José Andrés, founder of World Central, discusses using food as a tool of war and peace. He shares his experiences providing food relief in war zones and disaster areas, as well as the impact of food insecurity in the United States. The podcast explores the risks and challenges of providing food aid in conflict zones, the importance of supporting local businesses, and the alarming reality of food insecurity in the US.
Food can be used as a weapon in war zones, and organizations like World Central Kitchen play a crucial role in providing meals and support during man-made crises.
Food insecurity in the United States is a growing concern, with rising rates impacted by inflation, rising food prices, and racial disparities in access to sufficient food.
Deep dives
Food as a Tool of War and Peace
Jose Andres, the founder of the nonprofit World Central Kitchen, discusses the use of food as a weapon in war zones and the organization's response. World Central Kitchen has provided over 300 million meals in 13 years, including meals in Ukraine during the war with Russia and meals in Gaza during the Hamas-Israel conflict. Andres highlights the importance of learning how to provide food in these man-made crises and describes the strategies employed, such as using local restaurants as community kitchens and providing seeds for families to grow their own food.
The Challenges and Dangers of Food Distribution
Andres addresses the safety concerns and operational challenges faced by World Central Kitchen when operating in war zones. He recounts the loss of team members and emphasizes the bravery of local individuals who continue cooking and distributing food in dangerous situations. Despite the risks, they remain committed to their mission of helping their communities. Andres also discusses the importance of gradually transitioning operations back to local businesses and infrastructure as stability returns.
Food Insecurity and the Impact of Climate Change
The podcast shifts focus to food insecurity and its impact in the United States. Emily Peck from Axios Markets explains that food insecurity rates rose during 2022, even amidst a strong economy, primarily due to inflation and rising food prices. There are significant racial disparities with higher rates of food insecurity in Black and Hispanic households. This highlights the link between economic well-being and access to sufficient food. Peck emphasizes that food insecurity is a pressing issue that requires attention and real solutions, especially given the impacts of climate change on global food production.
José Andrés has become a recognized figure on the scene in the aftermath of global disasters. The chef-turned-humanitarian traveled to Haiti more than a decade ago to cook food for victims of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake. Today: he's on the ground in war zones.
How does one man lead an emergency response organization as the emergencies keep growing and changing?
Plus, an update on food insecurity in the U.S., and why the numbers may come as a surprise.
Credits: 1 big thing is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Alexandra Botti, and Alex Sugiura. Music is composed by Alex Sugiura. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com. You can send questions, comments and story ideas as a text or voice memo to Niala at 202-918-4893.