Target Zero Hunger

Pakistan has the fourth-highest rate of water consumption in the world. The country’s agriculture sector uses the most amount of fresh water than any other sector. Rainfall has steadily declined over the past few decades and experts warn the country will approach “absolute scarcity” of water by 2025. In the village of Azizabad in the Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province, farming communities are being hit hard by the lack of fresh water. The impacts of climate change are further intensifying the problem. But with support from UK Aid, the Food and Agriculture Organization has introduced a range of initiatives to build resilient farming systems in affected areas. Host: Charlotta Lomas Report: Anais Hotin, Greg Delaney

More than 75 percent of farmers in sub-Saharan Africa prepare their lands using only hand tools. It’s a practice that results in poor productivity and repels young people. Which is why the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, and the African Union have developed a framework to roll out sustainable farm mechanization across the continent. The aim is to reduce drudgery, increase agricultural efficiency and boost food security. On this episode of TZH, we hear from Her Excellency Josefa Sacko, African Union Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, and Joseph Mpagalile, an agriculture engineer and expert at FAO. Interview: Charlotta Lomas, FAO.

In 2018, conflict was the major driver of food crises in 21 countries, affecting around 74 million people. Contributing to peace is therefore critical to tackling hunger. FAO experts Julius Jackson and Philip Priestley discuss the importance of conflict sensitive approaches to humanitarian work. Interview: Charlotta Lomas, FAO

Every year, around one-third of all food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted. Food loss and waste has all kinds of consequences for economies, food security and the environment. A new report by the Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, explains where exactly these losses are occurring along the food chain, from farm to fork, and how countries are stepping up to tackle the problem. Andrea Cattaneo, a senior economist at FAO, outlines the report. Interveiw: Charlotta Lomas

The livestock sector is a key contributor to global warming. The world's population is growing, and as a result, we will need to feed more and more people. Can the sector transform from being a part of the problem to being part of the solution? Henning Steinfeld, Chief of Livestock Information, Sector Analysis and Policy Branch, at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) thinks it can. Interview: Charlotta Lomas

Young people from around the world share their concerns about their future and call for greater action on climate change. Producer: Charlotta Lomas, FAO. Image courtesy of the DSCOVR EPIC team.

Every year 420,000 people die and 600 million people fall ill as a result of food contaminated with bacteria, viruses, parasites, toxins or chemicals. David Massey from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) explains why we should all care about food safety. Interview: Charlotta Lomas, FAO.

Bees, soils, trees – even the tiny organisms we can’t even see – all play a vital role in producing the world’s food. Yet, this biodiversity that supports our food and agriculture is in serious decline. So what does that mean for our future food? Dan Leskien from the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture explains. Interview: Charlotta Lomas, FAO

The number of hungry people worldwide continues to rise steadily according to the latest joint UN report The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2019. FAO Senior Economist Cindy Holleman explains the trends and how it’s still possible to achieve Zero Hunger.  Interview: Charlotta Lomas.

African Swine Fever is spreading fast throughout Asia and has already affected several countries. Recent data from the field reveals outbreaks in Myanmar and now also the Philippines. More than 5 million pigs in Asia have died from the disease or been culled to counter its spread. Experts fear that that number will rise and warn of increased food insecurity in the region. FAO animal health expert Juan Lubroth takes stock of the situation. Interview: Charlotta Lomas

Fighting hunger and all forms of malnutrition has been the mandate of José Graziano da Silva during his eight years as FAO Director General. As the UN agency enters a new leadership phase, we sit down with Mr Graziano da Silva to reflect on his time as Director General of FAO.

Celebrating women humanitarians is the theme of this year’s World Humanitarian Day (August 19), a day to honor humanitarian efforts worldwide and to rally support for people affected by crises. One country with exceptionally high humanitarian needs is the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to UN figures, this year alone 12.8 million people in DRC will need humanitarian aid as a result of protracted conflict and violence, and the risk of cholera and Ebola. In this podcast, FAO’s Silvia Risi talks about her humanitarian work in DRC and what it means to be a woman humanitarian. Host/Producer: Charlotta Lomas

There are more than 70 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, which is the highest level in almost 70 years according to UNHCR figures. For World Refugee Day (20 June), we hear from expert Julius Jackson about how FAO responds to protracted crises and helps to support refugees. Interview: Charlotta Lomas

World Food Day - There is enough food to feed the entire population. Yet there are 821 million people in the world who are hungry. Achieving Zero Hunger means meeting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) to ensure food security for everyone across the globe. So how can we achieve Zero Hunger by 2030? For this year's World Food Day, experts from the Food and Agriculture Organization share their views on how we can have a world without hunger. FAO experts: Robert Guei, Juan Lubroth, Manuel Barange, Yon Fernandez Larrinoa, Susan Kaaria, Rosa Rolle, Fatima Hachem, Eduardo Mansur, Eva Muller, Ronald Vargas, Dan Leskien, Zitouni Oulddada. Report: Charlotta Lomas, FAO

As world leaders gather in Katowice, Poland for the 24th Conference of Parties (COP24) to discuss how countries can curbing global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, we ask what role the agriculture sector can play in cutting emissions. Alex Jones, director of the Climate and Environment Division at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), explains. Interview: Charlotta Lomas, FAO

The discourse around migration is often framed negatively while the positive aspects are overlooked. A new report by the Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, shows that migration can in fact be highly beneficial to rural development and the agriculture sector. Andrea Cattaneo is the lead author of the State of Food and Agriculture report and a senior economist at FAO.

In the fourth episode of TARGET: Zero Hunger we walk you through some fertile ground by digging into the ideas and perceptions concerning one of our world’s most powerful super foods. We explore why pulses have become an orphan crop and we’ll talk to some of the people trying hard to change that. In this episode, we hear Paulina Ceballos from the Global Pulse Confederation explain the trouble with the word "pulse" and why we should celebrate the international year; Food critic and writer Saúl Cepeda speak about the culture of pulses in modern cuisine; Farmer and board member to the World Farmers Organization, Fritz Glauser, explains the benefits of planting pulses; FAO's Teo Calles explains why pulses are good for food security and sheds light on an interesting fact about the international trade of pulses crops.

Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is worth an estimated US$23 billion annually, but it’s wreaking havoc on marine resources and the environment. The Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA), introduced in 2016, aims to tackle this global problem. It's the first binding international agreement that specifically targets illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. To date, 87 States are party to the treaty, with more to follow. To explain how the treaty works, we hear from Manuel Barange, director of Fisheries and Aquaculture, and Matthew Camilleri, senior fisheries officer at FAO.

Educating children and young people about forests is critical to safeguarding the world's natural resources for future generations. For International Day of Forests (March 21, 2019), students at St George's British International School in Rome, share their views on why forests matter to them. Students: Albi, Naomi, William, Gabriel, Henry, Abdu, Julian, Jada, Emma and Nicolo from St George's British International School in Rome. Producer: Charlotta Lomas Sound technician: Eric Deleu Photo: ©FAO/Florita Botts