Farm to Table Podcast KE
By Wambui Mbichi
Farm to Table Podcast KEFeb 01, 2023
April 4, 2024
Science Communication in Africa - Part II
In October 2023, I had the honor to be a panelist in a webinar to talk about science communication in Africa. The panel consisted of members from Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. We talked about what goes into creating a successful platform, need for collaboration, mentoring upcoming science communicators challenges and finally shared tools that have been useful in doing our work.
Tune in to learn all about it.
Panelists:
Saad Lotfey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/saadlotfey/
Cyril Boateng - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cyrildboateng/
Sarah Nyanchera - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahnyancheranyakeri/
Ruth Torty - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-torty-680633122/
Wealth Okete - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wealthokete/
Anne Chisa - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-chisa/
Science Communication in Africa - Part I
In October 2023, I had the honor to be a panelist in a webinar to talk about science communication in Africa. The panel consisted of members from Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa.
We talked about what goes into creating a successful platform, need for collaboration, mentoring upcoming science communicators challenges and finally shared tools that have been useful in doing our work.
Tune in to learn all about it.
Panelists:
Saad Lotfey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/saadlotfey/
Cyril Boateng - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cyrildboateng/
Sarah Nyanchera - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahnyancheranyakeri/
Ruth Torty - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-torty-680633122/
Wealth Okete - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wealthokete/
Anne Chisa - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-chisa/
Investing in Food Security - Grow Further
Happy new year! We usher in the new year with a follow up conversation with Grow Further founder Peter Kelly. We talk about the success of their flagship grant that will benefit projects geared at improved food security and agricultural research and innovation. Tune in to learn more.
Check out Grow Further here to keep up with future work. Subscribe to their newsletter for more https://www.growfurther.org/
Resilience of our food systems - With Environmental Defense Fund
A third of total global food supply is produced by small scale farmers. However, they remain extremely vulnerable to climate shocks which we are experiencing more frequently.
Tune in to this episode where we speak to Tom Grasso, the Vice President for climate resilient food systems at the Environmental Defense Fund to learn about all the work they are doing.
Learn more about the Environmental Defense Fund https://www.edf.org/
Learn more about the Food Systems Pavilion https://foodsystemspavilion.com/
State Of Our Food Systems - SOFI Report 2023
We are back with an episode discussing the state of food security and nutrition in the world (SOFI Report 2023).
We take a deep dive into the aspects discussed in the report with an emphasis of the urbanization mega trend.
Tune in to learn all about this.
To read the full report see https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000151116/download/?_ga=2.118007113.1109357329.1698770545-1018440010.1698770545
Profitable African Agricultural Enterprises - with Agro Market Square
Meet Mr Nwabufo Areh, one of the founders of Agro Market Square; a profitable sustainable agriculture supply chain business. We talk about their work and how they touch on all aspects of the agricultural value chain.
He also tells us about how they are overcoming unique challenges faced within the agricultural industry in Africa through commitment and motivation for sustainability.
Sustainable Land Use Practices - With Food and Land Use Coalition
Land use practices and systems contribute greatly to the sustainability of agriculture. On this episode Michael Onchabo the country director of the Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU) in Kenya tells us about how the work they do is promoting better land use practices through policy and research frameworks.
Tune in to learn more.
Check out Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU) to learn more about their work https://www.foodandlandusecoalition.org/
The right to food with Route to food
Welcome back to the podcast. Season 6 premiers with an insightful conversation with Felistus Mwalia of Route to Food. We talk about their work in advocacy for the right to food which is constitutionally entrenched in Kenya. We also demystify myths associated with food insecurity.
To find out more check out their website https://routetofood.org/
and join the Route to Food alliance https://routetofood.org/join-alliance/
The bread basket - Chef Kuda Makoni Part II
On the final episode of Season 5 we have Part II of my chat with Chef Kuda. We continue to talk about his work championing African cuisine in the fine dining scene. He also encourages us to embrace our indigenous food as our ingredients as Africans represent a large part of the global bread basket. Listen to learn more.
Highlighting African Cuisine - With Chef Kuda Makoni Part I
We are thrilled to have our first guest chef on the show; and who better than Chef Kuda Kwashe Makoni the Group executive chef for a leading hospitality company in Ghana. We chat about his work and his mission to champion African cuisine globally. Tune in to learn all about it.
International year of the millet-Part II
This is part II of our conversation celebrating International Year of the Millets 2023. On this episode, Dennis Tippe and Shivali Sharma take us through the nutritional, economic and agronomic benefits of finger millets. We also talk more about the BOLD project and efforts to conserve the genetic diversity of finger millets for the benefit of farming communities; particularly women and youth.
Listen to learn more.
International year of the millet - Millets for the future
On this episode we have part 1 of our International Year of the Millet (IYM) conversation. In partnership with the Global Crop Diversity Trust we spoke with Shivali Sharma and Dennis Tippe who are working on the BOLD Finger millet pre-breeding work aimed at using genetic diversity to come up with the best varieties of finger millet. We also explore the various nutritional and agronomic benefits of finger millet to farmers. Tune in to learn more.
https://www.croptrust.org/work/projects/the-bold-project/
https://www.croptrust.org/pgrfa-hub/crops-countries-and-genebanks/crops/finger-millet/
African Food Stories Part II - Why representation matters.
Welcome to another episode! We have part II of my conversation with Sheree Williams of Cuisine Noir magazine. We continue to chat about representation and inclusion of African stories on food in media. She also tells us about their work supporting small entrepreneurs by sharing their stories and amplifying their voices. Listen to learn more.
Cuisine Noir Magazine online- http://www.cuisinenoirmag.com.
Diaspora Food Stories - http://www.diasporafoodstories.com
African Food Stories - Part 1
On this episode we are joined by Sheree Williams the Global Food and Drink Initiative and owner of Cuisine Noir. We chat about the evolution of African food and our food stories across the world. She also tells us about her work that is dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories of people of African descent in food, drink and travel. Listen in to learn more.
Cuisine Noir magazine - http://www.cuisinenoirmag.com.
Diaspora Food Stories - http://www.diasporafoodstories.com
At the Table of Power by Diane Spivey - https://books.google.co.ke/books/about/At_the_Table_of_Power.html?id=32y1zgEACAAJ&source=kp_book_description&redir_esc=y
Hair love - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNw8V_Fkw28
Legally speaking... part II
On this episode we have part II of my conversation with Jacqueline Odundo. She gives as a brief look into the various laws and policies governing agriculture and the food sector in Kenya. We also discuss the untapped opportunities that lie in proper food labelling and the need for better regulation of food labelling and food safety. Listen to learn about this and more.
Legally speaking... with Jacqueline Odundo Part I
Welcome to season 5 of Farm to Table Podcast KE! To kickoff this season we have part I of my conversation with Jacqueline Odundo; a food and agriculture lawyer in Kenya. Jacqueline talks to us about the work she does with Warehouse Receipt System Council to help farmers achieve financial inclusion. She also tells us about what goes into drafting food and agriculture policy that caters to the needs of farmers and other players within food systems.
Tune in to learn more.
My food is African a book review - Part II
We conclude season 4 of the podcast with the second and final part of the review on 'My Food Is African: Healthy Soil, Safe Foods And Diverse Diets' a new book in the Barefoot guide Agroecology series; produced by The Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) as a part of their campaign named MY FOOD IS AFRICAN. We focus on the diet aspects of African societies in the past and compare that to what is currently happening. I hope this episode inspires us to embrace and incorporate our indigenous knowledge on food to solve issues of food and nutrition insecurity .
To find out more on the campaign and (AFSA) check out https://afsafrica.org.
Music by Lesfm & Stock_Studio from Pixabay
My Food is African a book review-Part I
Welcome to the premier episode of our reviews section. On this episode we review 'My Food Is African: Healthy Soil, Safe Foods And Diverse Diets' a new book in the Barefoot guide Agroecology series. The book is produced by The Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) as a part of their campaign named MY FOOD IS AFRICAN. Tune in to part one of the review which covers the agronomical part of the book.
To find out more on the campaign and (AFSA) check out https://afsafrica.org.
Music by Lesfm & Stock_Studio from Pixabay
Crop Trust Part II - Challenges of biodiversity conservation
On this episode we have part II of my conversation with Norah of Crop Trust where we continue to talk about some of the success stories from gene banks and some challenges that gene banks face in their biodiversity conservation efforts. We also talk about our hopes for the future in conservation work. Tune in to learn more on this.
Find The Global Crop Diversity Trust here https://www.croptrust.org
More resources on the role of Biodiversity in food and nutrition security https://www.fao.org/3/cb8338en/cb8338en.pdf
Music by Lesfm & Stock_Studio from Pixabay
The Biodiversity gift - Crop Trust Part I
A better beer - Kweza Craft Brewery
On this episode we have an insightful conversation with Jessi Flynn (CEO and Founder) and Tapiwa Charosa (Brewer) Kweza Craft Brewery; Rwanda's first craft brewery and one of the few women led and owned breweries in the world. We speak about what it takes to run a brewery including highs and lows and about how they ensure sustainability and social justice in their operations which are the key values at the core of their business. Tune in to learn more.
Find Kweza Craft Brewery here; https://www.kwezabrewery.com
Music by Lesfm & Stock_Studio from Pixabay
Climate Finance for food security and agriculture - TIFS
To learn more about Cop 27 commitment to Agriculture and Food security see unfccc.int/topics/land-use/workstreams/agriculture
Music by Coma-Media from Pixabay
Business interventions for sustainable food systems
On this episode we speak to Rex Raymond of Transformational Investing in Food Systems (TIFS) on their work and the role of social entrepreneurship and private capital in innovations geared towards just and sustainable food systems. We also talk about the reasons for some of the biggest challenges we observe today such as the loss of biodiversity and malnourishment & obesity. Tune in to learn more.
We acknowledge the Global Alliance For the Future of Food https://futureoffood.org for facilitating this conversation.
Find out more about TIFS here>> https://www.tifsinitiative.org
iPoP Africa Part II
Tune in to catch part II of our conversation with Dorah Momanyi of NAN and iPoP Africa. We speak about her challenges as an entrepreneur and what you can expect going into food production. We also talk about some of her wins and her future plans.
Healthy snacking- iPoP Africa Part I
We kick off the new season with part I of our wonderful conversation with Dorah Momanyi the founder of iPoP Africa and Nutritious Agriculture Network. We talk about healthy snacks made from indigenous cereals such as millet and sorghum; that are nutritious and still delicious and the need for agriculture and nutrition to find a common ground in order to solve issues of malnutrition and achieve SDG 2. Tune in to learn more.
Music by Coma-Media from Pixabay
Let's recap - What we've learnt.
On this episode we wrap up. season 3 by taking a look at some of our episodes and guests throughout the season. Tune in to learn more.
Ps. Thank you all for being a part of this podcast and let's go on to bigger and better!
Financing scientific innovations for agriculture - The Grow Further way
On this episode I speak to Peter Kelly the founder of Grow further, an organisation that seeks to restructure funding for scientific agricultural innovations. They do this by giving people from all backgrounds a chance to invest in the food sector and support small holder farming.
To learn more about Grow Further check out their website: https://www.growfurther.org
Food governance - The tip of the tongue podcast
As hunger action month draws to a close, I am pleased to have a conversation with Liz Williams host of The tip of the tongue podcast and founder of Southern Food and Beverage Museum. We chat about food governance in the contexts of both Kenya and USA. We focus particularly on how different policies shape food systems and food security.
Find The tip of the tongue podcast here... https://southernfood.org/tip-of-the-tongue
Agriculture in the face of climate change.
On this episode I am joined by the African Scientist; Brian Njoroge to discuss agriculture in the face of climate change. Our conversation covers the current observations of rising global temperatures, extreme weather conditions and changes in pest and diseases. We then tie all this with the impacts that climate change is having on our food systems.
Find The African Scientist here... https://www.youtube.com/c/TheAfricanScientist
Link to a paper with further information....Bedeke, S.B. Climate change vulnerability and adaptation of crop producers in sub-Saharan Africa: a review on concepts, approaches and methods. Environ Dev Sustain(2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-022-02118-8
Youth engagement and innovation - World Food Forum Part II
On this episode we continue with part II of my conversation with Victor Mugo of the World Food Forum. We delve into the role of youth and women in our food systems and the need to support innovators both in research and entrepreneurship. We conclude by speaking about the 2022 flagship event set to happen later this year. Listen to learn more.
To see the full state of food security and nutrition report by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) go to https://www.fao.org/publications/sofi/2022/en/
World food forum website https://www.world-food-forum.org
The state of our food systems- World Food Forum Part I
On this episode we have part I of my conversation with Victor Mugo; the head of global partnerships at the World Food Forum (WFF). We talk about the current status of our food systems including challenges and solutions. We also discuss the establishment and mission of WFF. Tune in to learn more.
To see the full state of food security and nutrition report by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) go to https://www.fao.org/publications/sofi/2022/en/
The bug picture Part II - Regenerative agriculture and desert locusts
We have part II of our conversation with Laura of The bug picture. In this episode she tells us about regenerative agriculture and their project that converts desert locusts into animal feeds and income for farmers. Join us to learn more on this.
Find The Bug Picture here >> https://thebugpicture.com
The bug picture Part I - Insects as an alternative protein source
This is part I of our conversation with Laura; Founder of The bug picture. We discuss insects as a sustainable protein alternative in animal feeds. She tells us about their work in regenerative agriculture using Black Soldier Flies larvae to compost organic waste in the home to get bio-fertilizers. The larvae can then be harvested and used as livestock feed. She is also working to mainstream use of desert locusts in animal feed production to mitigate losses to farmers.
Find out more about The Bug Picture here https://thebugpicture.com
Organic farming - The future is organic
Welcome to another episode where we are joined by Mr. John the director of Kenya Institute of Organic Farming (KIOF) to discuss organic farming. He tells us about their work and the techniques involved in organic farming as well as current opportunities within the industry for both local and international consumers. Join us to learn more.
Please find KIOF at https://www.kiof.net
An intersection of beef farming and technology.
The recent opening of Middle Eastern markets for export of Kenyan beef presents an opportunity for livestock farmers. To kick off the new season, we speak to Rob of Thinglogix and Barley beef about beef farming and how the ranch has incorporated technology in its daily operations. Rob also talks about the solutions provided by internet of Things to agriculture. Tune in to learn more.
Home gardening 101
On this episode we do a fun Q&A session on the most commonly asked questions about house plant care and home gardening. We cover everything from watering, fertilising and pest and disease control. Tune in to learn more on this.
Climate smart agriculture - The future of farming
On this episode we are joined by Sandra Asantewaa Boafo Agyiri the Founder and CEO of Agro-Circa, a Ghanian based agri-tech company that offers solutions in climate smart and precision agriculture to small holder farmers. Tune in to learn more on this.
To connect with Agro-circa, check out their website https://agro-circa.com
The Africa Bio-genome project - Our take
On this episode the host is joined by Brian Njoroge; the founder of The African Scientist podcast and YouTube channel to discuss out thoughts on the recently launched Africa Bio-genome project. We talk about its value and impact to the African continent with a focus on agriculture, conservation and data sharing. Tune in to learn more
Agricultural insurance- Promoting resilient farming
In this episode we feature Pricilla Karobia; an insurance professional who has worked in designing insurance products for farmers to discuss agri-insurance. We discuss covers available to farmers, benefits and challenges associated with farming insurance. Tune in to learn more on this.
Making food systems sustainable - Our role
Join host as we have a chat with Elizabeth Fuller; a food photographer and founder of Lets go on a food adventure podcast. We compare the food security situation in the USA and Kenya. We also talk about food waste and how our individual efforts can reduce this.
To learn more on Elizabeth see elizabethrfuller.com and listen to Food Adventures podcast.
Big Data for agriculture.
On this episode we feature Shamba Records's CEO and founder George Maina to discuss the role of Big Data in agricultural value chains. We also talk about the tech platform Shamba Records and all it offers farmers and other members. Join us to learn more on this and for more information; check out www.shambarecords.com
Global GAP - Branding your agribusiness
On this episode the host takes you through the basics of Global GAP and briefly gets into what it entails. We cover the benefits, pillars and principles of both Global GAP and Kenya GAP to give you our listeners a glimpse into this key accreditation for agriculture and food industry.
Citations:
https://www.globalgap.org/.content/.galleries/Documents_Media_Gallery/181024_Fruit_and_Vegetables_Booklet_en.pdf
Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) on horticultural production for extension staff in Tanzania Training manual by Wilfred L. Mushobozi Sustainable Agriculture and Agribusiness Development Eco Agriconsultancy Services LtdUnited Republic of Tanzania
Park, E., Gachukia, M.K. The Role of the Local Innovation System for Inclusive Upgrading in the Global Value Chain: The Case of KenyaGAP in the Kenyan Horticultural Sector. Eur J Dev Res 33, 578–603 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41287-020-00285-w
The African agri-preneurial landscape.
In this episode we are joined by Victor Mugo the regional coordinator for East Africa in Nourishing Africa to discuss the agricultural entrepreneurship landscape across the African continent. We discuss what attracts investors to agricultural startups and the future of agriculture in Africa.
To learn more on Nourishing Africa please see nourishingafrica.com
Poultry Farming and Newcastle Disease. A story of vaccination.
We kick season 2 off with guests from Kyeema foundation and Vet AID East Africa to discuss poultry farming and the challenge of Newcastle disease. Our guests detail the efforts being made towards vaccination against NCD which is the only effective control known today. Tune in to learn more on this and check out kyeemafoundation.org and VETAID East Africa for more information.
Episode 010
Welcome to the final episode of the first season. The host shares take aways and lessons from the season to conclude and sets the tone for the next season.
Big thank you to you all that tune in and engage with this podcast. Looking forward to more interactions to find out what more you would like to learn from Farm to Table Podcast.
Episode 009
In part II of our business skills series, the host is joined again by Kelvin, a digital marketing expert. Tune in to learn all about marketing skills for SMEs with a focus on digital marketing. To reach out to Kelvin, check out his twitter @Kelvinw_BIG or Linked in Kelvin Wachira Wamaitha.
Episode 008
On this episode, the host is joined by Kelvin Wachira an entrepreneur and expert on digital marketing to discuss business skills required for a successful enterprise. We discuss the basics of accounting in SMEs in order to ensure you track all your income and spending and avoid common pitfalls. To reach out to Kelvin, check out his twitter @Kelvinw_BIG or Linked in Kelvin Wachira Wamaitha.
Episode 007
Join host for part II of the plant health series as we discuss diagnosis and control of plant diseases. As usual we give you examples using commonly grown crops for your every farming need.
Episode 006
On this episode the host delves into plant health. We discuss plant diseases; types, causes and symptoms in part one of this series. Tune in to learn more about this with examples of what affects common crops being given.