Can bugs help end hunger?

The episode explores how AI is beginning to reshape the agriculture and food sector – from diagnosing crop diseases with a smartphone photo to powering localized weather forecasts and enabling more efficient supply chains. While technological breakthroughs are advancing rapidly, their real-world impact depends on public goods such as digital public infrastructure and enabling regulation. The speakers emphasizes that AI adoption in agriculture is not merely a technical challenge but a governance challenge – requiring open data frameworks and long-term investment in skills.Speakers:Alesha Miller, Chief Strategy Officer, Digital Green Cathy Kamanu, Kenyan farmer Parmesh Shah, Global Lead for Data-Driven, Digital Agriculture and Innovations, the World BankRanveer Chandra, Managing Director, Research for Industry at Microsoft

In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of insect farming—boosting children’s protein intake, turning waste into fertilizer, feeding livestock and new sources of revenue in the developing world. From fighting malnutrition to restoring soil and saving forests, these tiny creatures may hold the key to some of the world’s biggest challenges.

Viet Nam is growing rice better, and plans to expand it to one million hectares.

This episode discuses how better financing for farmers can help create better jobs along the food system's value chain, while at the same time reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate change is threatening the world’s efforts to feed a growing population. But our food system is also part of the problem, contributing almost a third of global greenhouse gas emissions. 

With its ability to sink carbon, sustain marine biodiversity, employ women, and unlock value chains, seaweed farming demonstrates how development, climate, and nature work together to generate value and uplift communities. Seaweed farming can help build a world free of poverty on a livable planet and has enormous growth potential.

Episode 9 • August 21, 2023 • Table for 10 Billion • World Bank Group - Agriculture and Food Global Practic

As the world continues to grapple with the food crisis, we need to remember that this problem didn’t emerge overnight. Resolving the situation we face today requires a sharper focus than ever on transforming our food systems to make them more sustainable while feeding a growing global population. A well running food system will help build human capital, lift communities out of poverty, and improve climate resilience.

The number of emerging infectious disease (EID) outbreaks has grown to several hundred per year since 2000. What will it take for world leaders, countries, organizations, and communities to understand that prevention is better than cure? The World Bank’s latest flagship report, "Putting Pandemics Behind Us: Investing in One Health to Reduce Risks of Emerging Infectious Diseases," is a clarion call for the universal adoption of an integrated approach to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and ecosystems.