Oh Crop! Food Systems Podcast

In this episode of Oh Crop!, host Kat Morgan sits down with Dr. Andy Jarvis — Director of the Future of Food at the Bezos Earth Fund. Andy reflects on over two decades of work at the intersection of food security and environmental sustainability, and how that experience has shaped his present work on agro-biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, and sustainable protein. The discussion dives...

In this episode of Oh Crop! , host Kat Morgan records from Palmira, Colombia at the research campus of the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT—one of the world’s leading hubs for agrobiodiversity, seed conservation, and food systems innovation. Kat is joined by Dr. Marcela Quintero (Associate Director General of Research and Strategy) and Dr. Carlo Fada (Director of Agrobiodiversity) to...

In this episode of Oh Crop!, host Kat Morgan sits down in Tainan, Taiwan with Dr. Maarten van Zonneveld (Head of Genetic Resource) and Dr. Lucas Pawera (Agronomist/Agroecologist) from the World Vegetable Center to discuss the critical role of gene banks in conserving vegetable biodiversity, the importance of agroecology and soil health, and other challenges and opportunities in food systems. The W...

In this episode of Oh Crop!, host Kat Morgan, MPH speaks with Dr. Jean-Claude Rubyogo, Director of the Pan-African Bean Research Alliance (PABRA), to explore the powerful — and often underestimated — role beans play in shaping nutrition, livelihoods, and resilience across African food systems. Drawing on decades of experience in bean research and seed systems development, Jean-Claude reflects on t...

In this episode of Oh Crop! , host Kat Morgan, MPH sits down with Dr. Cary Fowler—the 2024 World Food Prize Laureate, former U.S. Special Envoy for Global Food Security, and widely known as the architect of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. Recorded during his tenure launching the Food Security Leadership Council, this conversation explores why crop diversity, soil health, and long-term agricultural...

This episode of Oh Crop! features a conversation between host Kat Morgan and Dr. Stefan Schmitz, who is the Executive Director of the Crop Trust. Recorded during New York Climate Week 2025, the discussion centers on the imperative role of crop diversity in securing the future of our food system, connecting the historical globalization of food, where major crops originated far from where they are n...

In this episode of Oh Crop!, host Kat Morgan, MPH sits down with Ana Rosa de Lima and Ivi Pauli, PhD, from the Meli Bees Network . This woman-led global organization connects over 100 indigenous and local communities with the resources and partners they need to regenerate their environments and strengthen their territories. Anna, the director and founder, shares how her indigenous heritage and exp...

In this episode of Oh Crop!, host Kat Morgan sits down with Monika Shukla, the visionary co-founder and CEO of Humble Bee, a social enterprise revolutionizing beekeeping in rural India. Monika shares her inspiring journey and vision to empower smallholder farmers and women through a powerful social enterprise model. The conversation highlights how the introduction of a beehive fundamentally change...

In this episode of Oh Crop!, host Kat Morgan sits down with Andreia Fausto, Head of Climate Smart Food Systems at the World Food Programme in Somalia, broadcasting from Mogadishu. The conversation reveals fascinating innovations emerging across Somalia's diverse ecological zones: agroecological practices that communities "already had before," solar-powered irrigation systems, and coo...

In this timely episode of Oh Crop!, host Kat Morgan sits down with Catherine Bertini, the 2003 World Food Prize Laureate and former UN World Food Program Executive Director, to discuss the unprecedented crisis facing global food aid. With a staggering $16.9 billion funding gap threatening 123 million vulnerable people , Catherine shares her bold vision for completely reimagining how the world addr...

In this episode, Dr. Million Belay discusses research he coordinated across Africa examining agricultural approaches. "In 2013, we asked ourselves, does agroecology work for Africa?" he explains, describing how they gathered and synthesized case studies from numerous countries. Their findings revealed that ecological farming practices consistently improved both productivity and farmer in...

In this thought-provoking episode of Oh Crop!, host Kat Morgan welcomes Dr. Jessica Fanzo, a true pioneer at the crossroads of climate science and food systems. As Professor of Climate and Director of the groundbreaking Food for Humanity Initiative at Columbia Climate School, Dr. Fanzo shares her fascinating journey from nutrition scientist to global food systems champion . She unpacks the vision...

Is Bird Flu a Slow-Motion Disaster? How can industrial agriculture fuel a pandemic, and what risks do dairy workers face? On this episode of Oh Crop!, we're tackling the urgent bird flu crisis with award-winning journalist and public health expert Maryn McKenna. Maryn unravels the complex web of industrial agriculture, zoonotic diseases, and the escalating threat to animal and human health. We del...

Will we eat beans in space? Why do they give us gas (and how can we reduce it)? And just why are beans so darn awesome for people and planet, anyway? On this episode of Oh Crop!, we're diving deep into the world of legumes with none other than Paul Newnham, a strategic food systems innovator, leader of the SDG2 Advocacy Hub, and the self-proclaimed "Chief Beans Officer"! Paul shares his inspiring...

In this episode of Oh Crop! , host Kat Morgan sits down with the inspiring Priyanka Naik , an award-winning vegan chef, Food Network champion, TV host, and author of The Modern Tiffin . Priyanka shares her journey as a first-generation Indian-American raised on Staten Island and how her Indian heritage and love for storytelling fuel her mission to advocate for sustainable, plant-based diets. Toget...

In this episode of Oh Crop, host Kat Morgan chats with Matilda Jarod Mtei, a trailblazer in horticulture and agriculture from Arusha, Tanzania. Known as the "Spice Queen," Matilda brings a unique perspective to the field, having turned her passion for plants into a remarkable career. From her early days as an intern at the World Vegetable Center to her current role managing the Vegetable...

In this episode, I’m thrilled to interview Eric Middleton , "full-time entomologist, part-time ninja warrior." He is an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Advisor at the University of California Cooperative Extension. With a B.S. in Biology from the University of Utah, a PhD from the University of Minnesota, and postdoctoral work on invasive pest control in Florida's citrus groves, Eri...

In this episode of Oh Crop!, host Kat Morgan is joined by renowned author, filmmaker, and academic Raj Patel.  Raj Patel, known as the 'rock star of social justice writing,' shares insights drawn from his extensive work, including his seminal books 'Stuffed and Starved' and ‘Inflamed.’ From critiquing prescriptive NGOs to advocating for grassroots democracy and equitable access to...

Welcome to Oh Crop, where we dig deep into the connections between Environmental Justice, Climate Change, and Food Systems. Join me, Kat Morgan, as I sit down with the brilliant Dr. Lew Ziska, associate professor at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. We'll explore the dynamic relationships between climate change, plant biology, and public health, shedding light on issue...

In this episode of "Oh Crop," host Kat Morgan engages Dr. Mark Plotkin, an esteemed ethnobotanist, in a profound conversation about the vital role of indigenous wisdom in environmental conservation. They explore how environmental justice intersects with indigenous knowledge and the urgent need for collaboration between Western science and Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and finally, Ma...

This episode explores the journey of a guest who is passionate about promoting healthy diets, equity, and sustainability in food systems. Alejandra Schrader is an award-winning author, food systems champion, plant-based nutrition certified chef, and activist based in Los Angeles, CA. We discuss the role of plant-based diets in public health and environmental justice and ways to engage communities...

In this podcast episode, Dr. Michael Kotutwa Johnson, a member of the Hopi Tribe, discusses the challenges Indigenous communities face regarding their food systems due to climate change. He emphasizes the importance of traditional Indigenous knowledge and practices in building resilience and sustainability in food systems. His expertise and work underscore the urgency of supporting Indigenous comm...

In today's episode, I’ll lead you through a short guided visualization exercise as a tool for agenda-setting to foster empathy and generate a shared vision for nourishing food systems.

Episode 1 covers Background, Theory, and Tools to understand the interconnections between climate change, food systems, and environmental justice.  This episode discusses: Climate change, environmental justice, and food systems are all closely tied to public health. Climate change is causing rising temperatures and more extreme weather events, which can lead to health problems. It's also chan...

In Episode 2, I'm thrilled to share a conversation with Mark Bittman about his work as a New York Times editor, bestselling author,  food justice advocate, and lecturer at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. We chat about the following:  Exploring the nexus between climate change, agriculture, nutrition, and health. Considering ontological shifts such as heightened e...