IFPRI Calls for 2013 to Be Year of Change in Food Security, Development
2012 was a year of challenges for the global food system, from severe drought in Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and the United States to ongoing conflict in Central Africa to political stalemates over the end of distortionary agricultural subsidies in the US and EU. As 2013 begins, global food security continues to be in a vulnerable position, with 870 million people hungry and 2 billion people poorly nourished. And with the 2015 deadline for the Millennium Development Goals fast approaching, it remains in question whether we will achieve even the modest goal of halving the proportion of people suffering from hunger worldwide. Still, a number of countries have enacted important and promising food-related policies, and global leaders in recent years have made noteworthy commitments to strengthen food security (see the G20 feature on the Food Security Portal homepage). But it remains to be seen if these commitments will translate into action.
Today IFPRI will launch its 2012 Global Food Policy Report, a groundbreaking review of major food policy developments in the past year. The 2012 Report covers new sources of agricultural growth, the outcomes of Rio+20 and progress toward a green economy and sustainable development, the move from talk to action on gender equality and inclusiveness, the prospects for youth employment in agriculture in Africa, the evolution of the US and EU support for farmers, and the drivers of future global food security. In addition to discussing the key food policy developments that have contributed to or hindered progress in food and nutrition security in 2012, the Report also charts the path forward with a strong call to action in 2013.
The 2012 Report is particularly noteworthy for its extensive listing of food policy indicators in the Report's Appendix. This comprehensive list provides data generated by IFPRI research in 2012, including indicators on investment in agricultural research, public spending on economic development in agriculture, global hunger levels, food policy research capacity, and total factor productivity. The Report also includes chapters on sustainably increasing agricultural productivity, closing the gender gap in agriculture, the challenges and opportunities of youth agricultural employment, and on-the-ground policy changes in key regions.
The Report will be launched today during an IFPRI Policy Seminar at 12:15pm EST. Press materials and additional information can be found on the press page. You can also follow the launch event live via webcast or on Twitter with the hashtag #GFPR.