Paul Newnham is the Executive Director of SDG2 Advocacy Hub, which coordinates global campaigns and advocacy to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2: To end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030. To help transform food systems, Paul and his team are leading projects such as the “Beans is How” campaign, which promotes the nutritional, environmental, and economic benefits of beans. On this episode of Food Lab Talk, Michiel speaks with Paul about leading with empathy, investing in relationships, and intentionally communicating your theory of change.

Paul Newnham: “I think we often think that ideas are the thing that drive, but ideas are only as good as the people and the networks that carry them. And so I think investing in networks, investing in relationships is really critical. Within that, an insight that I've learned is to diversify that. Sometimes we go deep within a particular sector, but we don't look across. It's really important to look across both horizontally and vertically within your given field. And I think it's about building those kinds of webs so you can succeed in getting a message out there or a cause to gather momentum.”

00:40 Intro to Paul

01:28 How culture and development led Paul to SDG2 Advocacy Hub

03:28 Chefs bridge the gap between food systems and hunger

05:20 Equity and leading with empathy

07:07 Joy and celebration as a catalyst for change

08:13 Optimism, tenacity, and “getting to the next hill”

10:17 Overview of SDG2 Advocacy Hub

11:33 Sustainable food systems are diverse, responsive, and giving

12:27 A food system is like a mixing table

14:57 Shifting diets through supply and demand

18:05 Convenience, cost, and taste as food purchase drivers

19:47 Beans as a way to drive systemic change

23:03 “Beans is How” - Theory of Change

24:00 Using policy levers

25:08 Building the model to accelerate food systems change

25:53 Why an explicit framework builds lasting momentum 

28:16 Importance of investing in diverse networks

30:26 Takeaways for changemakers

Links

• SDG2 Advocacy Hub
• Sustainable Development Goal 2
• Chef’s Manifesto
• “Beans is How” Campaign
• “Beans is How” - Theory of Change
• World Food Program - The Cost of a Plate of Food

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*The views expressed by the guests in this podcast don't necessarily represent the host’s views, nor those of his employer.