Food for the Future

In this episode, Surhabi Dogra shares her insights on adolescent nutrition, healthy diets, and how these are connected to climate change. Both through her academic experiences - Surhabi has completed a Master’s in Social Work in Public Health at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences - as well as her work as Youth Commissioner for the Second Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing in India, she has a broad knowledge of issues in child and adolescent nutrition as well as experience of what that means for creating real-life solutions. Moreover, we dive into the dominant role that the ultra-processed food industry as well as social media advertisement play in this context. 

In today’s episode, we ask the question: How can we make the food industry more sustainable while also manufacturing protein and nutrient-dense products that can replace animal products? Our guest Sujala Balaji’s answer to this? Millets! Sujala is the Founder and CEO of Rainfed Foods, a plant protein company creating next-generation plant-based alternatives. She is a certified food scientist with 15 years of experience in food innovation and product development, has taught in colleges and universities, and worked at start-ups and large multinational corporations in food manufacturing and research and development. In the interview, she tells us about her own journey of researching and developing plant-based alternatives and explains why millets as an underutilized crop are such a great option. (Fun Fact: The UN is celebrating 2023 as the International Year of Millets!)

“Everyone breathes air but nobody cares about keeping it clean”. In this episode, Christina and Valentina interview youth climate activist Raihana Farkhunda and dive into the interrelated topics of climate change, urban governance, and the role of youth in shaping urban food systems.Raihana shares insights on urban food systems in her home country Afghanistan and more specifically Kabul where she works as a volunteer in Greenway Society and works on youth projects with Kabul University students. 

Today’s episode deals with everything surrounding the issues of food waste, food loss and how these are connected to healthy diets and environmental sustainability. As an expert in this field and a Master of Arts in International Affairs, our guest Maya Metha explains these topics and discusses ways in which we can reduce food waste and promote healthy eating. Moreover, Maya tells us about the Social Gastronomy Movement, which she is a part of, its mission, and how it actively contributes to transforming our current food systems. 

In this episode, we are joined by Chef Rodrigo Pacheco from his restaurant in Ecuador. Rodrigo is the Chef & Founder of BocaValdivia, and he is also a UN FAO Goodwill Ambassador who works with young people to encourage them to take their health & that of the planet into their own hands. Rodrigo tells us about how he utilizes creative gastronomy as a tool to take action against climate change and redefines gastronomy and the role of a chef in that context while honoring Ecuador’s culture and history.

With the increased pollution caused by greenhouse gas emissions, environmental changes as well as changes in lifestyle, respiratory and hearing diseases are becoming more common.In this episode, otolaryngologist Prof. Lino Di Rienzo Businco and audiologist Dr. Pasquale Davide Longo explain to us the main causes of ear, nose, and throat diseases in adults and children and how climate change affects our health. Furthermore, we discuss the social and economic consequences of these diseases and talk about new technologies and strategies that could help medical professionals to make early diagnoses, prevent chronicity and stop the evolution of the diseases. 

On this episode, we had the privilege to interview Dr. Leslie Lytle, Ph.D., President of Danone Institute North America (DINA) and Adjunct Professor at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina, to get her perspective on local community and youth involvement for nutrition and agrifood systems. Tune in as we get her advice on applying to the DINA Sustainable Food Systems Initiative and more.Learn more about the competition here: https://www.danoneinstitutena.org/submit-rfp/

In this final episode, Josiane from the FAO Indigenous Peoples Unit meets Mariah Gladstone Blackfeet (Piikuni) and Cherokee (ᏣᎳᎩ) from the base of the Backbone of the World in the United States. She is the founder of "Indigikitchen", an online teaching tool dedicated to revitalizing traditional Native foods.  Mariah, who joined the World Food Forum this week, discusses with Josiane how Indigenous Peoples' food systems are game changers and how they support biodiversity conservation.

Josiane, Makanalani and Malachi continue their conversation at the World Food Forum about the Indigenous Youth Campaign and why it is meaningful. 

Josiane from the Indigenous Peoples Unit in FAO meets up with Makanalani Malia Gomes,  Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) and Filipina, the Global Indigenous Youth Caucus co-chair and Malachi Johnson, a Gooreng Gooreng Traditional Owner from the Great Barrier Reef and also a member of the Indigenous Youth Caucus. Malachi is Gooreng Gooreng and South Sea Island, descendant from Port Curtis and Coral Coast region on the Great Barrier Reef. The three of them explored the subject of Indigenous Youth and Peoples' knowledge and food system and talked about the Indigenous Youth Campaign launch this week at the World Food Forum. 

Today we meet Josiane from the FAO Indigenous Peoples Unit and Tecumseh Ceasar of the Matinecock Turkey clan, Montaukett, and Unkechaug Decent. Together they discuss the strong bond built with FAO throughout the years to push the voices of the Indigenous Youth forward. 

In this episode, Lindsey interviews Katarina Polomska, an inspiring youth leader dedicated to youth taking a leading role in policy making toward peace and more.

In this episode, Sara talks with Amaeze Madukah, registered dietician, Founder of the health Consultancy Life's Recipe, and co-Founder of the Diverse Nutrition Association. They discuss utilizing a Health At Every Size framework, the history of colonization in the food supply, and give examples of diverse healthy meals. Join us!

In this episode, Sara talks with Sarah Reinhardt, Senior Analyst for Food Systems and Health at the Union of Concerned Scientists to serve up a crash course on the intersection of Public Health and the Food System. 

In this episode, Sara talks with anti-racist historian and educator David Billings about the importance if dismantling racism if we hope to build a more sustainable food system. 

In this episode, Lindsey chats with Ana Laura Paiva, urban gardner from Home Grown Gardens LA in Los Angeles, CA about the connection between school gardens and education. She also shares some tips about what listeners can do at home or at local schools to start gardens!Learn more about Home Grown Gardens LAwww.homegrowngardensla.comLearn more about the World Food Forumhttps://linktr.ee/worldfoodforum

In this episode, Lindsey interviews one of Peru’s most influential food figures, Malena Martinez of Mater Iniciativa about biodiversity, global demand and personal food memories.