The massive support provided to agriculture by governments — $639 billion per year during 2016–18 — has not incentivized sustainable patterns of food production and consumption, leading to calls to “repurpose” this support. A new IFPRI-World Bank study, Repurposing Agricultural Policies and Support : Options to Transform Agriculture and Food Systems to Better Serve the Health of People, Economies, and the Planet, shows that the present system of support, if left in place, would do nothing to staunch the rapid increase in global emissions from agriculture. Unfortunately, many seemingly appealing options for repurposing are either ineffective or involve harsh side effects such as raising food costs, poverty and agricultural land use. The study’s authors therefore call for a more fundamental change in incentives that advance both productivity enhancements and reductions to greenhouse gas emissions. 

This seminar will present a summary of the latest IFPRI-World Bank research findings and feature speakers discussing the need for more rapid adoption of technological solutions that foster less emissions-intensive productivity growth across developed and developing countries alike.

Opening Remarks

• Mari Elka Pangestu, Managing Director of Development Policy and Partnerships, World Bank

Presentation of Research Findings

• Madhur Gautam, Lead Agriculture Economist, Agriculture Global Practice, World Bank (Presentation) 
• Will Martin, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI (Presentation) 
• Rob Vos, Director, Markets, Trade and Institutions, IFPRI (Presentation) 

Panel Discussion “How to get from here to there”

           Incentivizing high productivity & sustainable farm technologies & practices

• Ruben Echeverría, Senior Advisor Agriculture Development, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation 
• Dirk Jacobs, Director General, FoodDrinkEurope
• Theo De Jager, President, World Farmers’ Organisation

​International coordination: roles for the WTO, UN and the G20?

• Nick Bridge, Special Representative for Climate Change, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
• Anabel González, Deputy Director-General, World Trade Organization (WTO) 
• Ann Tutwiler, Senior Adviser Just Rural Transition 

Closing Remarks

• Martien van Nieuwkoop, Global Director, Agriculture and Food Global Practice, World Bank
• Johan Swinnen, Global Director, CGIAR Systems Transformation Science Group & Director General, IFPRI

Moderator

• Charlotte Hebebrand, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, IFPRI