This document discusses efforts since the late 1950s to boost global agricultural production and reduce hunger. It analyzes several case studies of successes that together fed millions more people. Key factors in these successes included applying modern science, making complementary investments, incentivizing farmers, and international cooperation. However, one billion people still experience hunger today due to new challenges like climate change. Continued investment in agriculture is needed to make further progress on food security.
2. www.ifpri.org/millionsfed
Late 1950s: 1 billion people go hungry every day
Late 1950s: 1 billion people go hungry every day
Scientists, policymakers, and farmers
initiate push to boost agricultural
production and productivity
• Global availability of food is
Global availability of food is
increased
• Access to food improved
p
• Quality of food enhanced
IRRI
2009: 1 billion people go hungry every day
3. www.ifpri.org/millionsfed
Why this initiative?
Why this initiative?
• Identify and examine successes
Identify and examine successes
• Assess the evidence on what works
• Draw out the lessons they offer
4. www.ifpri.org/millionsfed
How did we proceed?
How did we proceed?
• Throwing the net out
Throwing the net out
• Sorting the catch
g
• Selecting the most appropriate cases
• Synthesizing the evidence
6. www.ifpri.org/millionsfed
Intensifying
I if i
staple food
production
Improving food
Integrating
quality and
people and the
human
environment
nutrition
Reforming
Expanding the
y
economy‐wide
role of markets
l f k t
policies
Diversifying
y g
out of major
cereals
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Fighting a “Shifty Enemy”
Fighting a “Shifty Enemy”
The international
NOS
collaboration to contain
ll b i i
Jeremy Horner/PAN
wheat rusts
• Challenge: Stem and leaf rust destroying wheat fields around the
ld
world
• Innovation: Global effort leveraging modern science to breed rust‐
i t t i ti
resistant varieties
• Impact: 117 million hectares of land protected from wheat rust;
Food security for 60 120 million rural households
Food security for 60‐120 million rural households
Author: H. J. Dubin and John P. Brennan
8. www.ifpri.org/millionsfed
vices
Resisting Viruses and Bugs
Resisting Viruses and Bugs
/Catholic Relief Serv
Cassava in Sub‐Saharan Africa
Debbie DeVoe/
• Challenge: Spread of mosaic virus disease and mealybug pest
generating major losses for cassava, a staple food crop
• Innovation: Breeding of disease‐resistant cassava varieties, and
introduction of a parasitic wasp to destroy mealybug
• Impact: Breeding increased yields by 40%; Pest control
prevented yield losses of 2.5 tons/hectare;
29 million additional people fed
29 million additional people fed
Author: Felix Nweke
9. www.ifpri.org/millionsfed
Crossing the River While
Crossing the River While
Feeling the Rocks
OS
Land‐tenure reform in China
L dt f i Chi
Qilai Shen/PANO
• Challenge: Widespread food shortages after more than 30 years of
collective agriculture
ll ti i lt
• Innovation: Policy reforms reintroducing household farming, returning
more than 95% of farmland to 160 million rural households
more than 95% of farmland to 160 million rural households
• Impact: 1978‐84: increase in grain production by 34%; increase in
rural incomes by 137%; reduction in rural poverty by 22%
rural incomes by 137%; reduction in rural poverty by 22%
Author: John W. Bruce and Zongmin Li
10. www.ifpri.org/millionsfed
Diversifying into Healthy Diets
Diversifying into Healthy Diets
ational
Homestead food production in
Helen Keller Interna
Bangladesh
H
• Challenge: Micronutrient deficiencies, such as Vitamin A, resulting in
night blindness
• Innovation: Home gardening of micronutrient‐rich vegetables, small
livestock production, and nutrition education
• Impact: Tripling in vegetable production; 73% of gardens
managed by women; improved food security for 5
million people
Authors: Lora Iannotti, Kenda Cunningham, and Marie Ruel
11. www.ifpri.org/millionsfed
Why did it work?
• Science and technology
• Complementary investments
immons, University of Arizona
• Private incentives
• Cooperation and collaboration
• Timing and planning
Timing and planning
Kevin Fitzsi
• Experimentation and evolution
NDDB
One Acre Fund
• Community involvement
• Leadership and dedication IRRI
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What can we learn?
• Success is not unambiguous
Success is not unambiguous
• Success is a process
• Success is not a substitute for strategy
• Success is recognizable
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More successes are needed
• Persistence of hunger
g
A billion people still go hungry today
• New stresses
New stresses
Climate change
M k
Market volatility
l ili
Demographic changes
• Keep food security and agriculture high on the global
agenda