Bridging Research and Policy in Global Nutrition | Purnima Menon, PhD

How do we turn cutting-edge nutrition research into policies that improve people's lives? In this episode of The Ty Beal Show, Purnima Menon, PhD, Senior Director of Food and Nutrition Policy at IFPRI, shares her journey from reading recipe books as a child to becoming a world leader in advancing global nutrition at the intersection of science and policy.

Purnima explains why understanding people—their constraints, motivations, and contexts—is essential to creating meaningful change in food systems. We discuss the challenges of siloed thinking in nutrition, the complexities of sustainable diets, and what it takes to bridge the gap between evidence and action. Purnima brings a deeply human-centered perspective to some of the most pressing questions in food systems transformation.

Highlights from the episode include:

• Why understanding people is central to all nutrition change—whether in behavior, programs, or policy
• The biggest challenges facing global nutrition today and why we need to move beyond siloed solutions
• How dietary choices are shaped by structural constraints at the intersection of water, energy, food, and gender
• What it takes to bridge research and policy—and why both matter
• The role of policy incentives and political economy in transforming food systems

Dr. Menon brings decades of experience working with influential researchers and policymakers around the world, offering a nuanced perspective that connects evidence to real-world impact. Her work reminds us that privilege comes with responsibility—and that meaningful change requires joining the dots between science, people, and policy.

Find Dr. Purnima Menon at IFPRI and connect with her on X and LinkedIn.

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