Shenggen Fan, Director General of the International Food Policy Research Institute, discusses key issues facing the global food system in 2017-2018. He notes that while economic growth has occurred, inequality is rising due to conflicts, climate change, and anti-globalization sentiments threatening investments, trade, knowledge sharing, and global governance. To address these challenges, he advocates for open trade, international investment, migration, access to knowledge and data, domestic farm policy reforms, and strengthened global governance coordination. Progress will require commitment to an efficient, fair global food system amid radical changes in geopolitics.

1. Shenggen Fan
Director General
International Food Policy Research Institute
Washington, D.C. | March 20, 2018

2. ▪ Despite economic recovery, inequality is on the rise
globally
▪ Global hunger is increasing, driven by conflicts and
climate change
▪ Food production is strong and food prices are
declining
▪ Anti-globalism and the changing global landscape
may create further uncertainties
PROGRESS, UNCERTAINTY & RISING
ANTI-GLOBALISM
Food policy in 2017-2018

3. GLOBAL INTEGRATION VS. ANTI-GLOBALISM
VS.

4. GLOBAL FOOD SYSTEM UNDER RADICAL CHANGES
Threats to
investments
Trade
protectionism
Knowledge & data
flow restrictions
Tightening
borders
Stalled farm
policy reforms
Weak global
governance
Anti-globalization Sentiments

5. FREE FLOW OF GOODS
is key for food security and nutrition
▪ Open trade can contribute to
• Food security
• Improving nutrition through diversification of
food baskets, producers, and suppliers
• Reducing natural resource use and
environmental impact
▪ Design targeted policies in human capital,
resource management, and education to
address trade-related challenges and
externalities
Water content embedded in
international trade
Source: Laborde 2017

6. INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT
benefits local food security
▪ International investment is key to
eliminating hunger
• Increases production, improves value
chains, develops infrastructure, etc.
▪ Agribusiness investments benefit
local food security
▪ Promote public-private
partnerships for agro-infrastructure
and inclusive business models
Product and market focus of
investors in agriculture
Source: UNCTAD and World Bank

7. INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION
plays a major role in food security
▪ Voluntary migration can improve food security
for migrants and families
• Increase incomes and reduce pressure on
natural resources
• But migration involves upfront costs that can
exclude the poor
▪ Despite concerns, refugee camps can
stimulate incomes and entrepreneurship in
local communities
▪ Improve seasonal migration mechanisms
and innovative financial products to
facilitate migration
Household income and probability
of migration, Bangladesh
Source: De Brauw and Ambler 2018

8. OPEN ACCESS KNOWLEDGE AND DATA
drive improved performance in food systems
▪ Accessible data is critical for decision making in
food systems, from farm to consumers
▪ Open data can enhance accountability of all
actors in food systems, including government
▪ Data quality and ease of use are essential for
open access to succeed
▪ Build open data initiatives, enhance
knowledge transfer efficiency, and empower
citizens through capacity building
IFPRI dataset downloads
Source: Yerramareddy and Babu 2018

9. DOMESTIC FARM POLICY REFORM
is critical for global food security
▪ Developed country policies often lead to
overproduction and lower prices globally
▪ Countries shifted toward less distortionary
mechanisms
▪ Yet reforms stagnated and farm support
levels remain high
▪ Reform domestic farm support even in
absence of multinational agreements
Producer support
as % of gross farm revenue
Source: OECD 2017

10. GLOBAL GOVERNANCE REFORM
is important for food, nutrition, and agriculture
▪ Policy and governance in food security and
nutrition are increasingly complex
• Conflict-related hunger, triple burden of
malnutrition, environmental risk, politics of
global integration
▪ Global governance can provide and protect
international public goods
▪ Design a Governing Platform for
intergovernmental coordination, decision
making, and funding
Global food, nutrition, and
agriculture governance design
Source: Von Braun 2018

11. ADDRESSING RADICAL CHANGES
is central for progress in the global food system
▪ Encourage an open, efficient, and fair trading system
▪ Support rural development to break the vicious cycle of conflict,
food insecurity, and migration
▪ Invest more in research and innovation for food systems
▪ Enhance evidence-based policy making
▪ Promote cooperation and mutual learning
▪ Leverage new opportunities in emerging technologies and
knowledge-sharing

12. Global integration of national food
systems will be key to progress,
but will require robust evidence, good
governance, and strong commitment
from the international community