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FAO Podcasts

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The FAO Podcasts, a multilingual audio series produced by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, addresses pressing global issues including hunger, poverty, agriculture, and sustainability. With content available in English, Spanish, and French, our dedicated audio team ensures these vital conversations are accessible to a global audience. Our three distinct formats - the concise FAO Brief, insightful FAO Talks, and the deeply human documentary pieces - serve as your gateway to understanding and participating in these critical global discussions. Tune in, enrich your perspective, and join us in shaping a more sustainable future for all.

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Thursday · 40 min
The Work We Do Ep.9 - Agriculture, Climate and Biodiversity | Kaveh Zahedi
In this episode of The Work We Do, we are joined by Kaveh Zahedi, Assistant Director-General and Director of the Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment at FAO. Kaveh discusses the central role of agriculture as part of the solution to climate change and biodiversity loss, and the challenges that El Niño and extreme heat pose to farmers and agrifood systems around the world. He also explores how countries can prepare for these growing pressures and build more resilient agrifood systems. Kaveh also shares his own journey, from encountering environmental economics during his studies to a career at the United Nations, shaped by the connections between people, the economy and the environment. Extreme Heat and Agriculture Report https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cd9394en 00:00 Agrifood systems, climate and biodiversity 05:00 Agrifood systems solutions 08:30 The climate finance gap 12:11 Carbon markets and climate finance 16:22 Investing in adaptation 19:40 Extreme heat and agriculture 22:49 Protecting farming communities 24:08 El Niño 27:37 The year of the triple COPs 34:22 The Paris Agreement and 1.5°C 36:18 Kaveh's journey Hosted by Katrin Park Produced by Eduardo De La Chica
August 31 · 32 min
The Work We Do Ep.8 - A Systems Approach for Agrifood Transformation | Corinna Hawkes
In this episode, we speak with Corinna Hawkes, Director of Agrifood Systems and Food Safety Division. Corinna explains what it means to transform agrifood systems through a systems approach and why change requires looking beyond individual problems and solutions to the relationships, incentives, and power dynamics that shape our agrifood systems. She draws on examples from Brazil, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and New York City to show how evidence, governance, collaboration, and long-term thinking can help turn tradeoffs into wider benefits. Hosted by Katrin Park Produced by Eduardo De La Chica 00:43 What does transforming agrifood systems mean? 03:07 What is a "systems" approach? 03:59 Systems approach v. coordination 07:14 Marketing unhealthy foods to children 10:00 Compromises and aligning incentives 12:13 Navigating powerful interests 15:12 Short election cycles and long-term commitments 21:23 Monitoring transformation 24:32 Systems approach in Sierra Leone 27:05 Co-creating solutions in Tanzania 28:14 Public procurement in New York City 29:33 Corinna's journey Transcript: https://www.fao.org/media/docs/aboutfaolibraries/transcripts/transcript_corinna-hawkes_260831.pdf
August 28 · 31 sec
Día Mundial de la Alimentación 2026 - Anuncio de servicio público
La innovación transforma vidas. Significa crear nuevas soluciones y compartir las que ya funcionan. Cuando el conocimiento y las soluciones llegan a quienes más las necesitan, las comunidades prosperan. Innovar hoy para nutrir mañana. Para más información visita www.fao.org/wfd
August 28 · 31 sec
Всемирный день продовольствия 2026 - Объявление общественной службы
Инновации меняют жизнь. Это новые решения и распространение проверенных практик. Когда знания и проверенные решения доходят до людей, которые больше всего в них нуждаются, сообщества процветают. Внедряйте инновации уже сегодня. Чтобы прокормить мир завтра. Подробнее читайте на сайте www.fao.org/wfd
August 28 · 31 sec
Giornata Mondiale dell'Alimentazione 2026 - Annuncio di servizio pubblico
L'innovazione trasforma la vita. Significa creare nuove soluzioni e condividere quelle che funzionano. Quando sapere e soluzioni efficaci raggiungono chi ne ha più bisogno, le comunità possono crescere e prosperare. Innova oggi. Nutri il domani. Scopri di più su www.fao.org/wfd
August 28 · 31 sec
Journée mondiale de l'alimentation 2026 - Message d'intérêt public
L'innovation change les vies. C'est créer de nouvelles solutions et partager celles qui ont fait leurs preuves. Quand les connaissances et solutions efficaces parviennent à ceux qui en ont le plus besoin, les communautés prospèrent. Pour en savoir plus visitez www.fao.org/wfd
August 28 · 31 sec
World Food Day 2026 - Public Service Announcement
Innovation changes lives. It means creating new solutions and sharing proven ones. When knowledge and proven solutions reach the people who need them most, communities thrive. Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow. Visit www.fao.org/wfd to learn more.
August 28 · 31 sec
2026世界粮食日公益广告
创新，改变生活。它意味着探索新的解决方案，也意味着分享经过实践检验的经验。当知识和行之有效的解决方案惠及最需要的人群，社区方能焕发活力。创新当下粮安未来访问 www.fao.org/wfd，了解更多。
August 28 · 31 sec
يوم الأغذية العالمي 2026 - إعلان خدمة عامة
الابتكار يُحدث تحولًا في حياة الناس. ويعني ذلك ابتكار حلول جديدة وتبادل تلك التي أثبتت فعاليتها. عندما تصل المعارف والحلول المُجرَّبة إلى الأشخاص الأكثر احتياجًا إليها، تزدهر المجتمعات. ابتكار اليوم. غذاء الغد لمعرفة المزيد، يُرجى زيارة www.fao.org/wfd
July 21 · 24 min
The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2026 | The Cost of a Healthy Diet | The Work We Do
In this special episode, Chief Economist Maximo Torero and David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics and Policy Division, unpack the key findings of The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2026. Global hunger has declined for the third consecutive year, but progress remains uneven across regions and is fragile. Meanwhile, a healthy diet is 25% more expensive than it was five years ago, and one third of the world's population cannot afford it. The episode examines the structural factors driving the cost of healthy diets in different regions and how compound risks can affect their cost. It discusses how social protection, including school feeding programs, and investments in agrifood systems and trade can help make nutritious foods more accessible for everyone. SOFI 2026: Understanding and Addressing the High Cost of a Healthy Diet Transcript: https://www.fao.org/media/docs/aboutfaolibraries/transcripts/sofi-2026-transcript_260721.pdf 00:00 Intro 01:05 Key statistics 03:15 The cost of healthy diets 06:45 Regional differences 09:10 The role of trade and region-specific interventions 11:05 Quinoa example 12:16 Africa's progress and challenges 20:22 Compound risks and building resilience
July 9 · 27 min
The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets 2026 | SOCO Special Episode | The Work We Do
Global food markets are facing increasing pressure from conflict, climate extremes, economic uncertainty, and supply chain disruptions. Yet despite these shocks, global food markets often recover quickly and regain their equilibrium. But the resulting food price spikes can have severe consequences for food security, underscoring the importance of international cooperation. In this episode of The Work We Do, we speak with FAO Senior Economist George Rapsomanikis and Economist Andrea Zimmermann about The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets (SOCO) 2026. They examine how shocks affect food trade and its implications for food security, what makes global markets resilient, and why international cooperation matters more than ever. 1:40 Are there more shocks? 4:04 Different types of shocks 7:19 Characteristics of resilient markets 9:12 Can markets absorb shocks? 14:15 Ukraine, Hormuz, and trade risks 16:11 How fast does market recover? 20:20 Why food prices remain volatile 21:59 The role of policy and international cooperation 25:07 How can countries build resilience 26:26 Takeaway The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets (SOCO) 2026 report: https://doi.org/10.4060/ce0337en
June 25 · 42 min
Can Social Protection Prevent the Next Food Crisis? | Hormuz Crisis 2026 | The Work We Do
The Strait of Hormuz crisis is disrupting global energy and fertilizer markets. For the hundreds of millions already living in extreme poverty, the effects could be severe. In this episode, Ben Davis, Director of FAO's Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division, and Marco Knowles, Senior Policy Officer in the same division, make the case for social protection as a more effective response than the costly subsidies that governments are reaching for. They challenge the idea that cash transfers are handouts, drawing on rigorous evidence showing that rural households invest them productively in agricultural inputs, education, and local economies. And they explain why targeted social assistance outperforms subsidies in both efficiency and reach. Policy brief: The role of social protection in addressing the impacts of the 2026 conflict in the Middle East – Implications for poverty, food security and smallholder production https://doi.org/10.4060/cd9363en 0:00 Introduction 0:36 Why social protection is urgent now 2:54 Why social protection systems must exist before crises 6:47 Cash transfers are investments 11:37 Social protection vs subsidies 17:44 The politics of cash transfers 25:18 Lessons from COVID-19 28:36 How to finance social protection 31:26 What countries should do now 33:31 Social protection beyond shock response 36:01 Country examples 39:05 What success could look like in 10 years
June 17 · 53 min
The Work We Do – Ep 7. The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture | Manuel Barange
In this episode of The Work We Do, we speak with Manuel Barange, FAO Assistant Director-General and Director of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division, about the realities behind fisheries, aquaculture and the future of aquatic foods.i Manuel breaks down the latest findings from The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2026, including the growing role of aquatic foods in global nutrition and food security, and discusses sustainability, fisheries management and how scientists measure fish stocks that cannot be directly counted. He also reflects on his career, from marine biologist and scientific observer at sea to senior leader at FAO, and shares his advice for young professionals entering the sector. Host :Katrin Park Produced by Eduardo De La Chica Copyright: FAO 00:00 Introduction 00:59 Are we running out of fish? 06:13 How fisheries are measured and managed 15:19 Sustainability, overexploitation and fish stocks 21:30 Fighting illegal fishing through the Port State Measures Agreement 31:19 Key findings from The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 35:06 Aquaculture, Blue Transformation and the future of aquatic foods 48:34 Manuel's career and advice for young professionals
June 5 · 44 min
The Work We Do – Food Safety and Codex Alimentarius. Sarah Cahill
Sarah Cahill is the Secretary of Codex Alimentarius, the international body that develops the food standards behind much of what we eat, how it is labelled, and how it moves across borders. In this episode of The Work We Do, Sarah joins us in the Situation Room to discuss the past, present and future of Codex. We explore how Codex helped countries come together around scientific evidence to protect consumers, reduce foodborne risks and build trust in global food trade. Its work may be invisible to most people, but it sits behind everyday decisions: what appears on a food label, how contaminants are controlled, how additives are assessed, how hygiene rules are applied, and how countries agree that food is safe to trade. Katrin and Sarah also discuss the difficult process of reaching agreement between countries, why some standards take years to develop, and how science helps create common ground in a world of different regulations, risks and food systems. Finally, Sarah looks to the future: a warming planet, changing food safety hazards, water scarcity, seaweed, cell-based foods and the new questions regulators will need to answer. A conversation about the quiet global work that helps keep food safe, and why it shapes our lives more than we realise.
May 28 · 55 min
The Work We Do – Ep 5. Nutrition, agriculture, and the fight for healthy diets. Lynnette Neufeld
In this episode of The Work We Do, we speak with Lynnette Neufeld, Director of FAO's Food and Nutrition Division, about the complex realities behind today's nutrition challenges. The conversation explores the double burden of malnutrition, where undernutrition and obesity can coexist within the same country, community, household or even individual. We also discuss why healthy diets costs more and the difficulties of advancing nutrition policies in contexts shaped by conflicting interests, commercial pressure and the need for stronger policy coherence. Lynnette reflects on her years working on the evaluation of Mexico's landmark conditional cash transfer programme, the mentors and experiences in Latin America that shaped her path from young researcher to senior leader in international nutrition, and her vision for FAO's role in the nutrition agenda: helping shift the focus from simply feeding the world to enabling access to and consumption of healthy diets for all. 00:00 Evidence over interests 00:45 Intro 00:59 The double burden of malnutrition 04:44 Policy responses 08:20 Why unhealthy food is cheaper 12:54 Nutrition beyond health 14:41 Ultra-processed foods 19:08 Commercial pressure 22:39 The role of advertising 25:30 Governments, business and civil society 30:14 Healthy diets and misinformation 32:51 FAO's role in nutrition 39:02 Mexico's cash transfer programme 42:17 Evaluation and implementation 49:00 Latin America and mentorship 01:10 Healthy diets
May 20 · 42 min
Policy Recommendations to Prevent a Global Food Crisis | Hormuz Crisis 2026 | The Work We Do
The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed since February 28. As of May 18th, 2026, it remains shut. The chokehold on global energy and fertilizer supplies keeps expanding through agrifood systems worldwide. In this special episode of The Work We Do, we discuss the short, medium, and long-term structural policy solutions to the global agrifood impacts of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
May 6 · 36 min
The Work We Do - Ep 4. Science & Innovation in Agriculture and the Digital Divide. Charles Spillane
In this episode of The Work We Do, we sit down with Charles Spillane, Chief Scientist at FAO. Charlie traces how his upbringing on a farm in Ireland and an early interest in science fiction shaped his techno-optimistic worldview and his belief in the power of science and innovation to improve society. He discusses why scientific advances often fail to reach smallholder farmers, what it takes to close the gap between knowledge and adoption, and how financial, institutional, and systemic barriers can be addressed. Charlie explores the growing role of data in agriculture, including questions of ownership and governance, and the limitations of current research funding models. And he shares vision for a more effective, future-ready agrifood science system. 00:00 Inequality and progress 01:00 From farm to FAO 08:28 Innovation in context 11:11 The technology gap 12:24 Data and control 16:00 The digital divide 21:10 Climate trade-offs 27:07 Science funding 32:46 Why FAO
April 13 · 30 min
Update on the Global Agrifood Implications of the 2026 Conflict in the Middle East - The Work We Do
The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed since 28 February. As of 13 April, vessels are still not moving in meaningful numbers. The last ships to leave before the blockade are now reaching their destinations, meaning the real supply gap is only beginning to materialise. Key messages: • Before the conflict began, the strait carried 30-35% of global crude oil, 20% of natural gas, and up to 30% of internationally traded fertilizers. • Food commodity prices have not risen yet because existing stocks are absorbing the shock. But if the strait traffic does not resume, the shocks to energy and fertilizer markets will translate into higher commodity and retail prices later in 2026 and into 2027. • The crop calendar is the key constraint. As planting seasons begin, farmers must choose between absorbing higher input costs or reducing fertilizer and other input use. They need targeted, timebound support, as do low-income countries relying on food and fertilizer imports. • The disruption is not contained to the Gulf or South Asia. It is moving from east to west and from south to north. Export restrictions by major producers risk compounding the supply shortfall. • With diplomatic solutions and the right policy, there is still time to contain the current situation and prevent it from turning into a global food crisis. This episode was recorded on 11 April 2025.Host: Katrin ParkProduced by: Eduardo De La ChicaCopyright: FAO
March 30 · 51 min
The Work We Do – Ep 3. Trade Economics and Policy Tradeoffs. David Laborde
In this episode, we sit down with David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics and Policy Division at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. David shares his journey as a trade economist and how it has shaped his approach to today's agrifood systems. We discuss the role of trade in food security and the true cost of the food we consume. We also dive into the art of policymaking in complex systems, from balancing competing priorities to managing unintended consequences to navigate difficult tradeoffs. 0:57 How Does a Trade Economist End Up at FAO? 6:14 How Does Trade Affect Food Security and Nutrition? 8:45 Is Local Food Actually Better? 11:57 Does Trade Make You Vulnerable? 17:53 Does Trade Keep Peace? 24:28 Are We Giving Away Our Resources? 33:14 What Is the True Cost of Food? 36:43 Can Subsidies Fix Agrifood Systems? 44:43 On Navigating Complex Tradeoffs 50:13 Towards a Global Social Contract
March 16 · 27 min
The Work We Do Special: Global Agrifood Implications of the 2026 Conflict in the Middle East
Middle East is increasing risks for global energy, fertilizer, and agrifood systems. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical chokepoints for oil, gas, and fertilizer shipments, are already pushing up energy and agricultural input costs worldwide. Because energy and fertilizer markets are closely linked to food production, these shocks can quickly spread through global agrifood systems. At the same time, possible shifts toward biofuel production could further increase food price volatility. Import-dependent countries, particularly in Africa and Asia, are especially exposed to these risks. In the short term, measures such as diversifying trade routes, strengthening market monitoring, supporting farmers, and providing targeted assistance to vulnerable countries can help stabilize supply chains. Diplomatic efforts to ensure the safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz also remain critical for protecting global energy markets and food security. Timestamps: 00:34 Impacts of the conflict so far 03:48 Regional impacts 08:01 How long can the system absorb the shock? 13:19 Economic modelling scenarios 18:03 How this conflict differs from Ukraine 22:52 Policy recommendations Follow FAO on social media! * Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/UNFAO * Instagram - https://instagram.com/fao * LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/fao * TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@fao * Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/fao/ * Weibo - https://www.weibo.com/unfao © FAO: http://www.fao.org #SDGs #Agenda2030 #GlobalGoals

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