Malnutrition is a global challenge and a hidden emergency choking economic development in many parts of the world. With the right multisectoral investment and good food for all, the world can drive sustainable progress.
In this special four-part series of the Future Fork Podcast, we delve into the crucial role of nutrition in fostering healthier and more prosperous societies, as well as more resilient food systems.
From tackling hidden hunger to rethinking school meals, each episode shares fresh perspectives from leading voices and champions in public health, agriculture, and development.
Whether you’re a policymaker, practitioner, or passionate advocate, these conversations will inspire action and challenge how we think about nutrition and its power to transform lives.
The fight to end global malnutrition with Afshan Khan
Afshan Khan is the UN Assistant Secretary-General and Coordinator of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement that aims to eliminate malnutrition in all its forms by 2030. Afshan has served as an international public official for over thirty years in various roles, such as UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia and Special Coordinator for the Refugee and Migrant Response in Europe.
In this episode, Afshan expounds on the mission to end malnutrition by 2030 and how SUN works with governments, businesses, and other groups to improve nutrition globally. She also discusses the effect of climate change on nutrition, international efforts to improve nutrition policies, such as better financing, and the value of locally available nutritious food.
“What have we learned around nutrition that works? What are some of the obstacles and challenges we’re facing?
How can we tackle those together, and what’s the way forward in terms of the new commitments that some countries are going to make at the next Nutrition for Growth summit?”
Afshan Khan, Coordinator, SUN Movement
Nutrition for Growth Summit 2025 with Brieuc Pont
Brieuc Pont is France’s Special Envoy on Nutrition and Secretary General of the Nutrition for Growth Summit (N4G). N4G is a gathering of global leaders to address and embrace a new vision for nutrition and sustainable development worldwide. In this episode, Brieuc explains to Paul how his diplomatic career turned towards championing global nutrition. Recorded ahead of the Summit in Paris (27-28 March), they further explore the challenges in uniting a fragmented nutrition community to advance the ‘gospel’ of nutrition.
“The world of nutrition is not a world of conflict, but what I’ve met is a very fragmented community and that shocked me from the beginning. I looked at it and then what I call the theology of nutrition.
Many people claiming their church was better than the others when in fact, they all have a contribution to bring to the cause of the fight against malnutrition.”
Brieuc Pont, N4G Special Envoy
Bringing joy back into food in the fight against malnutrition with Taylor Quinn
Taylor Quinn is the Executive Director of Tailored Food. This non-profit social enterprise consultancy partners with local leaders fighting malnutrition in communities worldwide to build nutritious, delicious, culturally relevant, affordable, and regional food systems.
In this episode, Taylor shares how the frustrations of seeing malnutrition in his community while living in Liberia led to the creation of Tailored Foods. He explains how conversations with real people highlighted the need for convenient, affordable, delicious and nutritious food and outlines the process for supporting and empowering local food systems to meet those needs.
“Is it possible to develop nutritious, culturally relevant foods that can be really, really tasty? In reality, people are looking for convenient foods, and that’s why the rise of ultra-processed, unhealthy snack foods is not just a trend in developed countries, but it’s a trend all over the world.”
Taylor Quinn, Executive Director, Tailored Food
How Tanzania is addressing nutrition, food security, and climate change with Hon. Neema Lugangira
The Honourable Neema Lugangira is a Member of Parliament in Tanzania and Co-chair of the SUN Movement Executive Committee. Hon. Lugangira is a champion of policy and legislative reform and an advocate for sustainability and economic development in Tanzania and across Africa.
In this episode, Hon. Lugangira discusses the often overlooked elements of nutrition in Africa, the importance of tackling nutrition and climate change together, and shares the childhood stunting statistics from her home region that ignited her passion for nutrition and agriculture and led her to seek out the parliamentary position where she could have the most direct impact.
“Africa has recognized the role that the agriculture sector has towards achieving nutrition, which is Phenomenal.”
Hon. Neema Lungangira.
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