Foodie Pharmacology Podcast

Treaty Talks: Ancient Grains, Plant Diversity and Sustainable Agriculture with Chef Fatmata Binta

In this episode of the Foodie Pharmacology podcast, hosted by Dr. Cassandra Quave in collaboration with the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, we meet Sierra Leonean Chef Fatmata Binta. From her nomadic restaurant, Dine on Mats, she advocates for plant diversity, highlighting the importance of overlooked ingredients in food and culture. She emphasizes the importance of collaboration with farmers growing ancient grains, particularly as a sustainable and nourishing food source. She focuses on the role of millet and fonio, including their agricultural benefits like making the land drought-resilient and being able to harvest in a short period, as well their nutritional value being gluten-free and high in fiber. Chef Binta stresses the importance of education about these grains, as they not only provide healthful meal options but also have the potential to address broader issues like food security and climate change. #ancientgrains #foodsystems #chef #podcast #FoodiePharmacology #foodie #millet #fonio #grain ********************************* Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foodie-pharmacology-podcast/id1453126311 Support the show and grab some fun merch! We have t-shirts, mugs, totes and more available to order here: https://foodiepharmacology.podbean.com/ Want to learn more about the healing power of plants? √ Read my book, The Plant Hunter: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/612171/the-plant-hunter-by-cassandra-leah-quave/ √ Subscribe to my weekly newsletter, Nature’s Pharmacy: https://naturespharmacy.substack.com/ √ Subscribe to my weekly podcast, Foodie Pharmacology: https://foodiepharmacology.podbean.com/ √ Follow me on Instagram & Threads at @QuaveEthnobot: https://www.instagram.com/quaveethnobot/ √ Follow me on Twitter @QuaveEthnobot: https://twitter.com/QuaveEthnobot √ Subscribe to the Teach Ethnobotany YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/TeachEthnobotany

Crop Wild Relatives with Nan McCarry

Crop wild relatives are the wild plants that are genetically related to our cultivated crops. They act as a treasure trove of genetic diversity that breeders rely on to improve crops and make them more resilient to climate change, pests, and diseases. This week on the show, Dr. Quave speaks with Nan McCarry, ethnobotanist and crop wild relative enthusiast! They discuss the subtle relationship between food security and biodiversity, underscoring the need to conserve these wild relatives. Nan elaborates on her experiences collecting land races of potatoes in the Andes and sheds light on how these plants offer resilience to agricultural systems and help safeguard our food future.

 

#CropWildRelatives #Crops #Biodiversity #Food #Ethnobotany

Treaty Talks: Crop Diversity and Global Agriculture

In this episode, Dr. Cassandra Quave hosts the special series 'Treaty Talks,' created in collaboration with the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The interview guest is Dr. Colin Khoury, a crop diversity researcher, who discusses an ambitious global study aiming to gather comprehensive data about crops, their uses, production, trade, conservation, and genetic diversity. The purpose of this study is to inform international negotiations, contribute to understanding of the world's dependence on a range of crops, and to help predict future food supply challenges due to climate change. Khoury emphasizes the importance of crop diversity and suggests that appropriate funding for data repositories and organized reporting is crucial for global food security. Resources: International Plant Treaty: https://www.fao.org/plant-treaty/en/ Study and database “The plants that feed the world”: https://www.fao.org/plant-treaty/areas-of-work/the-multilateral-system/plant_genetic_metrics Presenter: Cassandra Quave Producer: Hedwig de Coo Sound: Gijs de Bakker #foodsecurity #foodsystems #agriculture

 

********************************* Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foodie-pharmacology-podcast/id1453126311 Support the show and grab some fun merch! We have t-shirts, mugs, totes and more available to order here: https://foodiepharmacology.podbean.com/ Want to learn more about the healing power of plants? √ Read my book, The Plant Hunter: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/612171/the-plant-hunter-by-cassandra-leah-quave/ √ Subscribe to my weekly newsletter, Nature’s Pharmacy: https://naturespharmacy.substack.com/ √ Subscribe to my weekly podcast, Foodie Pharmacology: https://foodiepharmacology.podbean.com/ √ Follow me on Instagram & Threads at @QuaveEthnobot: https://www.instagram.com/quaveethnobot/ √ Follow me on Twitter @QuaveEthnobot: https://twitter.com/QuaveEthnobot √ Subscribe to the Teach Ethnobotany YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/TeachEthnobotany

Underutilized foods of the South Pacific with Dr. Vincent Lal

Food has always been a means of nourishment and pleasure, but it is also deeply connected to culture and health. In the Pacific Islands, a region rich in unique biodiversity and vibrant food traditions, this connection between food, culture, and health is particularly evident. This week, Dr. Quave speaks with Dr. Vincent Lal, manager of analytical services at the University of the South Pacific Institute of Applied Sciences, about the diverse dietary consumption patterns and unique foods of the Pacific Islands. Vincent highlights the importance of access and benefit sharing as well as the values of underutilized indigenous foods like 'kava'. The conversation encapsulates efforts to boost food resilience in these island regions, their mission to build a younger generation of regional scientists and their collective hope under the FoodEdu initiative.

This podcast is sponsored by The Periodic Table of Food Initiative in association with the American Heart Association. The views and opinions in this podcast are those of the presenters and represent the synthesis of science. For more information on the Periodic Table of Food Initiative, please visit https://foodperiodictable.org/

#SouthPacific #Kava #Food #Podcast #Chemistry #PTFI

Treaty Talks: From the Green Revolution to Regenerative Agriculture

In this episode of Foodie Pharmacology presented by Dr. Cassandra Quave, a collaboration with the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture facilitates illuminating discussions with different experts focused on plants crucial to our agricultural systems, diets, and health. The onus of this special series is exploring how we can continue feeding our growing global population amidst the looming threat of climate change. This episode features Dr. Geoff Hawtin, a seasoned professional in the conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources, who highlights key trends related to crop production, research, gastronomy and sheds light on the Crop Metrics Study. Together, they delve into mitigating climate change, preserving biodiversity, restoring degraded top soils, utilizing genetic resources, and the importance of crop wild relatives as they ponder if agriculture can adapt to climate change and ensure the world has enough food.

#treatytalks #regenerativeagriculture #geoffhawtin #cropmetrics

The Ethnobotanical with Dr. Sarah Edwards

Our world is full of fascinating plants, many with deep-rooted historical and cultural significance. In this episode of Foodie Pharmacology, Dr. Cassandra Quave discusses the significance of ethnobotany with guest, Dr. Sarah Edwards, an ethnobotanist and biodiversity informaticist at the University of Oxford. Edwards is author of a new book, “The Ethnobotanical” (Kew Publishing/ Quercus Book). She shares her journey to becoming an ethnobotanist, from a lucid dream about Australia to working with First Nations communities in the Northern Territory and Cape York Peninsula. The conversation delves into the crucial role of ethnobotanists in the face of ecological crises, the importance of land rights, and the fascinating connections between various plants and human culture.

#ethnobotany #podcast #plants #climatechange #traditionalknowledge

Reclaiming Soil with Dr. Jon Lundgren

In the world of agriculture, the concept of regenerative farming is gaining significant attention. This innovative approach focuses on improving soil health and biodiversity to create a more sustainable and resilient food system. Join Dr. Quave this week as she and Dr. Jonathan Lundgren, the Executive Director of Ecdysis Foundation and CEO of Blue Dasher Farm, discuss the concept of agroecology, particularly regenerative agriculture. As a researcher and educator, Dr. Lundgren describes his efforts to evolve applied science in ways that foster the evolution of a sustainable and healthy food system. Lundgren shares his journey as a scientist and farmer and his passion for transforming the way science is conducted so it fuels a revolution in regenerative agriculture. He calls for more farmers to adopt practices that support soil health, water conservation, biodiversity, and reduced synthetics. Additionally, Lundgren shares insight from the Thousand Farms Initiative, quantifying the systemic performance of regenerative farms across North America.

This podcast is sponsored by The Periodic Table of Food Initiative in association with the American Heart Association. The views and opinions in this podcast are those of the presenters and represent the synthesis of science. For more information on the Periodic Table of Food Initiative, please visit https://foodperiodictable.org/

#agriculture #PTFI #RegenerativeAgriculture #nutrition #SoilHealth #farm

The Most Delicious Poison with Dr. Noah Whiteman

Did you know that some everyday foods contain natural toxins that have been developing for millions of years? This week, Dr. Quave talks with Dr. Noah Whiteman, an Evolutionary Biology professor from UC Berkeley and the author of the book “The Most Delicious Poison.” They explore how certain poisons in nature work, how they affect us, and their role in the bigger picture of evolution. They cover a wide range of fascinating subjects, like why your coffee has caffeine, how certain caterpillars can handle toxic substances in plants, what risks are associated with the chemicals in vaping products, and even why the world's largest flowers have such a strong smell. Tune in to learn about an exciting mix of topics from nature, science, medicine, and history!

Learn more about Dr. Whiteman’s book at www.mostdeliciouspoison.com and research at www.whitemanlab.org. You can follow him on social media @NKWhiteman on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Bluesky, Threads and Mastadon.

#poison #caffeine #evolution #food #podcast #mostdeliciouspoison 

Treaty Talks: The Rise of Pea Proteins

In this episode of Foodie Pharmacology, Dr. Cassandra Quave in collaboration with the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture presents a series in which she interviews experts on agriculture trends. She talks with Jasmine Wibisono, a graduate from the Bard's College Graduate Programs in Sustainability, about her research on plant-based proteins, particularly pea protein. They discuss its sudden rise in popularity, its use in various products in the market and its production sustainability. Dr. Quave also introduces the 'crop metric study' which provides valuable data on globally important crops. Jasmine speaks about how this data can be leveraged for further research and how it encourages a systemic approach to sustainability and agriculture security.

Pacific Island Food Revolution with Chef Robert Oliver

Can food culture help combat non-communicable lifestyle diseases? We explore this question and more in the first episode of Season 6 of the Foodie Pharmacology podcast with Dr. Cassandra Quave. This week's guest is Chef Robert Oliver, an award-winning author, TV host, food ambassador, and renowned New Zealand chef with restaurants in cities like New York, Miami, Las Vegas, and Sydney. Chef Oliver discusses his passion and in-depth knowledge of Pacific cuisine, the significance of local foods, and the impact of his initiative, the Pacific Island Food Revolution. This movement aims to fight lifestyle diseases in the region by revitalizing and promoting traditional Pacific cuisine and sustainable farming methods. Join Dr. Quave and Chef Oliver as they delve into his innovative work, the unique flavors of the South Pacific, and how food and culture can foster social and economic transformations while promoting health and sustainability.

This podcast is sponsored by The Periodic Table of Food Initiative in association with the American Heart Association. The views and opinions in this podcast are those of the presenters and represent the synthesis of science. For more information on the Periodic Table of Food Initiative, please visit https://foodperiodictable.org/

#FoodiePharmacology #ChefRobertOliver #healthyeating #traditionalfood #FoodRevolution #ptfi