Target Zero Hunger is a podcast that delves into the core issues of the UN Sustainable Develop Goals (SDGs). From eradicating poverty and hunger to mitigating and adapting to climate change, rethinking food and agriculture production is critical to feeding a growing population and achieving these goals.

TARGET: Zero Hunger

Imataca is a vast tropical forest in southeast Venezuela spanning 38,000 square kilometers. Rich in biodiversity, the forest is home to thousands of plant and animal species. Decades of illegal logging and mining have led to deforestation and loss of wildlife. The Karina indigenous people living in the forest are working hard to change this. Through a women-led initiative, supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), they’re ensuring the forests of Imataca are now protected for generations to come.

Producers: Marina Sánchez Castelo, Charlotta Lomas, Anais Hotin.
Presenter: Charlotta Lomas, FAO.
Photo credit: ©Jesús Contreras/FAO.

This audio is free for radio broadcasters to air. Contact FAO-Audio@fao.org to share the link. Credit must be given to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Venezuela's forest guardians leading the way

Have you ever wondered where your coffee beans come from? Chances are it was prepared in Guatemala, ninth largest coffee exporter in the world. In the remote region of Ixil, far off the beaten tracks of the northern part of the country, low literacy rates and poverty have long plagued the Maya Ixil Indigenous population. Employment opportunities are far and few between and many parents feel that they have no choice but to bring their children to work with them in coffee fields to make ends meet. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, FAO, and partners in the Ixil region are tackling child labour and poverty by promoting education and safe youth employment in the coffee industry.

Producers ; Anais Hotin, Charlotta Lomas.
Presenter: André Vornic, FAO
Photo credit: © FAO/Santiago Billy

This audio is free for radio broadcasters to air. Contact FAO-Audio@fao.org to share the link. Credit must be given to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The coffee industry : a catalyst for change in child labour

Globally, over three million people migrate to cities each week looking for work opportunities or to join their families. By 2050, over two-thirds of the global population is expected to live in urban areas. The city of Dakar in Senegal has also faced this unprecedented population increase in the last few decades. Over 3.8 million people currently live in the Senegalese capital. Population growth and rapid urbanization have led to losses of agricultural land. This has caused food shortages and a general increase in the price of food products, further threatening the food security of the most vulnerable people. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has been working withthe Municipality of Dakar and some NGOs on a micro-gardening project to reduce food insecurity in the city.

Producers: Yacine Cisse(FAO Senegal), Anais Hotin, Ruki Inoshita
Presenter: Daniel Johnson, UN TV & Radio Geneva.
Photo credit: ©FAO/Yacine Cisse

This audio is free for radio broadcasters to air. Contact FAO-Audio@fao.org to share the link. Credit must be given to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Feeding and regreening: The micro-gardens of Dakar

According to the World Bank estimates, our planet’s population is expected to increase to 9 billion people by the year 2050 - with young people aged between 15 and 24 accounting for approximately 14 percent of this total. Employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for youth today, however, remain limited, especially in rural areas. Long associated with harsh working conditions and low wages, many youngsters see agriculture as a less than attractive prospect. But the sector is crucial in terms of maintaining food security particularly in countries affected by conflict. And the sector is promising – offering lucrative jobs and business opportunities on and off the farm. In several governorates across Syria, FAO has implemented a training programme since 2021 to help young entrepreneurs transform their ideas into successful agri-businesses. The  Nabta programme aims to enhance agricultural production in a country decimated by protracted war.

Producer: FAO Syria, Anais Hotin
Presenter: Daniel Johnson, UN Geneva
Photo credit: @ FAO/Mokthar Al Samman

A new generation of Syrian agricultural entrepreneurs

In Colombia, the coastal town of Buenaventura boasts one of the country’s busiest ports. Local communities rely to a great extent on fisheries and aquaculture to make a living, and women make up a large part of the workforce. These women fish sellers – known as the Platoneras - work informally and earn low wages.  Like more than half of the world’s population, they are not covered under any social protection scheme, making them particularly vulnerable to adverse shocks such as illness, injury, and the eventual onset of old age. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, FAO, and its partners including the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, NORAD, are supporting the Platoneras to strengthen their livelihoods and improve their access to social protection schemes - all the while boosting the community's food security.

Producers: Lis Sánchez, Heysel Calderón (FAO Colombia).
Presenter: Laura Quiñones 
Sound: Eric Deleu
Photo: @ FAO/Heysel Calderón
Music: Conectados

Colombia’s sea women net a better social deal

Escucha el podcast Voces de la FAO con el Economista Jefe de la FAO, Maximo Torero, quien explora las causas detrás del aumento global del hambre desde 2019. Obtén información valiosa y explora posibles soluciones presentadas en el informe sobre El estado de la seguridad alimentaria y nutrición en el mundo 2023.

Productora: Lis Sánchez
Entrevista: Laura Quiñones
Sonido: Eric Deleu

Detrás de los datos del hambre

Water is life, water is food. 
Leave no one behind. 
Water is essential to life on Earth. It covers the majority of the Earth's surface, makes up over 50% of our bodies, produces our food, and supports livelihoods.  

But this precious resource is not infinite and we need to stop taking it for granted. What we eat, and how that food is produced all affect water. 

Together, we can take water action for food and be the change.

https://www.fao.org/world-food-day/home/en

World Food Day 2023 - Public Service Announcement

Water is essential to produce food so it is no surprise to hear that a current global shortage threatens to push more vulnerable people into hunger. A frightening prospect, when you consider that more than 700 million already have too little to eat today. 
Ahead of World Food Day, observed on 16 October, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has shared information about the latest technical innovations that countries can implement to produce the food that they need.
With more, here’s FAO’s Deputy Director-General, Maria Helena Semedo.
Audio Credit
Dominika Tomaszewska-Mortimer, UN News - Geneva
Photo Credit FAO

World Food Day: Innovate and produce more to eat, using less water

In this episode, the spotlight is on FAO’s Food Price Index showing a moderate decline; a first-ever global assessment in crop and livestock losses due to disasters; and a deepening partnership with the Green Climate Fund support countries’ access to climate action resources.

Producer: Lis Sanchez, Ruki Inoshita
Presenter: Ruki Inoshita
Sound: Eric Deleu
Editorial supervision: Michelle Hoffman
©FAO/Fahad Kaizer

FAO Brief - 3 November 2023

Climate change is here, it's real - and it's already having a significant impact. To most of the world, this is now clear -- and what's clear, too, is that we urgently need to act.  
Ahead of the UN Climate Conference, COP28, our colleague Laura Quiñones spoke with Kaveh Zahedi, the director of the FAO Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity, and Environment – about the particular role of agrifood systems – as part of the problem, and as a driving force for solutions.  What is FAO doing to drive climate action? And what will COP28 mean for the world’s agrifood systems? Listen in...   
Discover the crucial role of agrifood systems in the fight against climate change and learn more about FAO's comprehensive approach to supporting global initiatives and solutions for the most vulnerable. Explore innovative solutions with multiple benefits that address climate change, sustainable biodiversity, and food security.

Producer: Lis Sanchez, Ruki Inoshita
Presenter: Ruki Inoshita
Interview by: Laura Quiñones
Sound: Eric Deleu
Editorial supervision: Michelle Hoffman
© FAO

COP28 preview: How agrifood system solutions shape the climate change agenda

En la Conferencia de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Cambio Climático de este año, la agencia de la salud quiere que esta tenga una importante presencia. Una de sus responsables asegura que la misma contaminación que tiene efectos sobre el clima, los tiene sobre nuestros pulmones, y que los fenómenos meteorológicos extremos conducen a un rosario de enfermedades.

En la COP28, se negocia algo más que las emisiones de CO2, se negocia nuestra salud

La ONU considera el acuerdo entre Israel y Hamás “un paso en la dirección correcta", pero "se necesita hacer mucho más”. La Franja de Gaza es el lugar más peligroso del mundo para ser niño, dice la directora de UNICEF. Las primeras vacunas contra la malaria comienzan a distribuirse en África.

Acuerdo Israel-Hamás, niños en Gaza, vacuna contra la malaria… Las noticias del miércoles

In this episode: FAO calls for urgent action on food insecurity in the Gaza Strip; the FAO Food Price Index follows a food commodity price drop in 2023; and a conference to address the high number of fatalities in fisheries.  

Producer: Ruki Inoshita, Heriberto Araujo
Presenter: Ruki Inoshita
Sound: Eric Deleu
Editorial supervision: Michelle Hoffman
©UNICEF/UNI457951/El Baba

FAO Brief - 12 January 2024

En este episodio, el Índice de Precios de los Alimentos de la FAO refleja un descenso continuado de los precios de los productos alimenticios; cómo la FAO trabaja por el futuro de las mujeres estadísticas en África occidental, y un nuevo portal interactivo de datos sobre alimentación.

Productoras: Heriberto Araujo, Ruki Inoshita, Flora Trouilloud
Presentador: Heriberto Araujo
Sonido: Eric Deleu
Editorial supervision: Michelle Hoffman
© FAO / Luis Tato

La FAO en minutos - 12 de febrero de 2024

Dans cet épisode, l’Indice FAO des prix des produits alimentaires a baissé en février, principalement sous l’effet du recul du prix des céréales ; la FAO appelle à la restauration de l'espace humanitaire pour éliminer le risque de famine à Gaza ; et le Directeur général de la FAO exprime sa "profonde inquiétude" face à la montée de la faim au Proche-Orient et en Afrique du Nord. 

Producteurs : Flora Trouilloud, Heriberto Araujo
Présentatrice : Flora Trouilloud
Son : Eric Deleu
Supervision éditoriale : Tszmei Ho
© FAO / Daniel Hayduk

La FAO en Bref - 8 mars 2024

This time last year, swarms of desert locusts began spreading to countries in the Horn of Africa, devastating crops and people’s livelihoods. FAO's emergency campaign appealed for urgent action to avoid a desert locust plague and a looming humanitarian crisis. One year on, we ask FAO' s senior locust forecasting officer Keith Cressman if we are winning the fight.

For more information, visit www.fao.org/locusts/en

Host/Producer: Charlotta Lomas, FAO.
Photo: ©FAO/Sven Torfinn.

Desert locusts: Are we winning the fight?

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.

The FAO of the UN leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and debate policy. FAO is also a source of knowledge and information. We help developing countries and countries in transition modernize and improve agriculture, forestry and fisheries practices and ensure good nutrition for all. Since our founding in 1945, we have focused special attention on developing rural areas, home to 70 percent of the world's poor and hungry people. FAO's activities comprise four main areas:

1. Putting information within reach.
2. Sharing policy expertise.
3. Providing a meeting place for nations.
4. Bringing knowledge to the field.

Desert locusts: Are we winning the fight?

FAO

Related tracks