Retail food prices at the country level and implications for food security

29 March 2022. Retail food prices at the country level and implications for food security. by IFPRI

This policy seminar explored what we know—and do not know—about how high global agricultural commodity prices and country-specific factors affect retail prices at the national level. Special attention was given to countries suffering from acute food insecurity and those with a high dependence on imports.

As the second event in IFPRI’s seminar series on high food and fertilizer prices, this seminar examined how global commodity prices are transmitted at the national level and what other country-specific aspects influence retail prices. Program speakers will address key considerations for highly food-insecure and import-dependent countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean. Short presentations will focus on Rwanda, Yemen, and Ethiopia.

• Opening Remarks - Johan Swinnen, Global Director, CGIAR Systems Transformation Science Group & Director General, IFPRI (Presentation)
• How increasing food prices impact Middle East and North Africa countries - Aly Abousabaa, Regional Director, Central and West Asia and North Africa, CGIAR, Director General, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) (Presentation)
• How global agricultural commodity prices impact national food retail prices - Rob Vos, Division Director, Markets, Trade and Institutions, IFPRI (Presentation)
• A Special Look at Rwanda - Jean Chrysostome Ngabitsinze, Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture and Animal resources, Republic of Rwanda (Presentation)

Rapid Fire Presentations

• On Ethiopia: Zerihun Getachew Kelbore, Economist, Macroeconomics Trade and Investment Global Practice, World Bank (Presentation)
• On Yemen: Sikandra Kurdi, Research Fellow, IFPRI (Presentation)
• On Myanmar: Bart Minten, Senior Research Fellow/ Program Leader of the Myanmar Strategy Support, IFPRI (Presentation)
• On Latin America and the Caribbean region: Valeria Piñeiro, Senior Research Coordinator, IFPRI (Presentation)
• Moderator - Charlotte Hebebrand, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, IFPRI