Thursday, March 26, 2026 | 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM ET
AEI, Auditorium | 1789 Massachusetts Ave. NW | Washington, DC 20036
Event Summary
On March 26, AEI’s Vincent H. Smith convened a panel discussion on how to tackle global food insecurity in the 21st century.
Dr. Smith articulated the challenges involved in alleviating world hunger and malnutrition, including declining research and development (R&D) investments and concerns that global agricultural productivity growth may fall behind population growth. Cornell University’s Christopher B. Barrett spoke about the importance of funding agricultural development in regions like Africa, investing in youth, and leveraging the private sector. University of Minnesota’s Philip Pardey presented data on agricultural output. Global agri-food R&D investments are faltering, and productivity headwinds make revitalizing investment even more urgent. Next, the Food Security Leadership Council’s Anna Nelson stressed the agricultural sector’s significance in reducing poverty and argued that the US can again drive sustainable productivity growth. The International Food Policy Research Institute’s Ruth Vargas Hill showed how, despite the decline in global food insecurity, progress has plateaued in the past few years, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Technology and trade have been pivotal drivers of progress; doubling down on these could help right the ship.
Afterward, panelists discussed CGIAR’s role in spurring innovation, policy options for food-insecure, developing countries, and more.
The event concluded with a Q&A.
—Shantanu Kamat
Event Description
By slashing the US Agency for International Development and international emergency food aid, the second Trump administration has raised questions about America’s commitment to alleviating hunger and malnutrition in the developing world. However, the challenge of feeding the world is long-standing and will persist for decades to come.
Please join AEI’s Vincent H. Smith and a group of distinguished guests as they discuss how to feed the world in the 21st century and how the United States and other rich countries can most effectively combat global food insecurity. Panelists will speak about agricultural productivity, investments in public research, emergency food aid and long-term development aid, and the humanitarian and foreign relations implications.
