Food Systems
Featured blog
After a year, India’s rice export restrictions continue to fuel high prices
In July 2023, the Indian government announced export restrictions on non-basmati white rice. Coming after earlier export limits on other types of rice, the action was taken in part due to a strengthening El Niño that threatened to limit rice production and fuel rising food inflation—a potential political liability for the Modi government as it faced upcoming general elections in spring 2024.
Urgent need to strengthen local governance for improved urban agrifood systems
Urbanization is among the major demographic shifts affecting agrifood systems worldwide. With over half of the world’s population living in urban areas—projected to reach 70 percent by 2050—cities face many challenges in providing residents with healthy, affordable food. In fact, of the 2.2 billion people experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity, three-quarters live in urban and peri-urban areas.
Evaluating impacts: Lessons from food systems interventions across Africa and Asia
Food systems play an important role in shaping our diets. Recently, there has been growing attention to food systems transformation, which involves changing different components of global food systems to make nutritious foods more accessible to consumers. At the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit, more than 100 countries pledged to transform their food systems, a clear recognition of the importance of healthy diets in preventing all forms of malnutrition worldwide.
Exploring Food Systems' Hidden Costs: IFPRI Policy Seminar
Today’s global food systems carry a hidden price tag: at least USD 10 trillion annually in environmental, health, and social costs, according to both the FAO’s The State of Food and Agriculture 2023 and Food System Economics Commission’s (FSEC) The Economics of the Food System Transformation. Globally, food systems cost more in GDP than they contribute and play a driving role in exacerbating poverty, malnutrition, and climate change.
Experts: What is causing food prices to spike around the world?
Spiking food prices have made headlines around the world this year, from eggs in the US to vegetables in India.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s Food Price Index has been slowly increasing over the past six months following declines over much of 2023.
For example, the price of orange juice concentrate in the US was 42% higher in April than it was a year ago, while the price of fresh orange juice in the UK has risen 25% over the last year.
In Greece, the price of olive oil rose by nearly 30% over 2023 and by more than 63% in April of this year.