Food ministry launches research programme on food security

The food ministry announced the launch of a new comprehensive food security research programme together with Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on Tuesday.

Around 150 representatives from civil society organisations and partner institutions from Bangladesh and the United States took part in the event, IFPRI said in a statement yesterday.  

The Bangladesh Integrated Food Policy Research Programme will combine policy research with capacity strengthening to tackle all four aspects of food security—availability, access, utilisation and stability—in a holistic and sustainable approach.

“Bangladesh is prone to natural disasters that can wipe out the country's supply of cereals if they are not properly stored,” said Qamrul Islam, food minister.

The programme is a part of the food ministry's Modern Food Storage Facilities Project financed by the World Bank.