Asia's Farm to Fork: 5 Good Questions Podcast

For this special episode celebrating International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Dr Rhodora Romero-Aldemita, Executive Director, ISAAA, provides essential advice to young women exploring a career in science along with her views on the adoption of modern agriculture. Dr Rhodora also discussed how the different forms of agricultural technology can help to improve the lives of farmers and the food supply chain, particularly in Asia. Listen in to hear her hopes and dreams of a world where policymakers would see the importance of ensuring farmers get access to modern technology, and also the adoption of it to ensure a better world that is food secure.

Released in time for Lunar New Year, learn more about farmers and how they put food on our table with our guest for the 15th episode of Asia's Farm to Fork: 5 Good Questions podcast, Dr. May Chodchoey, Executive Director, The Asia and Pacific Seed Association (APSA). In this episode, Dr. May shares her thoughts on the important role of quality seeds for our smallholder farmers, the challenge of driving regional food security in a sustainable way, and the increasing effect climate change is having on the food supply chain.

In the 14th episode of Asia’s Farm to Fork: 5 Good Questions Podcast, we spoke to Suriyan Vichitlekarn, Executive Director, Mekong Institute, to discuss the work that Mekong Institute is doing in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) and how innovation and technology are pertinent to improve the livelihood and productivity of farmers. In this podcast, he highlights many topics that are close to the heart of what the industry should hope to achieve, for farmers and for the world's food economy, which includes closer collaboration among stakeholders.

In the 13th episode of Asia’s Farm to Fork: 5 Good Questions Podcast, we spoke to Alex Berkovskiy, regional director, Asia-Pacific, Syngenta on World Food Day to discuss his thoughts on the current food value chain, and also how changing perspectives of farm to fork would help to advance the agenda of food security for all. In this episode, he also discusses his hopes for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to create a better food value chain.

For the 12th episode of Asia’s Farm to Fork: 5 Good Questions Podcast, we spoke to Professor William Chen, Michael Fam Chair Professor in Food Science and Technology and director of the programme in Nanyang Technological University. In this timely conversation for the International Day of Food Waste and Loss, he shares his perspective on the current food supply chain, and the role of the individual in ensuring minimal food waste and loss to ensure food security for all.

In the 11th episode of Asia’s Farm to Fork: 5 Good Questions Podcast, we have the pleasure of hearing from the Honorable Ted McKinney, former Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs with the USDA. In the conversation, he shares his perspective on the process leading up to the Summit, how to ensure food systems are more resilient and sustainable, and the role of innovation in helping support farmers while driving progress with the SDGs.

In our 10th episode of Asia’s Farm to Fork: 5 Good Questions Podcast, the spotlight is on climate change’s connection to food security. Dr. Paul Teng, will check title to use, discusses the status of regional food security, current trends, the importance of sustainability with food production, and his thoughts on what’s needed to ensure and improve farmer livelihood in Asia.

In another fresh episode of Asia’s Farm to Fork: 5 Good Questions Podcast, and in celebration of International Youth Day, we speak to Jolene Lum, a young agri-preneur and Group CEO of Urban Tiller. In the podcast, she discusses some of the challenges that small-scale farmers face, and how she positions her business to address that sustainably.

In this episode of Asia's Farm to Fork: 5 Good Questions Podcast, we had a timely conversation with Dr. Sianghee Tan, Executive Director of CropLife Asia on some of the statistics that were shared by the United Nations in the newly published 2021 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report. Dr. Tan emphasized the need for heightened cooperation between stakeholders, regulators, and government in dealing with the issue of food security, and pointed out some factors that could help improve our food systems.

In this episode of Asia's Farm to Fork: 5 Good Questions Podcast, we had an insightful conversation with Dr. Mahaletchumy Arujanan, Global Coordinator at ISAAA and also Executive Director, MABIC, on the need for science-based decision making when it comes to food security as well as the game-changing role technology can play in the food value chain. Dr. Mahaletchumy also shared her thoughts on the newly published 2021 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report by the United Nations.

In this episode of Asia's Farm to Fork: 5 Good Questions Podcast, we spoke to Dr. Glenn Gregorio, Director, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) where he shares insights on challenges faced by Asia’s smallholder farmers, and his hopes for stronger collaboration between academe, industry and the government to allow a sustainable transformation of the food system moving forward.

In this episode of Asia's Farm to Fork: 5 Good Questions Podcast, we welcome Susanna Hasenoehrl, Director Sustainability and Growth & Commercialisation, Digital Farming (Asia), Yara International. She shares her insights on the food value chain and some of the impacts of COVID-19 on smallholder farmers in Asia. This episode also discusses some industry solutions to improve the situation for all in terms of food security, and also optimistic views for the industry moving forward.

In this episode of Asia’s Farm to Fork: 5 Good Questions Podcast, we welcome Jens Hartmann, Regional Head (APAC), Head of Commercial Operations – Asia Pacific, Bayer Crop Science on International Day for Biological Diversity. Jens shares his insights on the importance of technology and innovation in agriculture, and how they can help make agriculture more sustainable while also driving productivity. He also discusses the positive effects that digital developments and connectivity can have on the region’s smallholder farmers, especially in the time of the pandemic.

In this episode of the podcast, we spoke to Temina Lalani-Shariff, Director of Brand and Advocacy, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). In the interview, Temina shares her thoughts on food security, the troubling rise of hunger in the world, and the role of rice. She also provides insight into IRRI efforts being led through the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) as well as an update on progress with ‘Golden Rice’. This episode is an in-depth conversation into Asia’s food value chain and a must-listen.

This World Day for Safety and Health for Workers, we spoke to Delisa Jiang, Director of Sustainability and Advocacy with CropLife Asia. In the interview, Delisa shares her thoughts on the critical importance of health and safety on the farm, the growing role innovation and new technologies like drones are playing in Asian agriculture, and progress with industry stewardship programs that she’s helping lead. Delisa also offers interesting insights with a project CropLife is undertaking to utilize behavioral science learnings to promote crop protection responsible use and better ensure regional farmers’ health and safety.

To ring in #EarthDay, we bring you our first episode – ‘5 Good Questions’ with Mr. Gustavo Palerosi Carneiro, Sr VP Agricultural Solutions Asia-Pacific, BASF and also President, CropLife Asia. In the interview, Gustavo shares his thoughts on a number of topics, including: sustainability in agriculture; smallholder farmers in Asia and how they drive regional food systems; and the growing importance of innovation and technology in food production.