G/AG/GEN/ 140/Rev.1  
 
24 May 2017 
(17-2823) Page: 1/1 
Committee on Agriculture  Original: English  
 
REQUEST FOR AD HOC OBSE RVER STATUS  
BY THE INTERNATIONAL  FOOD POLICY RESEARCH  INSTITUTE  
IN THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE  
Revision  
1.1.  IFPRI , as a member of the CGIAR consortium, is an international organization  (IGO) that 
envisions a world  without  hunger and mal nutrition.  To achieve this goal, IFPRI provides  
research -based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in 
developing countries . 
1.2.  IFPRI focuses on six strategic areas to fulfill its mission:  
 ensuring sustainable food pr oduction ; 
 promoting healthy food systems ; 
 improving markets and trade ; 
 transforming agriculture ; 
 building resilience ; and  
 strengthening  institutions and governance.  
Research on gender cuts across all six areas, because understanding the relationships betw een 
women and men can illuminate the pathway to sustainable and inclusive economic development.   
1.3.  In light of u nprecedented challenges in a rapidly changing global food policy landscape , 
IFPRI  devises  innovative approaches to research and methodology, data collection, survey 
creation, and policy recommendations. IFPRI research  on the causes and impacts of  challenges 
faced by  developing countries  (e.g., trade, urbanization, food-price volatil ity, food security, 
energy, water, and climate change ) informs polic y makers  and decision mak ers across the world .  
1.4.  Trade, investment, and improving public -private partnerships ar e significant areas of study 
at IFPRI. The Institute’s  Markets, Trade, and Institutions Division , in particular,  focuses on issues 
such as reform ing trade policy to remove barriers to trade and minimize the negative impact of 
market shocks on countries with vulnerable growing economies . IFPRI also provides  policy makers 
and investors with trusted open -source data  on private -sector opportunities and  growth and 
development trends in agricultur e in all parts of the world .  
1.5.  IFPRI collaborates with  governments , agencies, other I GOs, and NGOs globally . With offices 
in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, IFPRI  can respond immediately  to food -related  crises.  The 
Institute has strong  relationships with  UN agencies such as FAO and IFAD as well as with bilateral 
aid agencies such as USAID  or academic institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Agricultural 
Sciences . Through these partnerships and the research an d capacity building that IFPRI provides, 
the Institute has helped to improve policy design at the local, regional and national levels in a 
number of  countries while providing public goods supporting trade negotiations.  
1.6.  For these reasons, and with the aim o f strengthening ties and technical cooperation with the 
WTO in the areas of trade negotiations, agriculture, investment, supporting an inclusive and 
sustainable globalization process and fostering growth in developing countries, IFPRI hereby  
request s that the Committee on Agriculture  consider granting IFPRI  ad hoc observer status in the 
regular meetings of the Committee on Agriculture.  
 
 
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