Oh Crop! Food Systems Podcast

Kat Morgan
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Oh Crop! explores the urgent connections between environmental justice, climate change, and public health through the lens of food systems. Join host Kat Morgan, MPH for conversations with leading researchers, farmers, activists, and changemakers who are reimagining how we grow, distribute, and think about food. We dig into the root causes of our food system's biggest challenges and spotlight the innovative solutions sprouting around the world. Whether you're a sustainability professional, climate advocate, or simply someone who eats—there's something here for you.

  1. JAN 27

    E23: Inside WorldVeg – Maarten van Zonneveld & Lukas Pawera on Securing Vegetable Diversity

    In this episode of Oh Crop!, host Kat Morgan sits down in Tainan, Taiwan with Dr. Maarten van Zonneveld (Head of Genetic Resource) and Dr. Lucas Pawera (Agronomist/Agroecologist) from the World Vegetable Center to discuss the critical role of gene banks in conserving vegetable biodiversity, the importance of agroecology and soil health, and other challenges and opportunities in food systems. The World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg), previously known as the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center (AVRDC), is an international, nonprofit institute for vegetable research and development. The conversation highlights the intersections of crop diversity, gene banks, and vegetable conservation, emphasizing the need for diverse crops to ensure culturally relevant nutrition security amid global challenges. Global seed and genebanks are designed to safeguard plant genetic diversity—preserving seeds and tissues for long-term food security, climate-resilient crop breeding, and protection against loss from conflict, disease, or extinction. Check out the research below to learn about the interviewee’s research and WorldVeg’s newest initiative, Vegetables4Life. Resources:  https://avrdc.org/healthy-soils-for-healthy-cities/ https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5810884 https://avrdc.org/launching-vegetables4life/

    30 min

  2. 12/30/2025

    E22: Jean-Claude Rubyogo on Transforming Lives Through Bean Research, Nutrition, and Seed Systems

    In this episode of Oh Crop!, host Kat Morgan, MPH speaks with Dr. Jean-Claude Rubyogo, Director of the Pan-African Bean Research Alliance (PABRA), to explore the powerful — and often underestimated — role beans play in shaping nutrition, livelihoods, and resilience across African food systems. Drawing on decades of experience in bean research and seed systems development, Jean-Claude reflects on the journey of building PABRA into a continent-wide alliance and why beans sit at the intersection of nutrition security, women’s empowerment, climate adaptation, and public health. He shares how value-chain innovations — from breeding and seed distribution to markets and school feeding programs — have helped beans move from a subsistence crop to a strategic development lever. The conversation dives into the science and art of breeding new bean varieties, emphasizing the importance of understanding consumer preferences, cooking qualities, and nutritional needs — particularly the role of high-iron beans in school feeding programs. The episode closes with a reflection on beans as a tool for peace and community resilience. Learn more: -https://alliancebioversityciat.org/who-we-are/jean-claude-rubyogo- https://www.pabra-africa.org/ - https://cgspace.cgiar.org/items/5ba8c701-08ff-41bb-885b-96309e56767f

    31 min

  3. 11/29/2025

    E21: Dr. Cary Fowler on International Security and the Future of Food

    In this episode of Oh Crop!, host Kat Morgan, MPH sits down with Dr. Cary Fowler—the 2024 World Food Prize Laureate, former U.S. Special Envoy for Global Food Security, and widely known as the architect of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. Recorded during his tenure launching the Food Security Leadership Council, this conversation explores why crop diversity, soil health, and long-term agricultural R&D are among the most urgent and underestimated global security challenges of our time. Dr. Fowler reflects on growing up in the Southeastern United States, the civil rights movement, and how those experiences shaped a career dedicated to protecting the foundations of our food system. The discussion also dives into the rising threats of climate change, soil degradation, and water scarcity; the need to prioritize nutrition security over calorie security; and why elevating indigenous crops—often grown by women—can transform both livelihoods and resilience. Dr. Fowler closes with what gives him hope: young people, growing scientific capacity around the world, and a renewed return to the fundamentals that make agriculture work. https://www.caryfowler.com/ https://www.foodsecurityleadership.org/

    31 min

  4. 10/24/2025

    E20: Dr. Stefan Schmitz on The Crop Trust's Mission From Seed to Fork

    This episode of Oh Crop! features a conversation between host Kat Morgan and Dr. Stefan Schmitz, who is the Executive Director of the Crop Trust. Recorded during New York Climate Week 2025, the discussion centers on the imperative role of crop diversity in securing the future of our food system, connecting the historical globalization of food, where major crops originated far from where they are now grown, to the present-day risks of over-relying on a narrow selection of staple crops. Dr. Schmitz champions agrobiodiversity and the shift toward using neglected crops as a strategic solution to build resilience against climate change, address nutritional deficiencies, and ensure healthier diets. He makes a compelling, concise case for global financial commitment to conservation, noting that a one-time investment to secure all global crop diversity is a mere fraction of the funds currently misdirected through agricultural subsidies. Ultimately, the conversation offers hope, looking to advances in life and data science to unlock the full potential of conserved genetic resources to future-proof our food supply. Read about the Crop Trust Here

    34 min

  5. 09/30/2025

    E19: Meli Bees on Indigenous Wisdom and Community Stewardship to Cultivate Climate Action

    In this episode of Oh Crop!, host Kat Morgan, MPH sits down with Ana Rosa de Lima and Ivi Pauli, PhD, from the Meli Bees Network. This woman-led global organization connects over 100 indigenous and local communities with the resources and partners they need to regenerate their environments and strengthen their territories. Anna, the director and founder, shares how her indigenous heritage and experience in the Amazon guide her work, while biologist Ivi Pauli discusses weaving indigenous wisdom with scientific knowledge at Meli. The episode also explores how the name "Meli Bees" is a nod to the stingless bees (meliponines), which serve as a perfect inspiration for their work in creating both social and environmental impact. The conversation reveals how the network, built on trust, supports communities to lead their own climate solutions, such as community-led agroforestry projects and meliponiculture, which involves the production of stingless bees for medicinal and food consumption, as well as environmental conservation. To learn more about the Meli Bees Network, visit their website at https://www.meli-bees.org/.

    21 min

  6. 08/29/2025

    E18: Monika Shukla on Bee-ing the Change | The Humble Bee

    In this episode of Oh Crop!, host Kat Morgan sits down with Monika Shukla, the visionary co-founder and CEO of Humble Bee, a social enterprise revolutionizing beekeeping in rural India. Monika shares her inspiring journey and vision to empower smallholder farmers and women through a powerful social enterprise model. The conversation highlights how the introduction of a beehive fundamentally changes a farmer's life, not just by providing an additional income stream but also by increasing land productivity and empowering women with a new leadership role. This episode explores the often-overlooked connection between pollinators and a resilient global food future. You will also learn why investing in bees is a crucial part of our shared food future and the surprising truth about honey as a functional food. To learn more about Humble Bee, visit their website here.

    18 min

  7. 07/07/2025

    E17: World Food Programme's Andreia Fausto on Somali Food System Transformation

    In this episode of Oh Crop!, host Kat Morgan sits down with Andreia Fausto, Head of Climate Smart Food Systems at the World Food Programme in Somalia, broadcasting from Mogadishu. The conversation reveals fascinating innovations emerging across Somalia's diverse ecological zones: agroecological practices that communities "already had before," solar-powered irrigation systems, and cooperatives where women make key business decisions. Andreia shares her observations from extensive field time, noting that "communities are not waiting—they are really trying to design their own futures by themselves." But questions remain about sustainability, scale, and long-term impact. As Andreia puts it: "Food security isn't just about the calories. It's about who grows the food, how it's produced, who controls the system." This episode offers a practitioner's perspective on the complex realities of working at the intersection of humanitarian response and community-led development. Learn more: Somalia | World Food Programme Somalia Annual Country Report 2024 - Read about Farm2Go

    23 min
  8. E16: World Food Prize Laureate Catherine Bertini on Starting From Scratch to Change Global Food Aid

    06/03/2025

    E16: World Food Prize Laureate Catherine Bertini on Starting From Scratch to Change Global Food Aid

    In this timely episode of Oh Crop!, host Kat Morgan sits down with Catherine Bertini, the 2003 World Food Prize Laureate and former UN World Food Program Executive Director, to discuss the unprecedented crisis facing global food aid. With a staggering $16.9 billion funding gap threatening 123 million vulnerable people, Catherine shares her bold vision for completely reimagining how the world addresses hunger. Drawing from her 20+ years of experience and her "eureka moment" about women's central role in food security, she argues it's time to start from scratch and build a system fit for 2025—not 1945. This conversation offers both sobering realities and inspiring possibilities for anyone who cares about ending hunger. As Catherine powerfully reminds us: when your issue becomes prominent, pounce! Visit CatherineBertini.com Read Reimagining Global Governance for Food Security Read Leading Change for UN Organizations

    26 min
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About

Oh Crop! explores the urgent connections between environmental justice, climate change, and public health through the lens of food systems. Join host Kat Morgan, MPH for conversations with leading researchers, farmers, activists, and changemakers who are reimagining how we grow, distribute, and think about food. We dig into the root causes of our food system's biggest challenges and spotlight the innovative solutions sprouting around the world. Whether you're a sustainability professional, climate advocate, or simply someone who eats—there's something here for you.

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