Ken Giller on the Food Security Conundrum

Why does agricultural research often fall short of addressing food insecurity challenges in sub-Saharan Africa? In this conversation with Ken Giller, we explore this wicked problem from a systems perspective examining the diverse drivers and experiences of smallholder farmers and the socio-ecological systems in which they are embedded.Ken provides a nuanced look at agroecological solutions and argues that relying solely on nature-based solutions would be inadequate to address food security problems in Africa. We also talk about the huge diversity of farmers that can be found under the banner of smallholders, an in-depth examination of the “yield gap,” and what gets lost when translating research into practice.For full show notes and transcript, visit: tabledebates.org/podcast-episode1

Om Podcasten

Is a local or global food system more sustainable? How big should a farm be? Debates about the future of food have become more polarised than ever. We will explore the evidence, worldviews, and values that people bring to global food system debates. Our show will be in conversation with those who are trying to transform the food system, as part of the ongoing work of Table, a collaboration between the University of Oxford, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), and Wageningen University. This podcast is operated by SLU. For more info, visit https://tabledebates.org/podcast/