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Who we are

With research staff from more than 60 countries, and offices across the globe, IFPRI provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.

researcher spotlight

Liangzhi You

Liangzhi You is a Senior Research Fellow and theme leader in the Foresight and Policy Modeling Unit, based in Washington, DC. His research focuses on climate resilience, spatial data and analytics, agroecosystems, and agricultural science policy. Gridded crop production data of the world (SPAM) and the agricultural technology evaluation model (DREAM) are among his research contributions. 

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Where we work

IFPRI currently has more than 600 employees working in over 80 countries with a wide range of local, national, and international partners.

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TOPIC

Food Safety

Food safety is closely linked to food security, the safety and availability of water, and human health. In developing countries, food and waterborne diseases are a major cause of illness and death, and unsafe food and water threaten the livelihoods and long-term prospects of the poor.

We cannot reduce poverty and improve health and nutrition without ensuring access to safe food for all people. However, food safety standards that are too difficult or costly for small farmers to meet can prevent poor populations from accessing markets, and thus limit incomes.

IFPRI researchers and partners provide evidence to policymakers on the importance of food and water safety, as well as on the issues that arise in providing food and water safety. Evaluation of policies and technologies for food safety can help farmers and other value chain actors can meet higher safety standards and reduce food loss and waste, and improve consumer access to safe food.

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Our researchers explore a wide range of questions relevant to food safety: can institutional mechanisms like cooperatives, food safety certifications, and contract farming help poor producers access markets? Are there cost-effective strategies to minimize risks to food and water safety? Can labeling increase consumer demand for safer products? The answers to these and other questions will help policymakers craft effective solutions to provide safe food and water for all. IFPRI’s research on this topic is closely aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1, SDG 2, SDG 3, and SDG 6, and the CGIAR Impact Areas on Nutrition, Health, and Food Security and Poverty Reduction, Livelihoods, and Jobs.

food_safety

topics

Publications

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Brief

The true costs of food production in Viet Nam

2024Benfica, Rui; Davis, Kristin; Dao, The Anh; Vu, Dang Toan; Naziri, Diego
Details

The true costs of food production in Viet Nam

Key takeaways True cost accounting allows for the measurement of hidden impacts of food production on the environment, human health, and society. • Our findings show that at the national level for all crop sectors: o Environmental externalities account for 73% and social for 27% of external cost structure. o Major environmental impact sources are land occupation, air pollution, and climate change. o Major social impact sources are underpayment of farm workers and the incidence of child labor. • In NATURE+ sites in Sa Pa and Mai Son districts for the crop sector: o External costs represent about 24% of all household crop production costs. o Environmental externalities (61%) are greater than social (39%). o Land occupation is the most important external impact source, followed by soil degradation and climate change. o Under earning (underpayment of workers and/or low famer profits) are significant social costs, followed by the gender wage gap and the incidence of child labor.

Year published

2024

Authors

Benfica, Rui; Davis, Kristin; Dao, The Anh; Vu, Dang Toan; Naziri, Diego

Citation

Benfica, Rui; Davis, Kristin; Dao, The Anh; Vu, Dang Toan; and Naziri, Diego. 2024. The true costs of food production in Viet Nam. Nature-Positive Solutions Initiative Policy Brief. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute

Country/Region

Vietnam

Keywords

Asia; South-eastern Asia; True Cost Accounting; Food Production; Sustainability; Crops

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-NC-4.0

Source

Source record

Project

Nature-Positive Solutions

Record type

Brief

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Brief

The true costs of food production in Kenya

2024Benfica, Rui; Davis, Kristin; Oulu, Martin; Termote, Céline; Fadda, Carlo
Details

The true costs of food production in Kenya

Key takeaways • True cost accounting allows for the measurement of hidden impacts of food production on the environment, human health, and society. • Our findings show that at the national level for all crop sectors: o Social costs account for 90% and environmental for 10% of external cost structure. o Major social cost sources are underpayment, child labor, and occupational health risks. o Major environmental cost sources are land-use expansion and climate change. • Findings at farm level in NATURE+ Initiative sites in Kajiado, Kisumu, and Vihiga, for the crop sector show that: o Direct costs (70% of true costs) are predominantly hired labor and seed costs o External costs represent about 30% of the true costs o Social externalities costs (84%) are greater than environmental costs (16%) o Forced labor is the most important impact, followed by child labor, underpayment, and gender wage gaps o Environmental externalities include land occupation (land use) and soil degradation

Year published

2024

Authors

Benfica, Rui; Davis, Kristin; Oulu, Martin; Termote, Céline; Fadda, Carlo

Citation

Benfica, Rui; Davis, Kristin; Oulu, Martin; Termote, Céline; and Fadda, Carlo. 2024. The true costs of food production in Kenya. Nature-Positive Solutions Initiative Policy Brief. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute.

Country/Region

Kenya

Keywords

Africa; Eastern Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; True Cost Accounting; Food Production; Crops; Climate Change; Labour

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-NC-4.0

Source

Source record

Project

Nature-Positive Solutions

Record type

Brief

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Brief

Evolution of food insecurity in Sudan during the ongoing conflict

2024Kirui, Oliver K.; Siddig, Khalid; Fisher, Monica; Abushama, Hala; Ahmed, Mosab; Raouf, Mariam; Taffesse, Alemayehu Seyoum
Details

Evolution of food insecurity in Sudan during the ongoing conflict

Sudan’s food security landscape has been dramatically impacted by the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which began in April 2023. The conflict has exacerbated an already precarious situation for the country, characterized by macroeconomic instability, climate shocks, and persistent discord and tension. This policy note analyzes the evolution of food insecurity in Sudan during the conflict, drawing from analysis of four nationwide surveys conducted before and during the conflict, namely the 2022 Sudan Labor Market Panel Survey (SLMPS),1 the 2023/24 Sudan Rural Household Survey,2 the 2024 Sudan Urban Survey,3 and the recently completed 2024 Rural Household Survey. The findings highlight significant deterioration in food security across rural and urban areas of Sudan. Based on insights from these surveys, policy recommendations are offered to address food insecurity in the context of the conflict in Sudan. Before the outbreak of the conflict in 2023, Sudan was already facing significant food insecurity challenges. The 2022 SLMPS, a nationwide survey conducted in person, revealed that approximately 49 percent of Sudanese households were food secure. Factors such as high inflation, climate-related shocks, and underinvestment in agriculture have led to many households facing problems accessing sufficient healthy food, adversely affecting their food consumption. The reliance of Sudan on imports for a significant share of food consumption, coupled with a devaluating Sudanese Pound and rising inflation, strained household purchasing power, further limiting access to essential foodstuffs. Food insecurity was uneven across the country. Rural areas, where consumption of own agricultural production is essential for household food security, had higher food insecurity than urban areas. Some regions were particularly vulnerable to food insecurity, including the Darfur and Kordofan regions and Blue Nile states. Localized conflicts in these areas disrupted agricultural activities and displaced communities even before broader-scale fighting between SAF and RSF began.

Year published

2024

Authors

Kirui, Oliver K.; Siddig, Khalid; Fisher, Monica; Abushama, Hala; Ahmed, Mosab; Raouf, Mariam; Taffesse, Alemayehu Seyoum

Citation

Kirui, Oliver K.; Siddig, Khalid; Fisher, Monica; Abushama, Hala; Ahmed, Mosab; Raouf, Mariam; and Taffesse, Alemayehu Seyoum. 2024. Evolution of food insecurity in Sudan during the ongoing conflict. Sudan Strategy Support Policy Note 8. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute.

Country/Region

Sudan

Keywords

Africa; Northern Africa; Capacity Development; Conflicts; Food Insecurity; Macroeconomics; Policy Innovation

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Source

Source record

Project

Fragility, Conflict, and Migration

Record type

Brief

Blogs

World Cities Day 2024: Building more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient urban food systems
IFPRI Blog
 | 
October 31, 2024

World Cities Day 2024: Building more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient urban food systems

IFPRI researchers on urbanization.

World Food Safety Day 2024: Empowering consumers and small businesses with information
IFPRI Blog
 | 
June 06, 2024

World Food Safety Day 2024: Empowering consumers and small businesses with information

By Vivian Hoffmann

Targeting interventions to benefit public health.

Flattening the curve on foodborne illness and its costs in Africa
IFPRI Blog
 | 
November 04, 2020

Flattening the curve on foodborne illness and its costs in Africa

By Steven Jaffee and Delia Grace

A “business as usual” approach to food safety will do little to check the health threats in many countries.

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Events

Fruit & Vegetables for Sustainable Healthy Diets: 2024 FRESH Science Conference
Series/Special Event

 | 

August 26 to 27, 2024

Fruit & Vegetables for Sustainable Healthy Diets: 2024 FRESH Science Conference

Poor diets are a primary cause of malnutrition and the leading cause of disease worldwide. Improving diets, especially through increasing fruit and vegetable intake, can help to address these health and nutrition challenges. However, fruit and vegetable intake falls below recommended levels globally. The factors contributing to low fruit and vegetable consumption are complex, requiring […]

Drivers of Agrifood System Transformation: Lessons from Feed-the-Future Country Studies
IFPRI at External Event

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February 28, 2024, 9:30 – 11:00 am

Drivers of Agrifood System Transformation: Lessons from Feed-the-Future Country Studies

Webinar: February 28, 2024 – 09:30 AM to 11:00 AM EST. IFPRI is participating in the “Drivers of Agrifood System Transformation: Lessons from Feed-the-Future Country Studies” webinar.

Agrifood systems in Latin America and the Caribbean: New scenarios and opportunities post COVID-19
IFPRI at External Event

 | 

November 4 to 6, 2020

Agrifood systems in Latin America and the Caribbean: New scenarios and opportunities post COVID-19

IFPRI is participating with FAO’s Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean in the celebration of World Food Day and FAO’s 75th anniversary. Given the complexity of managing the COVID-19 pandemic and its significant adverse effects on the region’s economies, FAO is convening stakeholders who impact agri-food systems to provide an institutional response by facilitating and promoting […]

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News

November 10, 2020 | In the News

Flattening the curve on foodborne illness and its costs in Africa (AG Health)

AG Health republished a blog post from Steven Jaffee and Delia Grace. The authors stated that recent research has shown that the health and economic consequences of foodborne diseases in Africa are significant and growing, as urbanization and income growth prompt dietary changes that increasingly expose consumers to food safety hazards. A ‘business as usual’ approach to food […]

May 01, 2020 | In the News

How to avoid the global food safety crisis? (Caixin) 

Caixin (China) published a news report on COVID19’s impact on food safety. The article quoted Senior Research Fellow, David Laborde, who said policies, such as export restrictions, are based on panic purchases and will cause shortages. He said that the current situation is controllable if policymakers in various countries “take action based on evidence rather than fear.” Laborde recommends that policymakers in various […]

January 24, 2020 | Press Release

Securing the Harvest: A Forum on Improved Grain Storage for Smallholder Agriculture

According to the FAO, each year about 1.3 billion tons of food produced for human consumption is lost after harvest and before reaching consumers. Postharvest losses not only reduce quantity but also the quality of stored grain and are amplified by changing weather patterns. Improved grain drying and storage can be key mitigators of postharvest loss, resulting […]

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Our experts

Gashaw Abate

Gashaw Abate

Research Fellow, Markets,
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Nina Jovanovic

Nina Jovanovic

Associate Research Fellow, Development
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Jef L. Leroy

Jef L. Leroy

Senior Research Fellow, Nutrition,
Diets, and Health

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Moogdho Mahzab

Associate Research Fellow, Poverty,
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Aditi Chugh

Aditi Chugh

Research Analyst, Markets,
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Soyra Gune

Soyra Gune

Research Analyst, Nutrition,
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