Future Fork with Paul Newnham

Ambassador Ertharin Cousin is the Founder and CEO of Food Systems for the Future Institute (FSF) and the former Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme. FSF aims to ensure every family in every country has access to affordable, diverse, nutritious food.

In this episode, Ambassador Cousin shares the challenges of leading the UN World Food Programme, her insights from inside the UN, and the impact of financial resources on improving food security. She emphasises the importance of innovative food systems to ensure worldwide access to nutritious food and how FSF is leading the charge on these changes.

Resources and links:

• Food Systems for the Future website

• UN World Food Programme website

Connect:

• Future Fork podcast website

• Paul Newnham on Instagram

• Paul Newnham on X

• Paul Newnham on LinkedIn

• Disruptive Consulting Solutions website

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub website

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub on X

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub on Facebook

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub on LinkedIn

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

Dr Meera Shekar is the Global Lead for Health, Nutrition and Population at the World Bank. Meera is the former Chair of the SUN Executive Committee, a key figure in shaping the movement, and a prominent voice in the fight for global food security.

In this episode, Meera discusses global nutrition challenges and the World Bank’s updated Investment Framework for Nutrition. She provides insight into the scope of malnutrition worldwide and the importance of policy interventions in managing malnutrition.

Resources and links:

• World Bank website

• Dr. Meera Shekar on X

Connect:

• Future Fork podcast website

• Paul Newnham on Instagram

• Paul Newnham on X

• Paul Newnham on LinkedIn

• Disruptive Consulting Solutions website

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub website

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub on X

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub on Facebook

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub on LinkedIn

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

Renato Godhinho is the Special Advisor for International Affairs at MDS - Brazil and Co-Chair of the G20 Task Force for the Establishment of a Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. 

In this episode, Renato shares his career journey from journalist to diplomat and Brazil's role in global food security initiatives. He discusses the aims of the Global Alliance and how the task force keeps hunger and poverty high on the political agenda.

Resources and links:

• Renato Domith Godhino on LinkedIn

• Renato Domith Godhino on X

Connect:

• Future Fork podcast website

• Paul Newnham on Instagram

• Paul Newnham on X

• Paul Newnham on LinkedIn

• Disruptive Consulting Solutions website

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub website

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub on X

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub on Facebook

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub on LinkedIn

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

Kelly McJannett is the CEO and Co-founder of Food Ladder. Food Ladder is an Australian not-for-profit that combines educational programs and agritech to teach children in remote and Indigenous communities how to grow their own food and fight food insecurity.

In this episode, Kelly discusses how Food Ladder integrates agricultural education into school curriculums and uses AI-enabled hydroponic greenhouses to address food insecurity in remote and Indigenous communities. She highlights the many positive effects of the program for the children and their communities by reinstilling interest in agriculture, increasing food availability while reducing food waste, and building social enterprises to support local economies.

This episode was recorded live at SXSW Sydney on 14 October 2024.

Resources and links:

• Food Ladder website

• Kelly McJannett on LinkedIn

Connect:

• Future Fork podcast website

• Paul Newnham on Instagram

• Paul Newnham on X

• Paul Newnham on LinkedIn

• Disruptive Consulting Solutions website

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub website

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub on X

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub on Facebook

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub on LinkedIn

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

Dr Jean Claude Rubyogo is the Director of the Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA). PABRA works with more than 350 members and partners across 30 countries to deliver better beans to the continent and improve the health and income of African smallholders.

In this episode, Jean Claude dives into how PABRA is working with researchers across Africa to improve beans for everyone and describes how research has contributed to the development of beans with shorter growing times which provides people with food and money sooner than other varieties.

Resources and links:

• PABRA website

• Jean Claude Rubyogo on X

Connect:

• Future Fork podcast website

• Paul Newnham on Instagram

• Paul Newnham on X

• Paul Newnham on LinkedIn

• Disruptive Consulting Solutions website

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub website

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub on X

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub on Facebook

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub on LinkedIn

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

Stephen Ritz is an Educator, Author, Urban Farmer, and the Founder of Green Bronx Machine. Green Bronx Machine is an impact-driven, for-purpose organisation teaching kids to grow, eat, and love vegetables and improve student nutrition, school engagement, and academic performance.

In this episode, Stephen shares his journey from aspiring basketball star to inexperienced teacher in the South Bronx in the 1980s to an advocate for food justice and urban agriculture. He explains how Green Bronx Machine started as an alternative to drugs and crime for his students and how growing food can be used as a pathway to improve school engagement, education, nutrition, food security, and community development.

Resources and links:

• Green Bronx Machine website

• Generation Growth website

• Stephen Ritz’s website

• Stephen Ritz on LinkedIn

Connect:

• Future Fork podcast website

• Paul Newnham on Instagram

• Paul Newnham on X

• Paul Newnham on LinkedIn

• Disruptive Consulting Solutions website

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub website

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub on X

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub on Facebook

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub on LinkedIn

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

The Honourable Jérémy Lissouba is a Member of Parliament in the Republic of the Congo and a prominent voice in the African Food Systems Parliamentary Network, a coalition of lawmakers committed to tackling food insecurity across the continent. 

In this episode, Hon. Lissouba explains the social and agriculture initiatives he has collaborated on, the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth, and how many African nations are working together to tackle hunger on the continent. He touches on the intersecting challenges of nutrition and climate change and how parliamentarians are developing agricultural policies to address these issues. Hon. Lissouba also shares the insights he's gained from his own farming experiences and how he aims to help his neighbours and community.

Connect:

• Future Fork podcast website

• Paul Newnham on Instagram

• Paul Newnham on X

• Paul Newnham on LinkedIn

• Disruptive Consulting Solutions website

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub website

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub on X

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub on Facebook

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub on LinkedIn

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

Tom Arnold is an Agricultural Economist and Policy Advisor. He is the former CEO of Concern Worldwide and has held many positions with the Irish Department of Agriculture and the European Union Commission. He currently serves as Ireland’s Special Envoy on Food Systems and Chair of the EU Commission’s High Level Expert Group to assess the need for an International Platform for Food Systems Science (IPFSS).

In this episode, Tom opens up about his extensive career, the importance of political action for change, and upcoming international forums on food and nutrition security in 2025. He explains how Ireland’s history contributes to its commitment to global food security and the influential role Ireland plays in developing and implementing policies to address global hunger and malnutrition.

Resources and links:

• Concern Worldwide website

• Tom Arnold on X

Connect:

• Future Fork podcast website

• Paul Newnham on Instagram

• Paul Newnham on X

• Paul Newnham on LinkedIn

• Disruptive Consulting Solutions website

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub website

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub on X

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub on Facebook

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub on LinkedIn

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

Afshan Khan is the UN Assistant Secretary-General and Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement Coordinator. The SUN Movement aims to eliminate malnutrition in all its forms by 2030. For over thirty years, Afshan has served as an international public official in various roles such as UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia and Special Coordinator for the Refugee and Migrant Response in Europe.

In this episode, Afshan expounds on the mission to end malnutrition by 2030 and how SUN works with governments, businesses, and other groups to improve global nutrition. She also discusses the effect of climate change on nutrition, international efforts to improve nutrition policies such as better financing, and the value of locally available nutritious food. 

Resources and links:

• Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement website

• Afshan Khan on X

• Afshan Khan on LinkedIn

Connect:

• Future Fork podcast website

• Paul Newnham on Instagram

• Paul Newnham on X

• Paul Newnham on LinkedIn

• Disruptive Consulting Solutions website

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub website

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub on X

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub on Facebook

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub on LinkedIn

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

Kimberly Chamberland is the CEO and Founder of Big Mountain Foods. Big Mountain Foods is a leading producer of allergen-free, plant-based foods in the U.S. and Canada.

In this episode, Kimberly discusses her journey from launching Big Mountain Foods in 1987 to where the company is today. She shares how they developed the world’s first fava bean tofu, the importance of sustainable ingredients, and how Big Mountain Foods overcomes supply chain challenges.

Resources and links:

• Big Mountain Foods’ website

• Big Mountain Foods on Instagram

• Big Mountain Foods on Facebook

• Kimberly Chamberland on LinkedIn

Connect:

• Future Fork podcast website

• Paul Newnham on Instagram

• Paul Newnham on X

• Paul Newnham on LinkedIn

• Disruptive Consulting Solutions website

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub website

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub on X

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub on Facebook

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub on LinkedIn

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.