Decisionmakers and policy analysts need solid evidence and timely information to develop and implement effective food policies. The 2019 Global Food Policy Report, launched on March 27, includes an entire section on food policy indicators. Indicators included were investments in agricultural research, public spending on agriculture, agricultural total factor productivity, and projections for agricultural production, food consumption, and risk of hunger to 2030 and 2050. These indicators can be helpful to gauge the impact of policy changes and the progress made on specific aspects of development. IFPRI developed these indicators, updates them regularly and makes them available in print and online in reusable file format.
Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators (ASTI)
ASTI provides open-access data and analysis on agricultural research investment and capacity in low- and middle-income countries as well as benchmarking tools that allow for tracking the performance of national agricultural R&D systems. ASTI indicators cover agricultural research spending and volatility of spending, as well as the number of researchers, Ph.D. qualified researchers, and women researchers. Data is collected through surveys on R&D investments, human capacities, and institutional structures, in cooperation with a large network of country-level collaborators. Policymakers recognize that increased investment in agricultural R&D is key to increasing agricultural productivity. Globally, investment in agricultural R&D is shifting from the developed countries to the developing countries. To download data files, click here.
Food Policy Research Capacity Indicators (FPRCI)
The FPRCI database provides measures of quality and quantity of national capacity for food policy research in 33 developing countries. Food policy research capacity is defined as any socioeconomic or policy-related research capacity in the areas of food, agriculture, or natural resources. Indicators designed to measure quality and quantity and to identify capacity gaps include the number of researchers, PhD-level researchers, and researchers per million rural residents, as well as the number of international publications and publications per researcher. International publication indicators are viewed as a reflection of the local enabling environment for food policy research. This research plays an important role in guiding agricultural development, and strong local research institutions can help in shaping an evidence-based policy-making process. To download data files, click here.
International Model for Policy Analysis of Agricultural Commodities and Trade (IMPACT)
IFPRI's IMPACT model allows policy makers, analysts, and civil society to explore future scenarios for food security—including the impact of climate change on agricultural production and hunger—through an integrated system of linked economic, climate, water, and crop models. Projections reported here by region and country include aggregate food production, per capita food consumption, and numbers at risk of hunger, all in “with” and “without” climate change scenarios, as well as detailed breakdowns for major crops. To download data files, click here.
Statistics on Public Expenditures for Economic Development (SPEED)
SPEED tracks public expenditures in agriculture and other sectors by national governments across 147 countries. Expenditure indicators can help governments better align their resource allocations with policy objectives, needs, and priorities. Indicators include total agricultural expenditure by country, agricultural spending per capita, and the ratio of agricultural spending to agricultural GDP. Data are compiled from international organizations and national governments, with adjustments to ensure consistent spending measurements over time. To download data files, click here.
Agricultural Total Factor Productivity (TFP)
Total factor productivity (TFP) provides a measure of the efficiency of agricultural production, allowing for comparisons across time and across countries. This measure can help policymakers identify policies and investments to improve productivity. Increasing the efficiency of agricultural production—getting more output from the same amount of resources—is critical for improving food security. TFP is an indicator of how efficiently agricultural land, labor, capital, and materials (agricultural inputs) are used to produce a country’s crops and livestock (agricultural outputs). Data reported here also include partial factor productivity—measures of land and labor productivity. To download data files, click here.