Table for 10 Billion

Climate change is threatening the world’s efforts to feed a growing population. But our food system is also part of the problem, contributing almost a third of global greenhouse gas emissions. 

With its ability to sink carbon, sustain marine biodiversity, employ women, and unlock value chains, seaweed farming demonstrates how development, climate, and nature work together to generate value and uplift communities. Seaweed farming can help build a world free of poverty on a livable planet and has enormous growth potential.

Episode 9 • August 21, 2023 • Table for 10 Billion • World Bank Group - Agriculture and Food Global Practic

As the world continues to grapple with the food crisis, we need to remember that this problem didn’t emerge overnight. Resolving the situation we face today requires a sharper focus than ever on transforming our food systems to make them more sustainable while feeding a growing global population. A well running food system will help build human capital, lift communities out of poverty, and improve climate resilience.

The number of emerging infectious disease (EID) outbreaks has grown to several hundred per year since 2000. 

What will it take for world leaders, countries, organizations, and communities to understand that prevention is better than cure? The World Bank’s latest flagship report, "Putting Pandemics Behind Us: Investing in One Health to Reduce Risks of Emerging Infectious Diseases," is a clarion call for the universal adoption of an integrated approach to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and ecosystems.

Fertilizers provide crops with the nutrients to grow better,

making them essential to the world’s food supply. As such, when shocks occur,

such as when fertilizer prices increase or when supply is disrupted, the impact

is felt by the global food system in its entirety. This explains what we are

seeing today: the war in Ukraine, high-energy prices, and restrictive trade

policies have caused fertilizer supply to go down and prices to go up. While

the effects of this shortage will be felt across the globe, developing

countries are among the worst hit.

Food is often scarce in countries afflicted by fragility, conflict and violence. But solutions require more than feeding people for today. To truly help those caught in these often terrifying situations it’s important to look at how they will be able to eat tomorrow, too. That means agriculture. The World Bank’s Holger Kray joins host Jason Fields to discuss about this topic.

When you think of the world's immense biodiversity, it's surprising people eat such a small variety of foods – a few grains, a few animal species. One of the main sources of protein in the animal kingdom remains largely uncultivated: insects. Farming them in an organized way presents an opportunity to make a dent in hunger and climate change while creating jobs.

Dorte Verner, lead agriculture economist in the food and agriculture global practice, joins show host Jason Fields to discuss a new report on the subject: ‘Insect and Hydroponic Farming in Africa: The New Circular Food Economy’.

CREDITS

Host: Jason Fields, communications consultant, World Bank

Guest: Dorte Verner, lead agriculture economist in the food and agriculture global practice

Report Authors and Contributors: Dorte Verner, Nanna Roos, Afton Halloran, Glenn Surabian, Edinaldo Tebaldi, Maximillian Ashwill, Saleema Vellani, and Yasuo Konishi

Global warming is forcing agriculture to change. Farmers are planting different crops, planting at night, and harvesting shade during the day. The World Bank's Erick Fernandes joins host Jason Fields to discuss the future of agriculture and the adjustments that need to be made to fight growing food insecurity as the world heats up.

Where will digital agriculture lead? And why is it so important in the effort to reach zero hunger by 2030, as set out in UN Sustainable Development Goal 2? In this episode of Table for 10 Billion we speak with experts Jessica Fanzo of John’s Hopkins University and the World Bank’s own Julian Lampietti on their views of agriculture’s future.