Bite the Talk - Podcast Series

Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)

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SOCIETY & CULTURE

'Bite the Talk' will strongly focus on the many ramifications of malnutrition that are linked to food systems. This podcast series will bring to the table thought leaders in food and nutrition commenting on the most pressing global issues impacting our food systems, economics, politics, and society.

19 MAR

Nutrition Futures Initiative with Dr. Anthony Wenndt, Thomas Schuumanns, and Commissioner Patrick Mugisha

Nutrition Futures Initiative with Dr. Anthony Wenndt, Thomas Schuumanns, and Commissioner Patrick Mugisha This episode of Bite the Talk, hosted by Mark Gachagua, features a deep dive into the Nutrition Futures Initiative (NFI). The initiative is a collaborative effort designed to bridge the gap between social protection systems and actual nutritional outcomes through a process called co-innovation. The Core Challenge While millions of people rely on programs like cash transfers, school meals, and food support, these systems often fail to meet specific nutritional needs. The experts argue that this is often a failure of design—programs are frequently built without being sensitive to local access constraints or the lived realities of the people they serve. Key Discussion Pillars 1. Defining Co-Innovation Innovating Together: It is a mindset that brings diverse stakeholders—from senior government officials to local farmers—together to leverage unconventional viewpoints. Human-Centered Design (HCD): This approach requires experts to set aside their "dominant logic" and step into the shoes of the beneficiaries. Open Innovation: Commissioner Mugisha emphasizes moving from "closed" government models to "open" ones that actively seek external ideas to inform internal policies. 2. The Digital Infrastructure The Innovators Team Platform: NFI is hosted on a digital platform developed by GAIN and Proportion Global, providing a guided space for stakeholders to research, ideate, and solve challenges. Feedback Loops: The initiative aims to move away from traditional "grievance" mechanisms toward iterative feedback loops where users are treated as equal co-partners. 3. The Scaling Innovation Canvas Thomas Schuumanns introduced a tool for scaling social protection innovations based on three pillars: The Innovation: A concept that is proven to be feasible and desired at a small scale. Future Forecast: A clear long-term mission with a defined roadmap and indicators. Resources: Having the necessary human, financial, and intellectual capital in place. Insights from Uganda Commissioner Mugisha highlighted how Uganda is applying these principles to review national policies for MSMEs and food standards. He noted that by listening to local millers, the government can better understand how to scale industrial fortification of maize so that it actually reaches the most vulnerable populations. "As an innovator, you be humble, you listen, you never know, there could be helping you to save millions... just by listening." — Commissioner Patrick Mugisha The "Maize" Connection In a lighter moment of the episode, Mark Gachagua observed that all three guests shared childhood memories connected to corn—from sweet corn with butter in the US to roasted maize with chili and lemon in East Africa. This shared connection underscores the central theme: that the best solutions come from understanding the simple, daily realities of the people we aim to serve.

57 min
19 FEB

From Pledges to Impact: Unpacking the 2025 Zero Hunger Accountability Report | with Carin Smaller and Dr. Lawrence Haddad

This episode of Bite the Talk, hosted by Mark Gachagua, provides a comprehensive look at the Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge and its 2025 Accountability Report. The discussion centers on the progress made in 2023 and 2024 to mobilize private sector investments toward ending global hunger and malnutrition. Core Discussion TopicsThe State of the Pledge: The Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge, launched at the 2021 UN Food System Summit, serves as a roadmap for companies to invest in 10 high-impact areas across roughly 90 countries. Financial Progress: To date, over 100 companies have pledged a total of $800 million, with approximately $440 million already deployed. Investment Breakdown. 80% of commitments are core business investments rather than charity, proving the business case for food security. Roughly half of the funding is directed toward on-farm infrastructure (irrigation, productivity), and the other half toward market interventions (cold storage, connecting rural areas). The Accountability Framework: The episode highlights a rigorous verification process where independent consultants track company spending and outcomes every two years. Key Challenges and RealitiesThe Geographic Gap: Only 3% of deployed funds have reached the highest-priority, low-income countries, as many companies find middle-income markets less risky. Scaling to Billions: While the pledge has reached millions, the world faces a $514 billion gap to end hunger by 2030. The Changing Global Context: The guests acknowledge a "grim" global atmosphere where some major financial and insurance institutions are backtracking on sustainability commitments. Success Stories and InnovationOver-Commitment: Despite economic downturns, five companies exceeded their original spending pledges. Impact Indicators: For the first time, companies reported on actual outcomes, such as a project in Uganda helping farmers improve pumpkin value chains through better seeds and storage. Leveraging Funds: Dr. Lawrence Haddad points out the extraordinary 500-to-1 return on the pledge's operating budget, having generated $151 million in incremental commitments from just $300,000 in administrative costs. The episode concludes with a call for a more resilient development paradigm that relies less on dwindling foreign aid and more on blended finance, government regulation, and a thriving African private sector.

48 min
11/12/2025

Uganda at the Table: Accelerating Food Systems Transformation

In this episode of Bite the Talk, host Mark Gachagua and GAIN Uganda Country Director Damali Sali explore the "Ugandan Paradox"—why an agricultural powerhouse known as the "Pearl of Africa" still struggles with high malnutrition rates. Damali argues that the root cause is not food scarcity, but "information scarcity" and deep-seated cultural habits, such as the overwhelming dominance of the staple food Matoke, which often crowds out more nutritious options. The conversation unpacks the specific challenges facing different demographics, from corporate mothers targeted by formula marketing to market vendors who lack the time to breastfeed3333. Ultimately, the episode highlights the need to bridge the gap between high-level government policy and household knowledge to ensure Uganda's agricultural abundance translates into better health for its people

40 min
06/11/2025

The Climate & Nutrition Story | with Oliver Camp

Episode SummaryIn Episode 27 of "Bite the Talk," host Mark Gachagua is joined by Oliver Camp, the Environment and Food Systems Advocacy Advisor at GAIN. The episode provides a deep dive into the critical intersection of climate change and nutrition, exploring how these two agendas are being integrated across policies, finance, and national strategies. Key Discussion PointsThe "Helicopter View": Ollie begins by outlining the crucial connections between climate and nutrition. He explains that climate change impacts nutrition in numerous ways, such as reducing crop yields and their nutritional content, causing livestock losses, increasing food spoilage due to higher temperatures, and physically disrupting access to food through climate shocks. Conversely, food production itself contributes to climate change through emissions from agriculture, land clearing, and livestock . GAIN and the I-CAN Initiative: A significant portion of the discussion focuses on the Initiative on Climate Action and Nutrition (I-CAN), which GAIN helps lead. Ollie explains that I-CAN works to identify "win-win" solutions by assessing how well climate and nutrition are integrated in policies (like NDCs and NAPs), finance (like the GCF and ODA), and private sector behavior . The goal is to encourage greater integration, making climate policies more nutrition-sensitive and nutrition policies more climate-sensitive. Country Progress and "Win-Wins": While cautious about picking favorites, Ollie notes that many countries are making progress, citing examples like Cambodia and small island states (e.g., Barbados, UAE) for their comprehensive approaches . He emphasizes that aligning these agendas offers significant "win-win" opportunities, such as cutting food loss and waste, which benefits both the environment and food availability . The Finance Gap: A major challenge identified is the gap in climate finance. Ollie highlights that only a small percentage of climate finance is directed toward food systems and nutrition , despite food systems accounting for about a third of greenhouse gas emissions. He argues for the need to translate high-level strategies into robust, "investable proposals" that speak the language of climate funders and leverage private finance. Looking Ahead to COP30: The conversation shifts to the upcoming COP30 in Belém, Brazil. Ollie sees opportunities to raise nutrition's visibility through new NDCs, the Brazilian-led "Belém Declaration on Hunger", and the COP Presidency's Action Agenda, which includes a specific objective on nutrition and diets. His key advice for governments is to look for "multiple outcomes" (co-benefits like health, jobs, and nutrition) and to create detailed, investable proposals based on their climate commitments. Lighter Moments: The episode concludes with a lighter segment where Mark asks Ollie about his favorite childhood snack. Mark shares his love for roasted maize with chili and lemon , while Ollie admits to being a "proper British boy" who eats porridge daily but has a weakness for roasted, salted cashew nuts. Parting Shot: Ollie's final message is one of optimism, reiterating that the "win-win opportunities... are too good to miss" and that now is the time for commitment, creativity, and connection to drive action .

31 min
16/10/2025

Global Food Systems Dashboard

Bite the Talk Episode 26: The Global Food Systems Dashboard In this episode, host Mark Gachagua speaks with Dr. Jessica Fanzo (Columbia University) and Dr. Ty Beal (GAIN) about the Global Food Systems Dashboard. They explain it was created to solve the problem of scattered and complex food data by consolidating information from over 40 sources into one user-friendly, visually appealing platform. Described as a "map of your food system from farm to fork," the dashboard provides a comprehensive overview of everything from agricultural production to health, environment, and livelihood outcomes. The dashboard is a vital tool for a wide range of users, including major organizations like the FAO, governments, and educators. A key feature is the development of subnational dashboards in countries like Kenya, Nigeria, and Pakistan, which provide localized data to inform policy. Future plans for the dashboard are ambitious and include integrating AI-powered natural language queries, adding climate change projections to anticipate future impacts on food security, and launching more country-specific dashboards. The ultimate goal is to empower decision-makers with the data they need to drive global food systems transformation.

35 min
22/09/2025

Pakistan Food Systems Journey

In this episode, Faiz Rasool shares Pakistan’s bold steps to reimagine its food systems. From developing a first-of-its-kind national food systems dashboard to making food systems education compulsory in universities, Pakistan is building resilience through innovation and collaboration. Faiz reflects on the challenges of turning policy into action, the power of cross-sector partnerships, and the importance of data in shaping decisions that affect millions. His journey shows how systemic change is possible when vision meets commitment. Tune in for insights on how one country is rewriting the future of food security—and what the rest of the world can learn from it.

33 min
12/08/2025

Amplifying Youth Voices in Food Systems

In this inspiring episode of Bite the Talk, host Mark Gachagua sits down with Eugenia Cho, an Act for Food youth leader, to explore the critical role of young people in shaping sustainable, equitable, and inclusive food systems. From her beginnings in Hong Kong, where she first learned about the environmental and ethical impacts of industrial agriculture, Eugenia shares how her curiosity led her to uncover the deep connections between food, health, climate, education, and culture. Eugenia discusses how food is an interdisciplinary entry point for change—affecting every aspect of life and society—and why empowering youth to have a genuine voice in decision-making is essential. She introduces listeners to Act for Food, a global campaign hosted by The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), which unites 25 youth leaders worldwide to champion local and indigenous foods, promote school nutrition, and hold multinational corporations accountable. Listeners hear about the challenges young advocates face in accessing high-level policy spaces, such as UN forums, and the danger of tokenistic engagement. Eugenia highlights the importance of meaningful inclusion, where youth perspectives influence actual decisions rather than being symbolic. The conversation also explores practical strategies for overcoming barriers—such as building strong networks, leveraging mentorship, and engaging in youth-adult partnerships that blend innovative ideas with experienced guidance. Eugenia shares her personal success stories from cold-messaging peers and mentors, leading to unexpected opportunities like attending the UN’s High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. Together, Mark and Eugenia identify solutions for institutions—governments, NGOs, and the private sector—to better support youth engagement, emphasizing the creation of dedicated spaces for youth input, financial and skill-building investment, and the integration of youth-led initiatives into organizational priorities. When imagining speaking to world leaders at the United Nations, Eugenia explains she would tailor her message to each policymaker’s field, connecting food system transformation to climate goals, educational outcomes, cultural preservation, and public health. Her key point: food is connected to everything, and transforming food systems has ripple effects across all sectors. The episode closes with Eugenia’s call to action: start with what you know. Whether through art, coding, agriculture, or activism, every skill can contribute to building better food systems. This movement thrives on uniting diverse talents toward a shared goal—balancing what people are good at with what the world needs. Mark reinforces the message that youth voices are not optional—they are indispensable in creating a sustainable and just food future. From students to farmers to activists, everyone has a role in the transformation. Bottom line: Youth are 25% of the population but 100% of the future—and their involvement is the change the food system needs. Follow The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN): Twitter/X: https://x.com/GainAlliance Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GAINalliance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gainalliance LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-alliance-for-improved-nutrition

20 min
28/07/2025

UNFSS Stocktaking & Future Steps

This episode of "Bite The Talk" features a conversation between host Mark Gachagua and Dr. Lawrence Haddad, Executive Director at GAIN. They delve into the critical question of progress in global food systems transformation since the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) and the UNFSS+2 Stocktaking Moment.

35 min

'Bite the Talk' will strongly focus on the many ramifications of malnutrition that are linked to food systems. This podcast series will bring to the table thought leaders in food and nutrition commenting on the most pressing global issues impacting our food systems, economics, politics, and society.

Creator

Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)
Years Active

2020 - 2026
Episodes

31
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2020 GAIN Bite the Talk Podcast
Show Website

Bite the Talk - Podcast Series