Kevin Chen POLICY SEMINAR Strengthening policy research and analysis capacity: The role of institutional development programs JUL 21, 2022 - 9:00 TO 10:30AM EDT

1. Localizing/Institutionalizing IFPRI
China Program for Agricultural
Policy Research and Impact
Kevin Z. Chen
Senior Research Fellow and Head of China Strategy
Support Program, IFPRI
Qiushi Chair Professor, Zhejiang University

2. Localizing IFPRI China Program
 IFPRI’s China program has been
hosted by the Chinese Academy of
Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) since
1996.
 Joint centers with key research
institutes and universities in China
Conduct relevant policy research
Access local talents
Raise additional funding
Expand channels for achieving
policy impacts
 Capacity strengthening with
collaborative research
Focus on comparative advantages
(model introducing and training)
Train talents (young researchers,
PhD students, visiting researchers)
Beijing
International Center
for Agricultural and
Rural Development
(ICARD)
Dr. Kevin Chen)
Macro Agriculture
Research Institute
(MARI)
Dr. Liangzhi You
Zhejiang
University - IFPRI
Joint Center for
International
Development
Studies
Dr. Kevin Chen
Peking University
Dr. Xiaobo Zhang
Wuhan Hangzhou

3. Joint International Center for Agricultural and Rural Development
(ICARD), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science (CAAS) and IFPRI,
Beijing, China, 2003
 ICARD has been hosted by the Institute of Agricultural
Economics and Development (IAED) of the CAAS and led by
Kevin Chen
 ICARD has been working closely with institutes of CAAS on
the areas of public investment, poverty, food and nutrition,
model development, and South South Cooperation
Helped to build global agricultural model (SILK), China
agricultural model (CASM), and China CGE for policy
analysis
 Since 2003, over 40 post-PhD or PhD students have been
supervised by IFPRI researchers
 CAAS and IFPRI co-organized the China and Global
Agricultural Policy Forum annually since 2018
 Provided technical support to China Agricultural Sector
Development Report (CASDR)

4. Joint Macro Agriculture Research Institute (MARI), Huanzhong
Agricultural University and IFPRI, 2018
 The joint center has been hosted by the School
of Economics and Management at Huanzhong
Agricultural University and led by Liangzhi You
 MARI aims to understand the interactions
among the components of agricultural systems
and provide knowledge for decision-making in
order to make interconnected agricultural
systems more sustainable and resilient.
 Its research activities span the following four
core thematic areas: Smart Agriculture, Social-
ecological Resilience and Sustainable Agriculture,
Land Use and Land Cover Changes, Agricultural
Production and Ecosystem Services.

5. Zhejiang University-IFPRI Joint Center for International Development
Studies, Hangzhou, China, 2019
 Zhejiang University-IFPRI Joint Center for
International Development Studies was
established in 2019
 The joint center has been hosted by China
Academy for Rural Development at Zhejiang
University and led by Dr. Kevin Z. Chen
 The joint center focuses its research work on
transforming Chinese agri-food system
 In particular,
Working with seven world leading
experts from the United States and
Europe, Food Systems and Policy Lab
(FSPL) was also established in later 2019
With a support from Zhejiang University,
the office of editor-in-chief for IFAMR
was established in 2020
 7 policy briefs were produced and adopted
with policymakers in China

6. Joint Research Program between Natural Science Foundation of China
NSFC and IFPRI
 In 2012, the NSFC and the CGIAR/IFPRI signed
an agreement
 NSFC jointly funded 16 projects with IFPRI
since 2012
A total amount of more than 30 million
RMB have been committed by NSFC
 While priority funding areas are jointly
determined, the review, approval, and
management of projects is the responsibility
of the NSFC
 The NSFC provides scientific research and
personnel exchange funds for approved
projects, whereas IFPRI provide technical
support for the participation of personnel and
for training and learning.

7. Co-publishing Flagship Report on China Food Policy
 IFPRI has collaborated with China Agricultural
University, Zhejiang University, Nanjing Agricultural
University and the IAED/CAAS to joint publish
annual flagship report on China food policy
 2021 and 2022 China and Global Food Policy
Reports had been released, Chinese and English
 The objectives are:
 To provide evidence-based policy advices to
policy makers in China and globally
 To share experience and lessons of China’s
economic transformation and agricultural
development with the rest of the world

8. Outlook
 Key opportunities:
 More recently, the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural
Affairs (MARA) is keen to know how to proceed the
One CGIAR strategy in China.
 Chinese policymakers are emphasizing learning from
international development experience and similarly,
are willing to share China’s policy and strategy design,
especially experiences on poverty reduction and food
security with other developing countries.
 Key Objectives:
 To support the design and implementation of
agricultural and rural development strategies for
achieving food security, poverty and hunger
reduction, and overall economic growth in China
 To share Chinese experience/lessons on poverty
reduction and zero hunger with other developing
countries
“Sixth, supporting the Consultative Group
on International Agricultural Research and
the innovation and cooperation on
agricultural science and technology
among countries, and reducing
restrictions on high-tech exchanges.”
- Foreign Minister Wang Yi at G20