In recent years, productivity and sustainability of agriculture and food systems have received increased attention at the global level. The challenges are also reasonably well understood and agricultural R&D offers options to tackle most of them. What is lacking, however, is policy coherence and coordinated efforts at the country level, accompanied by a holistic and integrated approach that aligns national development goals with global goals. Particularly needed are policies and actions that enhance on- and off-farm employment and income opportunities, raise investment in food and agriculture, maximize resource use efficiency, reduce food loss and waste, convert waste to wealth through reuse, and protect, conserve, and sustainably use key natural resources that underpin the food system.

A product of the collective knowledge and experiences of 78 widely recognized scientists, leaders, and experts from many organizations around the world, this launch event will provide details on the challenges and opportunities highlighted in the book so communities, countries and the world can design food and agriculture systems to meet today’s needs in a way that ensure that future generations can also meet their needs.

IFPRI Participants:

• Food and Agriculture at a crossroads (February 5 — 11:50am-12:00pm)
  • Shenggen Fan, Director General, IFPRI
  • Rob Vos, Director of Markets, Trade, and Institutions Division, IFPRI