To accelerate progress to end hunger and undernutrition around the world, the News in Brief informs partners on emerging research and innovation, developments in global, regional, and national policies and programs, and timely news and events. Please feel free to share any feedback at IFPRI-Compact2025@cgiar.org. Find the latest developments in Compact2025 here.
Pakistan launches nutrition strategy
On May 16, Pakistan’s Ministry of Planning Development and Reform—with the support of the World Food Programme—launched its Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Strategy. It will address and guide the country’s efforts to increase coverage and scale up of equitable and high-quality nutrition services from 2018 to 2025.
Calling on nutrition scientists for food system transformation
Increasing access to healthy diets through transformation of food systems is essential to solve global problems related to poor quality diets, hunger, and rising threats of overweight and obesity. An Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism article summarizes the main messages of the closing lecture of the 21st International Congress of Nutrition and its call for nutrition scientists to contribute to this effort.
Reducing the risks of food crises
Improved management of natural and man-made shocks in the short-term, and greater investments in political, social and economic underpinnings of societies in the longer term can reduce risks of food crises. This would lower food assistance expenditures significantly, finds the new World Food Programme report “Preventing Food Crises.”
A new FAO report warns of soil pollution and its consequences on agricultural productivity, food safety, and human health.
Remembering Dr. Chen Chunming’s legacy
IFPRI mourns the passing of prestigious nutritionist Dr. Chen Chunming, whose research and advocacy on nutrition and public health revolutionized preventative healthcare in China. Dr. Chen was a laureate of the Forman Memorial Lecture at IFPRI, an annual lecture on major issues in nutrition from the top thinkers in the field.
WHO calls on governments to eliminate trans-fats from global food chain
The World Health Organization released guidelines calling on all governments to eliminate industrially-produced trans-fatty acids—which extend food shelf life but also lead to over 500,000 deaths annually from cardiovascular and heart disease—from the food supply. This WHO effort contributes to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal of reducing premature death from noncommunicable diseases by a third.
Malnutrition and the microbiome
Malnutrition Deeply explores the evidence and knowledge gaps in understanding the link between malnutrition and the microbiome—the trillions of bacteria and viruses that live in the human body.
SUN with Nutrition Hub at World Health Assembly
During the 71st World Health Assembly, May 21–25, in Geneva, the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement Secretariat will host a SUN Nutrition Hub for country representatives and other key stakeholders to discuss how to increase impact for improved nutrition in countries.
