MAFAP introduces Policy Optimization Tool at FOLUR wheat and maize dialogue in Istanbul

The Monitoring and Analysing Food and Agricultural Policies (MAFAP) programme presented its Policy Optimization Tool (PolOpT) at the Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration (FOLUR) Impact Program regional dialogue, Sustainable Maize and Wheat: Scaling Innovations for Resilience, held in Türkiye, from 20 to 23 January 2025. FOLUR is an initiative supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) that seeks to transform the global food system by promoting sustainable, integrated landscapes and efficient commodity value chains. 

The MAFAP programme's involvement aligns with the dialogue’s objectives to showcase innovations that have an impact at country level. The MAFAP team has so far ran the PolOpT and tested it with data for 6 sub-Saharan Africa countries. The goal of this economy-wide, multi-sector modelling tool, developed by economists and modellers at FAO, is to show governments how to spend their current public budget on food and agriculture in an optimal way, while bringing across-the-board benefits in terms of agrifood GDP growth, more off-farm jobs, lifting people out of poverty, and allowing more people to afford a healthy diet.

PolOpT also shows governments which key country commodities can have the biggest impact on agricultural transformation. In preparation to support the Food Systems Integrated Programme (FSIP) that will also be supported by the GEF, the tool is being expanded to also include among the benefits of policy optimization, climate mitigation and forestry and biodiversity protection.

About FOLUR

FOLUR, supported by the GEF, is a $345 million initiative targeting sustainable commodity value chains for eight key products: beef, cocoa, corn, coffee, palm oil, rice, soy, and wheat. Core partners include FAO, the Food and Land Use Coalition, Global Landscapes Forum, and the International Finance Corporation.