Farms. Food. Future.
News & Politics Podcasts
Farms. Food. Future. looks at the big issues facing farmers in the developing world and what needs to be done to wipe out global hunger while dealing with the climate crisis. It’s brought to you by the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and presented by Brian Thomson. Through the podcast, IFAD raises awareness of the challenges smallholder farmers in developing countries are facing around food security. Farms. Food. Future. includes interviews with IFAD experts, partners and donors, celebrities, and farmers. Farms. Food. Future. promotes the power of smallholder farmers as a force for change. It captures the exciting work IFAD is doing working on the front line of farming for development, dealing everyday with climate change, environmental sustainability, gender, youth, nutrition and indigenous peoples’ issues.
Location:
Italy
Genres:
News & Politics Podcasts
Description:
Farms. Food. Future. looks at the big issues facing farmers in the developing world and what needs to be done to wipe out global hunger while dealing with the climate crisis. It’s brought to you by the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and presented by Brian Thomson. Through the podcast, IFAD raises awareness of the challenges smallholder farmers in developing countries are facing around food security. Farms. Food. Future. includes interviews with IFAD experts, partners and donors, celebrities, and farmers. Farms. Food. Future. promotes the power of smallholder farmers as a force for change. It captures the exciting work IFAD is doing working on the front line of farming for development, dealing everyday with climate change, environmental sustainability, gender, youth, nutrition and indigenous peoples’ issues.
Twitter:
@IFAD
Language:
English
Website:
https://www.ifad.org/podcast
Email:
podcast@ifad.org
Episodes
Elevating rural voices on the global stage
9/8/2025
This week, world leaders will gather in New York for 80th session of the UN General Assembly – where rural communities hit hard by climate change, conflict and hunger have a chance to be heard on the global stage.
In this episode, we hear from advocates who are taking action to amplify these rural voices. Join us as we discuss how rural development is financed, the power of building political movements and how we can keep food security high on the political agenda.
Find out more: Elevating rural voices on the global stage - Episode 91
Duration:00:33:47
How do we feed more people with the food we already grow?
8/25/2025
In 2022, 1 billion meals a day were wasted, while 783 million people were affected by hunger. There’s plenty of food to go around – it’s just not getting to those who need it.
In this episode, we explore three powerful and distinct approaches to transforming our global food systems. Tune in to hear about blending traditional knowledge with modern innovation, using science to breed more resource-efficient crops and turning food waste into valuable resources.
Find out more: How do we feed more people with the food we already grow? - Episode 90
Duration:00:36:51
Are we ready to listen to young rural people?
8/11/2025
Around the world, young rural people aren't just waiting for change – they're making it happen themselves.
In this special International Youth Day episode, we spotlight the next generation of agricultural leaders. Join us as we explore how young people are transforming food systems – and how organizations like IFAD support their vision.
Find out more: Are we ready to listen to young rural people? – Episode 89
Duration:00:27:54
Slow food, steady change
7/28/2025
Can food be a bridge between cultures, sustainability, and climate action? In this episode, we sit down with Chef Ana Villota of María Cocina y Panadería - IFAD’s newest Recipes For Change chef - whose journey from Ecuador to Canada has shaped her zero-waste, slow-food approach to baking.
We also share insights from the Food Systems Summer Forum, featuring IFAD’s Goodwill Ambassador, Sabrina Elba, who highlights why small-scale farmers must be part of the climate solution.
Plus, we chat with Talking Foreign Affairs host, Adil Cader, on how global food stories connect us all.
Duration:00:31:52
Life stories from Bangladesh and Colombia
7/14/2025
Sometimes, building the future of farming means drawing on centuries-old traditions. Indigenous small-scale farmers can help rural communities around the world forge a new, sustainable path forward.
In the second episode of our “Life stories” mini-series, we meet Pallab Chakma from Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts and Dayana Domicó from Colombia’s Emberá community. They share powerful stories about land, identity, ancestral traditions and hope for the future.
For more information:
Life stories from bangladesh and colombia - Episode 87
Duration:00:25:48
What’s next for Development Finance?
6/23/2025
What’s next for development finance? It’s increasingly clear the answer must go beyond traditional models. Just look at remittances: the money sent home by migrants now surpasses official aid to low- and middle-income countries.
Our challenge is ensuring these flows drive lasting change. As global leaders prepare to meet at the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, Spain, we explore the future of funding for rural communities – from remittances to private investment, blended finance and beyond.
Find out more: What’s next for Development Finance? - Episode 86
Duration:00:26:00
Same sky, different soil
6/9/2025
Rural communities around the world farm a diverse range of land under one sky. But no matter their varying challenges, they are united by the resilience and ingenuity of their solutions.
This episode tells their stories. We talk to British chef and TV presenter Si King – one half of eloved culinary duo The Hairy Bikers – as he meets Mongolian herders balancing tradition with sustainability. Then, we head to South Africa’s arid Karoo, where farmer Jack Lewis is proving that innovation can flourish even in the harshest conditions.
For more information:
Same sky, different soil - Episode 85
Duration:00:28:19
From farm waste to green fashion
5/26/2025
Fashion doesn't just start on the runway. It can have origins deep in a forest or even in the leftovers of yesterday’s meal.
On this episode, we’re looking at how communities and creators are turning farm waste into cutting-edge fashion. In the Peruvian Amazon, Indigenous members of the Awajún community are creating Shiringa BioLeather, an eco-friendly alternative to animal leather. And in Italy, orange peels are being transformed into luxury textiles. Finally, we look at how fashion is linked to land degradation and what that means for the future of the industry.
From ancestral knowledge to modern design, we embark on a journey through fashion that respects its roots and reimagines its future.
Featuring Enrica Arena, Jorge Cajacuri, Emma Håkansson, Doris and Rosalia - Indigenous Awajún Women of the Peruvian Amazon, and Xenya Scanlon.
For more information:
From farm waste to green fashion - Episode 84
Duration:00:35:37
Returning to the land
5/12/2025
Migration stories usually go in one direction: away from rural life, towards cities. But around the world, rural people are proving that progress sometimes comes from circling back with purpose. On this episode, we explore the quiet transformation that comes with what is known as reverse migration: where farmers, rural entrepreneurs and young professionals return home with new skills and vision. From reviving local economies to recharging food systems, they're showing the world that rural life isn’t about just surviving, but thriving. Featuring Ward Anseeuw, Joel and Erina Guma, Annet Nampoza, and Sheik Tambedou.
For more information:
Returining to the land - Episode 83
Duration:00:34:58
Food that packs a punch in Asia and the Pacific
4/28/2025
Sometimes, to transform an entire food system we have to start small. Across Asia and the Pacific, slight changes in food and farming habits are bringing vital nutritional improvements to entire communities.
On this episode, we head to Cambodia to learn more. Experts from across the region recently gathered here at an IFAD workshop on nutrition-sensitive agriculture, discussing common challenges and sharing best practices. From Papua New Guinea to Pakistan, hear their diverse perspectives as they figure out how to make the region’s food systems work for everyone.
For more information:
Food that packs a punch in Asia and the Pacific - Episode 82
Duration:00:22:36
From salt to sustainability
4/14/2025
Believe it or not, deserts might just be the next frontier in sustainable farming. Agriculture is under threat from extreme heat, vanishing water and salty soil – but innovators are turning these challenges into opportunities. This episode uncovers the breakthroughs keeping fertile land from turning to dust. From salt-defying crops to desert farms that thrive against the odds, meet the farmers and scientists rewriting the rules of resilience. Featuring Zied Hammami, Xenya Scanlon, Viviane Filippi and Hiba Nasrollah.
For more information:
From salt to sustainability - Episode 81
Duration:00:27:44
Weathering the future
3/24/2025
From a surprise shower to an unexpectedly cold evening, we all know the weather forecast doesn’t always pan out – and for small-scale farmers who depend on it for their crops, it’s more than just an inconvenience. But what if we could be sure of weather before it strikes? What if we could even influence it?
In this episode, we dive into the science and innovation shaping our interaction with the weather. From predicting storms to cloud seeding, hear from the experts working to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of the changing climate. Featuring Clare Nasir, Steven Siems and Dan Martin.
Duration:00:30:24
Life Stories from Suriname and Ethiopia
3/10/2025
Where can we learn about the future of farming? We are going right to the source – the rural people who are transforming agriculture. Our new, in-depth “Life stories” mini-series brings their stories to the fore.
In this first episode, we travel from the forests of Suriname to the highlands of Ethiopia to meet two inspiring innovators driving change in their communities. Plus, we share voice messages collected from Indigenous leaders at this year’s Indigenous Peoples Forum.
Duration:00:32:56
From fantasy to reality
2/24/2025
When we think about space technology, we usually picture astronauts and rockets, but there’s a whole new frontier emerging in space for sustainable farming. And what’s fascinating is that this technology isn’t just for outer space – it’s also being applied right here on Earth.
Which is why this episode will focus on innovators who are turning what once seemed like science fiction into the farming fact of tomorrow. From growing food without soil to using advanced tech to feed the world, these pioneers are shaping the future right before our eyes.
This is Farms. Food. Future – a podcast that's good for you, good for the planet and good for farmers. Brought to you by the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
For more information:
From fantasy to reality - Episode 78
Duration:00:32:10
Biodiversity beyond borders
2/10/2025
When we talk about the state of our planet, it’s often in terms of decline or loss. It’s impossible to deny that biodiversity is declining, species are disappearing and deforestation is rampant. But to hold out hope, sometimes we need a more positive narrative.
That’s why this episode focuses on the love that drives successful action to protect and restore the planet, in all its diversity: love for the crops that feed us, love for the rich variety of life with which we share our world, and love for the ecosystems that sustain us all.
This is Farms. Food. Future – a podcast that's good for you, good for the planet and good for farmers. Brought to you by the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
For more information:
Biodiversity beyond borders - Episode 77
Duration:00:36:32
Global youth in action
1/27/2025
All over the world, young people use their voice to advocate for a better future – and with almost 800 million of them in rural or semi-urban areas, sustainable rural development is a top priority.
In this episode, we're celebrating youth leadership in tackling challenges like climate change, food insecurity and gender inequality. Join us as we hear from six inspiring young changemakers fighting for our planet’s rural people.
This is Farms. Food. Future – a podcast that's good for you, good for the planet and good for farmers. Brought to you by the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
For more information:
https://www.ifad.org/en/w/podcast/Global-youth-in-action
Duration:00:31:58
Shaping the future of food in 2025
1/13/2025
In our first Farms. Food. Future. episode of the new year, we’re looking back at the rural development success stories of 2024 – and setting our sights on what’s to come in 2025.
This is Farms. Food. Future – a podcast that's good for you, good for the planet and good for farmers. Brought to you by the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
For more information:
Shaping the future of food in 2025
Duration:00:32:40
From farm to table: Celebrating a decade of Recipes for Change
12/23/2024
Recipes for Change launched in 2014 with a crucial mission – to raise awareness about the impacts of climate change on culinary traditions and the farmers behind them. Since then, the programme has showcased dozens of recipes from around the world in partnership with world-class chefs. Each recipe serves as a window into the rural communities and cultures that work alongside IFAD.
In this episode, we reflect on a decade of Recipes for Change with some of the chefs behind the programme's success. Join us as we catch up on the latest in sustainable cooking and look ahead to the new year together.
This is Farms. Food. Future – a podcast that's good for you, good for the planet and good for farmers. Brought to you by the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
For more information:
From farm to table: Celebrating a decade of Recipes for Change- Episode 74
Duration:00:26:19
The power of South-South and Triangular Cooperation
12/9/2024
When rural people in different developing countries exchange knowledge, technology and resources to solve common problems, they can multiply their impact. That’s the power of South-South and triangular cooperation (SSTC).
In this episode, we explore how IFAD catalyses SSTC to drive sustainable, inclusive rural development. Join us on a deep dive into the history of SSTC and discover its lasting impact for our planet’s small-scale farmers.
This is Farms. Food. Future – a podcast that's good for you, good for the planet and good for farmers. Brought to you by the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
For more information:
The power of South-South and triangular cooperation – Episode 73
Duration:00:28:06
Strengthening food systems through development finance
11/25/2024
With a wide-ranging network of donors, international financial institutions and development agencies, the Global Donor Platform for Rural Development (GDPRD) has become a critical part of the rural development landscape.
From the Italian G7 to the world of sustainable blended finance, we take a look behind the scenes of the essential and innovative financial work it does for rural communities around the world.
This is Farms. Food. Future – a podcast that's good for you, good for the planet and good for farmers. Brought to you by the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
For more information:
https://www.ifad.org/en/web/latest/-/podcast-episode-72
Duration:00:34:21