TED Talks Daily Why can't we better prepare for extreme weather? | Catherine Nakalembe
47 snips
Jan 30, 2026 
Catherine Nakalembe, a food security specialist and TED Fellow who leads NASA Harvest in Africa, explains why satellite warnings often fail to reach farmers. She discusses the translation gap between prediction and action. Short stories and practical shifts show what data must deliver, the missing infrastructure, and how partnerships and financing can turn early warning into timely help.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Prediction Vs. Translation Gap
- The problem is translation, not prediction: we can foresee droughts but fail to convert predictions into on-the-ground solutions.
- Nakalembe calls the gap between data and action a 'messy middle' that swallows technological capabilities.
Rapid Data-Driven Emergency Response
- Catherine Nakalembe used satellite predictions in 2015 to prompt food trucks to Karamoja within 24 hours.
- That rapid response saved money and supported 450,000 people over five years through proactive programs.
Mary's Tale Of Predictable Losses
- Nakalembe describes 'Mary,' a Tanzanian smallholder who harvested only 800 kg after irregular rains and lost poultry income.
- She contrasts that with a scenario where seasonal data, finance, pumps, buyers, and storage lift Mary to 3,000 kg and stable income.