“This prioritizing of the farmer, or the face of a farmer, as being really some of the most vulnerable people right now in the world is something that I think about day and night.”
Growing up on a farm, Beth Bechdol never dreamed of following in her agricultural family’s footsteps. Now Deputy Director-General of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), she has not only returned to her roots, but is now fighting the corner of farmers the world over.
“I know what it takes to grow a crop and to provide enough support for your animals. And if you don't have access to any of that, it's crushing.”
In this episode, Beth reflects on the perils of donor fatigue, on the devastation wrought on agriculture by war and climate change, and on what the world can learn from the wisdom of farmers.