Launch of IFPRI's 2014-2015 Global Food Policy Report View this email in your browser

Dear Colleague, If we are to effectively combat hunger and malnutrition on a global scale, we cannot ignore such rising economic powerhouses as Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, and Mexico. Middle income countries are still home to nearly half of the world’s hungry people. IFPRI’s 2014–2015 Global Food Policy Report calls on global institutions, the private sector, and citizens of middle income countries to reshape these countries’ food systems to focus on nutrition and health, close the gender gap in agriculture, and improve rural infrastructure—particularly sanitation—in order to ensure food security for all. By addressing hunger and malnutrition within their own borders, these countries can not only significantly improve global food and nutrition security but also serve as models for low income countries. The Report also examines other major food policy issues, developments, and decisions in 2014 and draws the following key findings:  Improved sanitation can be critical to shaping key nutrition outcomes, especially for children; Supporting the world’s 1.5 billion small farmers to move up to higher-value agriculture or move out of agriculture is critical; Social protection and the reduction of vulnerability are back on the development agenda, as shocks continue to challenge developing countries; A series of high-profile food-related scares has drawn attention to the issue of food safety and other health risks associated with agriculture; Conflicts continue to threaten the livelihoods and nutrition security of producers and consumers in many regions; and Demand for fish is rapidly growing due to higher incomes and increased attention to nutrition. The Report will be launched Wednesday, March 18 at 4:30 p.m. at an event at IFPRI; we hope that you will join us for the launch, whether in person or virtually. Download the full Report or the first chapter. If you would like hard copies of either publication, please send your mailing address to Michael Go. An embeddable GFPR widget utilizing data from the Report is available here. I hope that you find the Report of interest and value in your work. Your comments and suggestions are most welcome. Best regards, Shenggen Fan Director General International Food Policy Research Institute