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Spatial dynamics across food systems transformation in IFAD investments: a machine learning approach

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  • Alessandra Garbero

    (Near East, North Africa, and Europe Division, Programme Management Department, International Fund for Agricultural Development)

  • Giuliano Resce

    (University of Molise)

  • Bia Carneiro

    (University of Coimbra)

Abstract

The food systems approach has gained renewed prominence in recent years, due to its role towards gaining an understanding of food insecurity and malnutrition. A “food systems” lens has therefore become essential to better design development interventions and innovations that can positively impact food systems outcomes. This study provides evidence on the dynamics across food system dimensions within development projects supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). A custom taxonomy was developed and machine learning techniques primarily focused on supervised text mining, network analysis and LASSO regression were applied to IFAD project documentation to extract analytics about food systems’ spatial and temporal thematic representation over 40 years of project implementation. The paper thus provides insights about the dynamics as well as transformations of food systems within IFAD’s stated activities, providing a historical overview of how the Fund has tackled food systems over four decades of project life cycles. Findings show an overall increase in reporting against food system dimensions and consolidate the applicability of machine learning analytics to uncover trends about international agencies’ activities and accelerate knowledge generation around strategic themes.

Suggested Citation

  • Alessandra Garbero & Giuliano Resce & Bia Carneiro, 2021. "Spatial dynamics across food systems transformation in IFAD investments: a machine learning approach," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 13(5), pages 1125-1143, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:13:y:2021:i:5:d:10.1007_s12571-021-01190-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s12571-021-01190-8
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    Cited by:

    1. Just Dengerink & Florentine Dirks & Eunice Likoko & Joost Guijt, 2021. "One size doesn’t fit all: regional differences in priorities for food system transformation," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 13(6), pages 1455-1466, December.
    2. Similoluwa Felicia Olowo & Abiodun Olusola Omotayo & Ibraheem Oduola Lawal & Adeyemi Oladapo Aremu, 2022. "Improving Rural Livelihood through the Cultivation of Indigenous Fruits and Vegetables: Evidence from Ondo State, Nigeria," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-20, March.
    3. Fabi, Carola & Gerits, Hannah & Ospina, Christian A. Mongeau & Cullen, Maximo Torero, 2022. "Food System Summit Country Transformation Pathways: What we learned and what is next?," 2022 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Anaheim, California 322752, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    4. Ruerd Ruben & Romina Cavatassi & Leslie Lipper & Eric Smaling & Paul Winters, 2021. "Towards food systems transformation—five paradigm shifts for healthy, inclusive and sustainable food systems," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 13(6), pages 1423-1430, December.

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