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Publications
Food security impact of agricultural technology adoption under climate change – Micro-evidence from Niger
12/2014
We assess farmers' incentives and the conditioning factors that hinder or promote adoption of agricultural technologies under climate risk and evaluate its impact on food security in Niger.
Identifying the family farm – An informal discussion of the concepts and definitions
12/2014
The definition of family farm varies across countries and contexts. We reviewed 36 definitions and uses of the term “family farm” by academics, government and civil society organisations that describe the characteristics that make family farms unique.
The challenges of managing agricultural price and production risks in sub-Saharan Africa
06/2014
Agricultural production is prone to several risks which affect both producers and consumers. In order to enhance investment and achieve a sustained increase in production, coherent and integrated long-term strategies and policies are required to reduce risk aversion and build resilience among African rural producers.
Climate variability, adaptation strategies and food security in Malawi
06/2014
This paper assesses farmers’ incentives and conditioning factors that hinder or promote adaptation strategies and evaluates its impact on crop productivity by utilizing household level data collected in 2011 from nationally representative sample households in Malawi.
Testing for bubbles in agricultural commodity markets
06/2014
At the heart of this debate lies the question of whether food price spikes are generated by the forces of demand and supply, or by speculation. We test for ‘bubble’ behaviour – movements in the prices that cannot be explained by market fundamentals – by applying the generalized version of the supremum Augmented Dickey-Fuller to several food price indices and 28 agricultural commodity prices.
Contributing to the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition – Lessons from Bangladesh
06/2014
This paper assesses Bangladesh’s progress towards eradicating hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition, and how the National Food Policy Capacity Strengthening Programme (NFPCSP) implemented by FAO and the Government of Bangladesh contributed to this progress.
What do we really know about the number and distribution of farms and family farms in the world? Background paper for The State of Food and Agriculture 2014
04/2014
The agricultural economics literature provides various estimates of the number of farms and small farms in the world. This paper is an effort to provide a more complete and up to date as well as carefully documented estimate of the total number of farms in the world, as well as by region and level of income.
Nonlinear cointegration in the food-ethanol-oil system – Evidence from smooth threshold vector error correction models
03/2014
We examine the nature of relationship between prices of crude oil, ethanol and grains (maize, wheat and rice). Our working hypothesis is that profit maximization, the US biofuel policies and automotive engine technology give rise to a nonlinear relationship between oil and ethanol prices, and by extension between oil and grains prices.
Climate-Smart Agriculture? A review of current practice of agroforestry and conservation agriculture in Malawi and Zambia
11/2013
Agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa must undergo significant productivity improvements to meet the combined challenges of population growth and climate change.
Food system strategies for preventing micronutrient malnutrition
08/2013
Micronutrients are defined as substances in foods that are essential for human health and are required in small amounts. They include all of the known vitamins and essential trace minerals. Micronutrient malnutrition affects a third to a half of the global population.
Food value chain transformations in developing countries - Selected hypotheses on nutritional implications
08/2013
We examine how the transformation of food value chains (FVCs) influence the triple malnutrition burden (undernourishment, micronutrient deficiencies and over-nutrition) in developing countries.
The economics and nutritional impacts of food assistance policies and programs
08/2013
Recent evidence on malnutrition and poverty raise important questions on the role of food assistance policies and programs. In this review article, we examine evidence on the economic and nutritional...
Geographic determinants of rice self-sufficiency in Southeast Asia
08/2013
Rice self-sufficiency is a key objective of most Asian governments, yet attaining that objective has been elusive for several countries over extended periods of time; long-term status as an exporter or importer is relatively constant, and is altered only by revolutionary events (i.e., major changes in policy or technologies).
Post-Green Revolution food systems and the triple burden of malnutrition
08/2013
Developing country food systems have changed dramatically since the Green Revolution period. At the same time, malnutrition still represents a challenge and is now understood to encompass the three simultaneous dimensions of undernourishment, micronutrient deficiencies, and over-nutrition manifest in overweight and obesity.
Adoption and intensity of adoption of conservation farming practices in Zambia
04/2013
This paper analyses the determinants of farmer adoption of conservation farming practices using panel data from two rounds of the Rural Incomes and Livelihoods Surveys that were implemented in 2004 and 2008.
Who invests in agriculture and how much? An empirical review of the relative size of various investments in agriculture in low- and middle-income countries
12/2012
Investment in agriculture is widely recognized as crucial for economic growth, poverty reduction and improved food and nutrition security.
Intra-industry trade in biofuels – How environmental legislation fuels resource use and GHG emissions
12/2012
We have seen significant volumes of intra-industry trade in ethanol between the United States of America and Brazil. A trend which started in 2010 and accelerated in the second half of 2011 with large quantities of ethanol crossing paths in trade between the two countries.
The impacts of public investment in and for agriculture – Synthesis of the existing evidence
10/2012
In light of a reinvigorated policy orientation toward agriculture in developing countries following recent dramatic developments affecting food prices and agricultural land use, public resource allocation decision-makers ought to have...
What determines public expenditure allocations? A review of theories and implications for agricultural public investment
10/2012
This paper addresses the determinants of public expenditure policies, by reviewing theories and empirical investigations of what features explain the budget process and how the various attributes of actors—including politicians,...
Stabilizing price incentives for staple grain producers in the context of broader agricultural policies – Debates and country experiences
09/2012
Price uncertainty is a major constraint to a sustained increase in staple food production. This paper reviews the trends and patterns of addressing this age-old problem over the course of the past several decades.