Livestock Products in the Third World: past Trends and Projections

The International Food Policy Research Institute was established to identify and analyze alternative national and international strategies and policies for meeting food needs in the world, with particular emphasis on low-income countries and on the poorer groups in those countries. While the research effort is geared to the precise objective of contributing to the reduction of hunger and malnutrition, the factors involved are many and wide-ranging, requiring analysis of underlying processes and extending beyond a narrowly defined food sector. The Institute's research program reflects worldwide interaction with policymakers, administrators, and others concerned with increasing food production and with improving the equity of its distribution. Research results are published and distributed to officials and others concerned with national and international food and agricultural policy. and the Rockefeller Foundation. In addition, a number of other governments and institutions contribute funding to special research projects. IFPRI CELEBRATES 10 YEARS IFPRI was incorporated in March 1975 and by the end of that year, with a staff of four and a Board of Trustees of five, began to undertake research on issues related to food production and consumption in low-income countries. Four years later, the Institute became a member of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). Initially, IFPRI's research was heavily focused on Asia in recognition of the importance of the region's food and poverty problems and because of the wealth of data and analytical capacity that could be built on and used later. In 1984 IFPRI underwent its first five-year review by the Technical Advisory Committee to the CGIAR. The review panel stated, "In the 10 years since its foundation, IFPRI's mandate and its research have clearly evolved in response to changing needs and perceptions of the problems faced by developing countries." They are still evolving. As we look to the next decade, we see that food issues continue to loom large in Third World development. The food problems of Africa are now especially challenging, and IFPRI's experience both allows us to place these problems in a broader perspective and to facilitate developing approaches to deal with them. IFPRI celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. We look forward to our continuing evolution, enabling us to meet the challenges of the next decade. Bibliography: p. 87. 1. Meat industry and trade—Developing countries—Statistics. 2. Dairy products industry— Developing countries—Statistics. 3. Meat industry and trade—Developing countries—Fore-casting—Statistical methods. 4. Dairy products industry—Developing countries—Forecasting— Statistical methods.