Dr Shenggen Fan, director general of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), has become the newest member of the Advisory Council of the Oxford Martin School.

Dr Fan is a world-renowned researcher in the fields of agricultural economics and public policy focusing on the roles of public and private investment in the fight against chronic hunger and poverty. Among many roles and accolades, he advises a number of national governments including China, Vietnam, and Africa on agriculture, food security and nutrition. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the International Association of Agricultural Economists and in 2014 received the Hunger Hero Award from the World Food Programme in recognition of his commitment to and leadership in fighting hunger worldwide.

Having previously spoken on "Innovating food systems to respond to rapid global changes" as part of our series of public lectures, Dr Fan will now provide and support the strategic decision-making of the school as part of the Advisory Council. His expertise will boost the agricultural and food system knowledge of the Advisory Council as sustainability, changing food systems and global nutrition come under an increasing global spotlight.

• View the video of Dr Fan’s 2018 lecture here