauvreté. Nous avons souligné que les répercussions économiques de la pandémie actuelle seront […]

A promising method to gauge agricultural output.

Wheat and tomato crops see very different outcomes.

Important lessons for policymakers.

Nutrition impacts of tariffs and subsidies.

Parsing sometimes contradictory responses in household surveys.

Insights into the food pyramid.

Escaping psychological poverty traps.

Insights into achieving sustainable irrigation.

Pathways for smallholders to fulfill their potential.

The role of gender norms in household dynamics.

Gender programs have nuanced impacts.

How 7th graders contend with pandemic stresses.

Women with greater ambition tend to have more power within households.

A policy shift focusing on nutritious foods and consumers.

As COVID-19 pandemic disruptions continue, policies should address shifting effects.

Results from a randomized controlled trial.

The advantages of science-based land use planning.

The first time such a connection has been established between climate change, agricultural productivity, and health.

Exploring the complex interplay of work, migration, and gender.

After lockdowns are lifted, reluctance to seek assistance lingers.

Modeling shows emergency safety net programs boost GDP during pandemic.

Water, energy, food, forests, and biodiversity systems are intricately linked but projects to improve resource usage are too often siloed.

Research shows for the first time the benefits of a key type of social protection program extend years later to the children of recipients.

A potential obstacle to food system transformation at the local level.

What happened when a key type of social protection program stopped operating during lockdown.

Surveying which innovations work best to build better nutrition.

A more nuanced approach to gauging women's strategic choices about time and work.

 Five major obstacles that stand in the way of progress.

Encouraging the development of value chains can benefit both smallholders and consumers.

Pandemic impacts fall more heavily on smallholder farmers and others serving more traditional markets.

Households may have reduced rice consumption as much as 15% or more,

Mobility restrictions and market disruptions hit farming households hard.

A lockdown and other pandemic measures erode incomes, food security, and dietary diversity in the Western Highlands.

An analysis of 12 low- and middle-income countries shows potential pandemic hotspots.

Insights on buttressing women's roles in political decision making.

Positive results from the Tubaramure program suggest lessons for COVID-19 responses and future crises.

What happened with a key social protection effort during lockdown.

Rising obesity rates among both rich and poor, and other trends.

Ways to more effectively engage women in a key element of sustainable agriculture.

Modeling shows differering impacts for urban and rural households.

A new effort to estimate the extent and value of forests, pasturelands, and wetlands people depend on.

Heat stress exerts heterogeneous effects by gender, agricultural activity, and household structure.

Rapid changes in markets and food systems create a new set of problems.

Losses in income from abroad impact the poorest households most.

A randomized control trial shows positive results on test scores.

Making important connections between agriculture, health, and nutrition.

Analyzing impacts of a program in Monrovia, Liberia.

Community-based accountability meetings called barazas yield positive results.

Modeling shows participation in production decisions and membership in community groups can yield positive results.

Undercutting a standard assumption about climate change-driven migration.

Working outside the home typically doesn't lead to reduced domestic responsiblities.

A survey shows such programs can be effective in addressing the impacts of sudden shocks.

A rapid analysis reveals urgent problem areas and directions for further research.

Identifying a problem in household surveys.

Promoting creative alternatives to the classroom during lockdowns can have far-reaching effects.

A promising approach for low-income and rural areas.

Current global numbers are likely undercounts.

Positive local impacts from moving coal-fired power plants.

Lockdowns lead to sharp spikes in poverty.

Evidence shows that these programs can work, but are the costs reasonable?

Heat waves and heavy rainfall events appear to limit opportunities for urban migrant workers.

Owning land does not always translate to empowerment for female farmers.

The SEEMS-Nutrition initiative offers a set of tools for project evaluations.

A program combining nutritious rations with behavior change communication yields positive results.

Nutritional training sessions combined with cash transfers yield positive results.

SMEs experienced a V-shaped recovery.

Results suggest phone surveys reporting falling incomes in the pandemic should be viewed with caution.

An analysis of food demand data from Nigeria identifies an interesting problem.

A study provides insights into gender differences and welfare benefits in a wide array of enterprises.

Steps must be taken now to avert a decades-long nutrition and public health crisis.

Testing the role of subsidies in adopting techniques to build long-term resilience.

Two studies in Kenya examine risk perceptions of aflatoxin in maize.

The under-appreciated role geography plays in a persistent problem of health and well-being.

The growing role of supermarkets in developing countries has impacts that go beyond urban retailing.

Women are much more likely to report that they own assets or make decisions than men are to recognize these roles.

Focusing on the multiple, overlapping health impacts of the double burden of malnutrition.

Developing a better banking and credit system for smallholders.

Decisions on fertilizer and pesticide use impact crops and finances.

Research provides guideposts for tracking India's double burden of malnutrition.

Undernourishment early in life may have profound irreversible effects, a new paper suggests.

Key social services are often neglected when local governments run support programs, research in Ethiopia shows.

Looking at the varying prevalence of zinc and vitamin A deficiencies among women and children.

An analysis shows a 41% decline in GDP during the two-week lockdown.

A new paper is the first to quantify the potential global impact of using CSA in food-crop production.

Having farmers outline their plots on tablets can save time and effort in research, a study shows.

Poor urban households are hit the hardest by pandemic control measures.

A new tool allows comparison of unfolding pandemic control and assistance measures in developing countries.  

Modeling suggests export bans intended to buttress domestic food supplies could have wide impacts.

A study shows that viewing videos on farming techniques has a range of gender equity benefits.

IFPRI country studies indicate the pandemic is leading to much larger and more rapid contractions of economic activity than seen in previous crises.

Modeling shows GDP and incomes—particularly among low-income households—falling dramatically.

There are valid reasons to doubt whether these programs provide a sustainable and cost-effective way of addressing poor nutrition.

Without significant action, modeling shows, a global health crisis could trigger global poverty and food crises.

Without significant action, modeling shows, a global health crisis could trigger global poverty and food crises.

As restrictions take effect, a survey shows reductions in food trade and consumption.

A survey shows lockdowns are having serious impacts on agricultural operations, particularly pig farmers.

Modeling shows that a looming worldwide economic slowdown could push tens of millions into extreme poverty.

As China begins to emerge from the worst, a survey shows many enterprises struggle to survive.

The Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey (BIHS) offers insights into women's empowerment, agriculture, nutrition, and health.

A study in Rwanda shows women who ate biofortified beans had more energy for daily tasks.

Filling a key information gap can make it easier to provide insurance to smallholders.

A study reveals the obstacles to breaking into export markets—and suggests some options to overcome them.

A new study finds the EAT-Lancet Commission reference diet—aimed at improving nutrition and global sustainability—is too expensive for many people around the world.

A new study uses spatial interpolation models to estimate local fertilizer prices where data are unavailable.

Confronting a ubiquitous yet tricky problem as food systems rapidly evolve. 

Third in a series. Helping farmers become active agents of change for reducing climate risks.

From extreme weather to political instability, the risks in agriculture compound and reinforce one another. Second in a series.

As food systems grow more complex, so do challenges of stopping foodborne illnesses.

Farmers' land management decisions offer a promising avenue to offset falling yields in a warming world. First in a series on climate risk and agriculture.

Research shows how a disaster can impact an economy beyond the simple rebuilding process. The Sichuan earthquake induced a lifestyle shift in households toward greater spending and shifted the economy away from industrial production.

An experiment in Ghana reveals nuanced gender attitudes toward farm households' economic investments.

Climate change-driven spikes in rainfall and heat waves linked to increases in poverty.

A special issue of World Development examines when and how access to information helps improve local services.

A new genetically-engineered pest-resistant eggplant variety shows promise.

A biofortification project in Mozambique shows lasting nutrition benefits.

Studies show mixed results for a program that coupled acute malnutrition screenings with dietary supplements.

A short-term exemption from emissions reduction targets would have a positive impact.

The complex political dynamics behind government crackdowns on food vendors.

Local produce has many nutritional benefits, but is increasingly scarce in many village diets. Why?

A nutrition program reduced stunting, but mothers who participated retained more weight—suggesting such tradeoffs should be part of program design.

An impact assessment shows how research is shaping nutrition programs and policies.

The success of India's nutrition efforts lie in ensuring interventions for mothers and infants converge and complement each other.

Emerging genetic engineering technologies have enormous potential for agriculture. But how to ensure the benefits reach farmers in middle- and low-income countries?

Modeling shows a way to address a major contributor to deforestation and climate change.

Research in Ethiopia shows that resilience measures can blunt the impact of drought and other climate-driven disasters.

Egg calories in Niger are 23.3 times as expensive as a calorie from rice or corn. In the U.S., egg calories are just 1.6 times as expensive as staple food calories. 

New research shows climate change will slow the growth in the global availability of key nutrients provided by important crops such as wheat, maize, and legumes.

A look inside how Ghana calculates its overall support for agriculture.

Country obesity estimates from two leading sources differ in many instances—and some of the discrepancies are large. 

IFPRI research outlines the scale and the causes of the major global problem of food loss and waste.

A  new study analyzes the effects of one of the largest public works programs in the world.

Research shows that a "keeping up with the Joneses" syndrome has set in with gifts in Chinese villages, with negative impacts for household spending and overall well-being.

Research shows that education programs would benefit by taking a more nuanced view of gender roles.

Two recent studies provide evidence that cash transfers can reduce conflict-driven malnutrition in Yemen.

A new study focusing on Nigeria shows that polygyny (the practice having more than one wife) presents development challenges, as economic cooperation is lower among polygynous spouses than monogamous ones.

The widespread focus on stunting has generated unprecedented interest in and support for nutrition goals, but misunderstandings about when it is the right outcome to address may be creating too narrow a focus that harms the global nutrition agenda.

New research suggests the Democratic Republic of the Congo missed an important opportunity to combat its devastating poverty.

A lack of data has hampered PNG's efforts rein in hunger and malnutrition.

Three case studies show that cash transfers’ effects on IPV depend on context and program design

Ghana's agricultural transformation is considered a African success story. But how it is it affecting the diets of farm households? 

Incentives that hold teachers accountable for achievement can increase educational attainment when paired with adequate instructional resources, research shows.

Research in Ethiopia, Ghana, and Tanzania points the way to addressing gender imbalances in irrigation and agriculture.

The pollution generated by crop residue fires in northern India imposes a heavy burden on urban residents.

Research refutes the stock critiques of transfer programs.

Research in Kyrgyzstan shows that individual ambition and women's empowerment are linked.

Examining one possible impact of a common health hazard on young children.

Research shows that a personal stake in the community matters more for agricultural extension services than staff numbers.

Egypt currently generates most of its electricity with natural gas—an unsustainable situation. Research shows how it can change course and tap abundant sunlight and wind resources.

IFPRI research shows what works – and doesn't – in promoting gardening with the aim of boosting consumption of fruits and vegetables. 

While political competition is generally accepted as good for democracy, research finds it can inhibit government service delivery in newer democracies lacking strong political parties and governing institutions, like Mali. 

Targeted fertilizer subsidies cost more to administer but are significantly more cost-effective than universal subsidies, IFPRI research shows. 

Collecting survey data in the field presents unique challenges—some advice to make the process as smooth as possible.

Combining food rations, behavior change communication, and better access to public health services improves infant nutrition and reduces stunting, an IFPRI study shows.

Essential climate mitigation efforts, such as carbon taxes, may create problems for the food system that should be addressed, a study shows.

A workshop employs creative mapping techniques to visualize interview data.

A new study examines the gender dynamics of household decisions in Bangladesh and Ghana.

As demand for their crops rises, horticultural farmers in particular are employing hazardous pesticides. What can be done?

Global food security depends on the ability to monitor shifting developments in agriculture.

A new study shows benefits from a bidding process for Indonesia's subsidized rice distribution program.

A paper offers important new data points on group loans.

A new approach helps potential funders weigh the financial risks and on-the-ground benefits of anti-poverty programs.

An IFPRI analysis identifies flaws in criteria used to target the poorest aid recipients and recommends new standards.

Using videos to examine how gender influences the communication of agricultural extension messages in Uganda.

Cutting chemical pesticide use and relying on ladybird beetles to kill aphids can yield concrete benefits for Chinese cotton farmers.

A natural pest control application yields positive economic results for farmers, consumers—and global markets, a new study shows.

Data from Ag-Incentives Consortium shows the aggregated effects of government policies on prices.

A new IFPRI report outlines policy approaches to reform and boost the MENA region's agriculture and food systems.

Inside an IFPRI evaluation of an innovative extension program.

Exploring how a biofortified crop works inside the body to boost brain function.

Growth in agriculture is 2-3 times more effective at reducing poverty than an equivalent amount of growth generated in other sectors.

Without support from robust agricultural extension services, farm subsidies may go to waste, research shows.

China's public investments in rural development yield broad economic and social benefits, research shows, pointing the way for other countries.

A new model shows the relationships between development aid, a country's policies, and economic growth are more complex than commonly assumed.

Research suggests an optimal anemia reduction strategy would take a holistic, nutrition-sensitive approach that targets factors such as hygiene, family planning, and healthy diets.

As Nepal's government establishes a federal structure under its new constitution, IFPRI research points the way.

Research shows that two of Ethiopia's social protection programs could work more effectively together.

A new study suggests the potential for ecosystem-based pest management in Nigeria.

Lessons from a soil program impact evaluation gone awry.

New data-based tools for agricultural policy planners in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Tunisia.

How open access to data can help close the global digital divide.

Making a promising technology for sustainable agriculture work for farmers in South Asia and elsewhere.

Ghana has created dozens of new local districts and municipalities with the aim of devolving power from the national government – but the effort appears to have slowed the flow of agriculture funding.

International investments in have many benefits for food systems—but should be carefully implemented with local input.

Rising living standards have addressed some nutrition problems in Ethiopia— but are creating a new set of challenges.

Research in Indonesia shows corruption drives down local public support for key economic reforms.

Development assistance in the form of food-assisted maternal and child health and nutrition can play an important role in protecting poor families from economic or health shocks in vulnerable countries such as Burundi.

To maximize the impact such nutritional interventions can have on a child's linear growth, research shows they should target the entire period from conception to a child's second birthday.

Small, inexpensive solar pumps can greatly expand the availability of irrigation, research shows.

The government of India has distributed 100 million cards to help farmers monitor soil health. But many are finding them overly technical and difficult to use.

The Third Elementary Education Project led to positive educational and work results for girls, yet appeared to lower boys' prospects.

How rural women activists are bringing about change from the ground up.

Examining the role of rural women activists in bringing change to nutrition and food systems worldwide.

A cash program in Tanzania boosted villagers' confidence in local leaders and institutions.

Modeling shows climate change-driven drought and warming will drive down yields of rice, wheat, and corn.

Research in Malawi shows that farmers are more likely to adopt conservation agriculture practices when their neighbors are using them—suggesting financial incentives can help to create a virtuous circle.

Small scale irrigation projects yield agricultural gains—but create unanticipated problems for women farmers in Tanzania.

As Puerto Rico and other areas hit by recent natural disasters begin the recovery process, research shows that government assistance yields more than just material benefits.