2014–2015 Global Food Policy Report

This IFPRI report, published in March 2015, is the fourth in an annual series that provides a comprehensive overview of major food policy developments and events. The year 2014 was marked by advances and setbacks in agriculture, food security, and nutrition. World food prices fell to their lowest level since 2010. Nutrition remained prominent: the Second International Conference on Nutrition in Rome proposed actions to end malnutrition; membership in the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) movement expanded; and new research highlighted the importance of factors such as water and sanitation and the role of women in battling malnutrition. Debate began on the draft post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals. At the same time, 2014 also offered a reminder of the world’s continued vulnerability to shocks and risks. The largest-ever outbreak of Ebola in West Africa infected more than 20,000 and killed over 8,000 people. As a result, hundreds of thousands have suffered and will continue to suffer from hunger and malnutrition due to disruptions in food production, marketing, and trade.