FAO Podcasts

In this episode of The Work We Do, we are joined by Kaveh Zahedi, Assistant Director-General and Director of the Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment at FAO. Kaveh discusses the central role of agriculture as part of the solution to climate change and biodiversity loss, and the challenges that El Niño and extreme heat pose to farmers and agrifood systems around the world. He also explores how countries can prepare for these growing pressures and build more resilient agrifood systems.

Kaveh also shares his own journey, from encountering environmental economics during his studies to a career at the United Nations, shaped by the connections between people, the economy and the environment.

Extreme Heat and Agriculture Report https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cd9394en

00:00 Agrifood systems, climate and biodiversity

05:00 Agrifood systems solutions

08:30 The climate finance gap

12:11 Carbon markets and climate finance

16:22 Investing in adaptation

19:40 Extreme heat and agriculture

22:49 Protecting farming communities

24:08 El Niño

27:37 The year of the triple COPs

34:22 The Paris Agreement and 1.5°C

36:18 Kaveh's journey

Hosted by Katrin Park

Produced by Eduardo De La Chica

In this episode, we speak with Corinna Hawkes, Director of Agrifood Systems and Food Safety Division. Corinna explains what it means to transform agrifood systems through a systems approach and why change requires looking beyond individual problems and solutions to the relationships, incentives, and power dynamics that shape our agrifood systems. She draws on examples from Brazil, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and New York City to show how evidence, governance, collaboration, and long-term thinking can help turn tradeoffs into wider benefits.

Hosted by Katrin Park Produced by Eduardo De La Chica

00:43 What does transforming agrifood systems mean?

03:07 What is a "systems" approach?

03:59 Systems approach v. coordination

07:14 Marketing unhealthy foods to children

10:00 Compromises and aligning incentives

12:13 Navigating powerful interests

15:12 Short election cycles and long-term commitments

21:23 Monitoring transformation

24:32 Systems approach in Sierra Leone

27:05 Co-creating solutions in Tanzania

28:14 Public procurement in New York City

29:33 Corinna's journey

Transcript: https://www.fao.org/media/docs/aboutfaolibraries/transcripts/transcript_corinna-hawkes_260831.pdf

La innovación transforma vidas. Significa crear nuevas soluciones y compartir las que ya funcionan. Cuando el conocimiento y las soluciones llegan a quienes más las necesitan, las comunidades prosperan. Innovar hoy para nutrir mañana. Para más información visita www.fao.org/wfd

Инновации меняют жизнь. Это новые решения и распространение проверенных практик. Когда знания и проверенные решения доходят до людей, которые больше всего в них нуждаются, сообщества процветают. Внедряйте инновации уже сегодня. Чтобы прокормить мир завтра. Подробнее читайте на сайте www.fao.org/wfd

L'innovazione trasforma la vita. Significa creare nuove soluzioni e condividere quelle che funzionano. Quando sapere e soluzioni efficaci raggiungono chi ne ha più bisogno, le comunità possono crescere e prosperare. Innova oggi. Nutri il domani. Scopri di più su www.fao.org/wfd

L'innovation change les vies. C'est créer de nouvelles solutions et partager celles qui ont fait leurs preuves. Quand les connaissances et solutions efficaces parviennent à ceux qui en ont le plus besoin, les communautés prospèrent. Pour en savoir plus visitez www.fao.org/wfd

Innovation changes lives. It means creating new solutions and sharing proven ones. When knowledge and proven solutions reach the people who need them most, communities thrive. Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow. Visit www.fao.org/wfd to learn more.

创新，改变生活。它意味着探索新的解决方案，也意味着分享经过实践检验的经验。当知识和行之有效的解决方案惠及最需要的人群，社区方能焕发活力。创新当下 粮安未来 访问 www.fao.org/wfd，了解更多。

الابتكار يُحدث تحولًا في حياة الناس. ويعني ذلك ابتكار حلول جديدة وتبادل تلك التي أثبتت فعاليتها. عندما تصل المعارف والحلول المُجرَّبة إلى الأشخاص الأكثر احتياجًا إليها، تزدهر المجتمعات. ابتكار اليوم. غذاء الغد لمعرفة المزيد، يُرجى زيارة www.fao.org/wfd

In this special episode, Chief Economist Maximo Torero and David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics and Policy Division, unpack the key findings of The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2026.

Global hunger has declined for the third consecutive year, but progress remains uneven across regions and is fragile. Meanwhile, a healthy diet is 25% more expensive than it was five years ago, and one third of the world's population cannot afford it.

The episode examines the structural factors driving the cost of healthy diets in different regions and how compound risks can affect their cost. It discusses how social protection, including school feeding programs, and investments in agrifood systems and trade can help make nutritious foods more accessible for everyone.

SOFI 2026: Understanding and Addressing the High Cost of a Healthy Diet

Transcript: https://www.fao.org/media/docs/aboutfaolibraries/transcripts/sofi-2026-transcript_260721.pdf

00:00 Intro

01:05 Key statistics

03:15 The cost of healthy diets

06:45 Regional differences

09:10 The role of trade and region-specific interventions

11:05 Quinoa example

12:16 Africa's progress and challenges

20:22 Compound risks and building resilience