banner
patrickwebb.bsky.social
Patrick Webb
@patrickwebb.bsky.social
400 followers 140 following 70 posts
Professor at Tufts University, but all posts and views are my own. Food policy, nutrition, humanitarian action, international development, economics, public health, science.
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
patrickwebb.bsky.social
Patrick Webb @patrickwebb.bsky.social · Aug 25
Today's mid-August harvest. 🤗
patrickwebb.bsky.social
Patrick Webb @patrickwebb.bsky.social · Aug 23
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Madeline Horwath on how to block out bad news – cartoon
State of the world too much to bear? Don’t worry, a distraction is always at hand
www.theguardian.com
patrickwebb.bsky.social
Patrick Webb @patrickwebb.bsky.social · Aug 20
Come on, Oasis fans!
1 1
patrickwebb.bsky.social
Patrick Webb @patrickwebb.bsky.social · Aug 19
What's the story...?
1 1
patrickwebb.bsky.social
Patrick Webb @patrickwebb.bsky.social · Aug 18
Basketflowers. They close up at night, only to unfold the next morning. Delicate, despite their prickly looks.
1
patrickwebb.bsky.social
Patrick Webb @patrickwebb.bsky.social · Aug 18
My helianthus (perennial sunflower) and amaranth are luxuriating in this August's New England heat. And the pollinators too.
1
patrickwebb.bsky.social
Patrick Webb @patrickwebb.bsky.social · Aug 15
Useful transparency on gaps left despite WHO's updated 2023 guidence on management of child wasting. A lack of evidence on the effectiveness of prevention interventions still hinders appropriate action.

Free access: gh.bmj.com/content/10/S...
Prevention of wasting and nutritional oedema: evidence gaps identified during WHO guideline development
Globally, an estimated 42.8 million children (6.6% prevalence) worldwide suffered from wasting at any given time in 2024, with severe cases accounting for 20% of deaths among children under 5 years ol...
gh.bmj.com
1
patrickwebb.bsky.social
Patrick Webb @patrickwebb.bsky.social · Aug 12
Our CRT in Uganda tested ways to improve water and food safety. One arm nudged the adoption of new technologies, and it significantly reduced water E.coli. But not sustained, and no shift in mycotoxins. We need demand for a 'clean food environment' to support nutrition.
doi.org/10.4269/ajtm...
www.ajtmh.org
1
patrickwebb.bsky.social
Patrick Webb @patrickwebb.bsky.social · Aug 12
Ironic that our paper on supply chain optimization to enhance cost-effectiveness of USAID's food aid operations gets published...after the demise of USAID. 🙁

But if anyone in State Department now in charge of crisis response wants to know more, reach out.

pubsonline.informs.org/doi/abs/10.1...
Enhancing Cost-Efficiency and Effectiveness in USAID’s Food Aid Supply Chain Operations in Ethiopia | INFORMS Journal on Applied Analytics
pubsonline.informs.org
1
patrickwebb.bsky.social
Patrick Webb @patrickwebb.bsky.social · Aug 12
As consumers and policymakers worry about the cost of healthy diets, we analyze market prices in Bihar to optimize diets for children and families. Government analysts considering subsidies or taxes on key foods should use such tools to determine cost-effective outcomes and tradeoffs.
Optimization Tools for Meeting Nutrient Requirements of Indian Children and Adults at Optimal Cost | Public Health Nutrition | Cambridge Core
Optimization Tools for Meeting Nutrient Requirements of Indian Children and Adults at Optimal Cost
www.cambridge.org
patrickwebb.bsky.social
Patrick Webb @patrickwebb.bsky.social · Jul 27
I didn't expect this when I went to get my ladder! But life always finds a way...
1
patrickwebb.bsky.social
Patrick Webb @patrickwebb.bsky.social · Jul 12
Here's my version. Stunning colour combo.
1 3
patrickwebb.bsky.social
Patrick Webb @patrickwebb.bsky.social · Jul 2
Welcome back FEWS NET. The latest update on global food insecurity makes for hard reading, as usual: fews.net/global/speci.... Up to 45% shortfall in rain from long term trends in pastoral zones of Ethiopia and Sudan. Likely flooding in Kenya. But humanitarian aid cut like never before....
3 7
patrickwebb.bsky.social
Patrick Webb @patrickwebb.bsky.social · Jul 2
With 2.3 billion people moderately or severely food insecure in 2023, resources to #finance improved #food security and #nutrition are seriously constrained. This paper reviews financial flows in the conext of estimates for the cost of ending #hunger.

www.fao.org/cfs/cfs-hlpe...
Strengthening responsible investments and financing for food security and nutrition
Background note for the Committee on World Food Security’s High-Level Forum, October 2025, Rome, Italy
www.fao.org
1 2
patrickwebb.bsky.social
Patrick Webb @patrickwebb.bsky.social · Jun 13
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Malnutrition in Kenya's Kakuma refugee camp after US aid cuts
A UN official warns that hundreds of thousands in the sprawling camp are "slowly starving".
www.bbc.com
patrickwebb.bsky.social
Patrick Webb @patrickwebb.bsky.social · May 1
Interesting new paper from #GLOPAN on Emerging EU policy impacts on African food systems:
www.glopan.org/new-technica...
New technical paper – Emerging EU policy impacts on African food systems – Global Panel
The Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition has published a new technical paper by Koen Dekeyser from the European Centre for Development Pol
www.glopan.org
1 1
patrickwebb.bsky.social
Patrick Webb @patrickwebb.bsky.social · Apr 24
Our new paper shows how critical it is to use reliable data to achieve effective targeting and use of development resources: doi.org/10.1038/s414....

Sadly, the source of these data was terminated a few weeks ago. Draw your own conclusions...
3 4
Reposted by Patrick Webb
afinaret.bsky.social
Amelia B. Finaret @afinaret.bsky.social · Apr 22
So excited to see our article in @natcomms.nature.com, led by Valentin Seidler & w/ Edson Utazi, @sluckene.bsky.social , Gregor Zens, Maksym Bodarenko, Abigail Smith (@alleghenycollege.bsky.social alum!), Sarah Bradley, Andy Tatem, and @patrickwebb.bsky.social.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Subnational variations in the quality of household survey data in sub-Saharan Africa - Nature Communications
Household survey data is vital to health and development. The study describes and maps data quality in 35 African countries, finding that data quality varies and worsens with distance from towns, indi...
www.nature.com
1 3 8
Reposted by Patrick Webb
hlpe-fsn.bsky.social
High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition @hlpe-fsn.bsky.social · Apr 8
During the Steering Committee meeting, HLPE-FSN experts visited the UM6P impressive campus & innovation spaces, discussing applied research to support resilient food systems with students, faculty members & local stakeholders.
@suwa-eisenmann.bsky.social @patrickwebb.bsky.social @mjamiot.bsky.social
HLPE-FSN Steering Committee members visiting UM6P innovation spaces. HLPE-FSN Steering Committee members visiting UM6P innovation spaces. Akiko Suwa-Eisenmann, Chairperson of the HLPE-FSN, and Patrick Webb. HLPE-FSN Steering Committee members visiting the UM6P PHENO-MA platform for plant phenotyping. HLPE-FSN Steering Committee meeting – Visit to UM6P innovation spaces. Marie-Josèphe Amiot-Carlin discussing plant responses to environmental conditions and crop productivity within the University’s Campus in Benguerir.
3
Reposted by Patrick Webb
hlpe-fsn.bsky.social
High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition @hlpe-fsn.bsky.social · Apr 2
🧵The HLPE-FSN expresses its sincere appreciation to CFS Chairperson Nosipho Nausca-Jean Jezile for the insightful and constructive discussion on the future of food security and nutrition, today, during the HLPE-FSN Steering Committee meeting at UM6P, in Morocco.
HLPE-FSN Steering Committee meeting the CFS Chair
1 4 1
Reposted by Patrick Webb
hlpe-fsn.bsky.social
High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition @hlpe-fsn.bsky.social · Apr 2
The HLPE-FSN is meeting at UM6P, Morocco, to advance its work on global food security.
Discussions include the upcoming report "Building resilient food systems", responsible investment, key challenges & critical issues shaping the future.

Grateful to UM6P staff for their support!
HLPE-FSN Steering Committee meeting
1 5 6
patrickwebb.bsky.social
Patrick Webb @patrickwebb.bsky.social · Mar 26
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Trump’s ‘climate’ purge deleted a new extreme weather risk tool. We recreated it
The Guardian has recreated a searchable climate future risk tool developed by Fema but then deleted
www.theguardian.com
1 2
patrickwebb.bsky.social
Patrick Webb @patrickwebb.bsky.social · Feb 19
England suffered the largest decline in life expectancy improvement across Europe between 2011 and 2019.

Hmmm...now who was in power in England from 2011 through 2019 (and beyond)?

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Life expectancy growth stalls across Europe as England sees sharpest decline, say researchers
Poor diet, obesity and inactivity blamed on decline with Norway the only country seeing a rise
www.theguardian.com
2
patrickwebb.bsky.social
Patrick Webb @patrickwebb.bsky.social · Feb 17
And over at Wholefoods, nothing to see here...
1
patrickwebb.bsky.social
Patrick Webb @patrickwebb.bsky.social · Feb 17
And BREXIT was sold as a 'good idea'? What fools...

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...
Irish figures show €6bn drop in trade with Great Britain
Value of imports and exports is now about €32bn, with chemical sector among those hit by Brexit red tape
www.theguardian.com