FAO Podcasts

In Montenegro, smallholder farmers rely heavily on traditional agriculture practices for their livelihoods. So much so, that a poor blueberry harvest or honey season can have devastating impacts on rural households. That’s why the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)are rolling out a project there that links rural farming households with agritourism. The project aims to diversify the incomes of farmers in small villages across the region as well as promote Montenegrin cuisine and preserve traditional food production practices. And it’s having all kinds of positive impacts, particularly on young people, as FAO’s Charlotta Lomas has been finding out.

The agriculture sector is a major contributor to global warming. If the world is to keep to 1.5°C warming targets by the end of the century, reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the agriculture sector is key. As world leaders convene in Madrid this week for the United Nations climate summit, COP25, Alex Jones, director of the Climate and Environment Division at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), says agriculture is firmly on the climate agenda.

Editor/Producer: Charlotta Lomas

The state of world’s ocean is in decline. From overfishing and pollution to climate change, the threats to ocean health are many and varied. That’s why the UN Secretary General created a Special Envoy for the Ocean. Listen to the full interview with Ambassador Peter Thomson.

Host/Producer: Charlotta Lomas, FAO.

Sound: Eric Deleu, FAO.

Photo: ©FAO/Kurt Arrigo.

La Guajira, Colombia’s northernmost region, is dry with desert landscapes. It’s prone to drought and food insecurity particularly in rural areas. In recent years, the economic crisis in neighboring Venezuela has pushed over a million migrants across the border, including 165,000 people into La Guajira. The influx of migrants has put a strain on host communities, where food is limited and natural resources scarce. That’s why in 2018, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)’s Early Warning Early Action team decided to act.

Producers & Presenters: Anais Hotin & Charlotta Lomas. Photo: @FAO/Justine Texier.

Every year, around one-third of all food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted. Food loss and waste has all kinds of consequences for economies, food security and the environment. A new report by the Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, explains where exactly these losses are occurring along the food chain, from farm to fork, and how countries are stepping up to tackle the problem. Andrea Cattaneo, a senior economist at FAO, outlines the report.

Interveiw: Charlotta Lomas

Young people from around the world share their concerns about their future and call for greater action on climate change.

Producer: Charlotta Lomas, FAO.

Image courtesy of the DSCOVR EPIC team.

In 2018, conflict was the major driver of food crises in 21 countries, affecting around 74 million people. Contributing to peace is therefore critical to tackling hunger. FAO experts Julius Jackson and Philip Priestley discuss the importance of conflict sensitive approaches to humanitarian work.

Interview: Charlotta Lomas, FAO

African Swine Fever is spreading fast throughout Asia and has already affected several countries. Recent data from the field reveals outbreaks in Myanmar and now also the Philippines. More than 5 million pigs in Asia have died from the disease or been culled to counter its spread. Experts fear that that number will rise and warn of increased food insecurity in the region. FAO animal health expert Juan Lubroth takes stock of the situation.

Interview: Charlotta Lomas

Celebrating women humanitarians is the theme of this year’s World Humanitarian Day (August 19), a day to honor humanitarian efforts worldwide and to rally support for people affected by crises. One country with exceptionally high humanitarian needs is the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to UN figures, this year alone 12.8 million people in DRC will need humanitarian aid as a result of protracted conflict and violence, and the risk of cholera and Ebola. In this podcast, FAO’s Silvia Risi talks about her humanitarian work in DRC and what it means to be a woman humanitarian.

Host/Producer: Charlotta Lomas

Fighting hunger and all forms of malnutrition has been the mandate of José Graziano da Silva during his eight years as FAO Director General. As the UN agency enters a new leadership phase, we sit down with Mr Graziano da Silva to reflect on his time as Director General of FAO.