A bright new year for rural people – Episode 51

We’re ringing in 2024 with a finger on the pulse and a view to the future. In our final episode of the year, we hear from climate leaders on how they plan to tackle some of our planet’s greatest challenges.

First up is IFAD Vice-President Gérardine Mukeshimana, with insight into the challenges faced by rural people and IFAD’s work to empower rural communities. Vice-President Mukeshimana is followed by fellow IFAD colleagues, who tell us more about how we can improve the lives of small-scale farmers.

Xenya Scanlon from UNCCD tells us about the ongoing battle to combat desertification and drought. The Secretary General of CITES, Ivonne Higuero, talks to us about human-wildlife coexistence and sustainable species harvesting. Then, UNEP’s James Lomax, outlines next year’s goals for ecosystem preservation. David Ainsworth from CBD explains how they are balancing the conservation of biodiversity with global food needs.

We introduce you to Sophie Grigson, our newest Recipes for Change chef. For the fourth and final time, Max Cotton updates us on what life is like on a small-scale farm. Then, Ludovic Larbodière from IUCN, discusses water-intensive farming and food security challenges.

To conclude our episode and the year on a sweet note, our Recipes for Change chefs share their holiday wishes for 2024.

Episode content

• Gérardine Mukeshimana on rural challenges and solutions
• Vox populi: what obstacles are small-scale farmers up against and how should they be solved?
• Xenya Cherny Scanlon: Tackling desertification, land degradation and drought
• Ivonne Higuero on human-wildlife coexistence
• Preserving ecosystems and natural resources with James Lomax
• David Ainsworth on the Convention on Biological Diversity
• Chef Sophie Grigson on Italian cuisine and food availability in the country’s south
• Max Cotton nears his one-year anniversary on a farm
• Ludovic Larbodière on intensive farming
• Recipes for Change chefs offer season’s greetings
• Summing up
• Other episodes to enjoy
• Exciting news for our podcast in 2024

 

Gérardine Mukeshimana on rural challenges and solutions

IFAD's Vice-President Gérardine Mukeshimana talks to us about agricultural and rural development and details the obstacles faced by small-scale farmers and what IFAD is doing to tackle them.

 

Vox populi: what obstacles are small-scale farmers up against and how should they be solved?

We asked our IFAD colleagues two key questions:

• What main obstacles are rural communities up against?
• What can IFAD do to work towards a positive solution by the end of 2024?

 

Xenya Cherny Scanlon: Tackling desertification, land degradation and drought

Xenya Cherny Scanlon has two decades of experience in various UN and international organizations across Africa, Australia, and Europe. She speaks to us about the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and its mission in global sustainable development.

 

Ivonne Higuero on human-wildlife coexistence

The Secretary General of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Ivonne Higuero speaks to us about human-wildlife coexistence and the needed collaboration with rural communities for wildlife-friendly practices and sustainable species harvesting.

 

Preserving ecosystems and natural resources with James Lomax

We talk with James Lomax about the UN Environment Programme and its vision for the coming year.

 

David Ainsworth on the Convention on Biological Diversity

David Ainsworth from the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has over two decades of experience in biodiversity communications and leads strategies for the Kunming-Montreal Framework. He shares CBD’s goals for 2024.

 

Chef Sophie Grigson on Italian cuisine and food availability in the country’s south

Award-winning chef Sophie Grigson is the most recent member to join our remarkable Recipes for Change team. She tells us all about Italian cuisine and the climate challenges faced by the country’s south, where she lives.

 

Max Cotton nears his one-year anniversary on a farm

In February 2023 Max Cotton moved to an almost 2-hectare farm in the rural southwest of England. His goal was to live only on what he grew, except for tap water and salt. In this episode, he updates us on his experience.

 

Ludovic Larbodière on intensive farming

Ludovic Larbodière is a Senior Agricultural and Environment Specialist at The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). He speaks to us about the future challenges that the IUCN foresees for 2024, addressing the problems of water-intensive farming on crops and the land.

 

Recipes for Change chefs offer season’s greetings

 

To end our very last episode of 2023, four of our Recipes for Change chefs have left us with their wishes for the new year: Joseph Yoon, Ali Mandhry, Shane Chartrand, and Sophie Grigson.

Summing up

Thanks as always to our producer Francesco Manetti, and our reporters Rosa Gonzalez and Ciara Rainsby. Your hosts are Michelle Tang and Brian Thomson.

Most of all, thank you for listening to episode 51 of Farms. Food. Future brought to you by the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

You can learn more about any of these stories on our Podcast Home Page. We want to hear what you think about our stories and who you want us to talk to, so please contact us at [email protected] . Send us your voice or text messages to this address, and we’ll be happy to play you out in the next show. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast via your favourite podcast platform, and please rate us.

 

Other episodes to enjoy

Make sure you also check out our other podcasts.

• In Episode 48 we discussed malnutrition, including obesity in developing countries.
• In Episode 49 we focus to rural women and women leaders in agriculture.
• In Episode 50 we celebrated being together for 50 Farms. Food. Future. episodes featuring some of our favourite interviews of all time.

 

Exciting news for our podcast in 2024

In 2024 we will offer two shows a month. Double the fun!

We will drop episode 52 on the last Monday of January and episode 53 on the second Monday of February.

Our opening topic for 2024 is marine biodiversity and the power of seaweed.

Tune in next month to hear all about it!