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href="https://blog.ted.com/setting-the-table-notes-on-session-1-of-ted-countdown-2024-dilemma-series/amp/"><link rel="icon" href="https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/cropped-TED-circle-logo-512x512-1.png?w=32" sizes="32x32" /> <link rel="icon" href="https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/cropped-TED-circle-logo-512x512-1.png?w=192" sizes="192x192" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/cropped-TED-circle-logo-512x512-1.png?w=180" /> <meta name="msapplication-TileImage" content="https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/cropped-TED-circle-logo-512x512-1.png?w=270" /> </head> <body class="post-template-default single single-post postid-117232 single-format-standard"> <div id="container"> <header class="header" role="banner"> <div class="header__container"> <div class="home-header__intro"> <h1> <a class="header-logo" href="https://blog.ted.com" title="TED Blog"> <strong class="g-logo-medium home-header__logo">TED</strong> Blog </a> </h1> </div> <div class="banner"> <div class="banner__container"> <a href="https://blog.ted.com" class="header-logo" title="TED Blog"> <strong class="g-logo-small banner__logo">TED</strong> Blog </a> <div class="secondary"> </div> <form id="ted-search-1" class="main-search" method="get" action="https://blog.ted.com"> <div class="main-search__content"> <input type="hidden" name="cat" value="blog_posts" /> <input class="main-search__input" type="text" name="s" value="" placeholder="Search..." /> <a href="javascript:document.getElementById('ted-search-1').submit();" class="main-search__button" > <i class="icon icon_search"></i> </a> </div> </form> </div> </div> </div> </header>  <div id="content"> <div id="inner-content" class="wrap clearfix"> <div id="main" class="eightcol first clearfix" role="main"> <article id="post-117232" class="clearfix post-117232 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-countdown category-news-2 tag-agnes-kalibata tag-aline-sousa tag-countdown tag-dana-gunders tag-gonzalo-munoz tag-jonathan-foley initiatives-countdown has-thumbnail not-featured even top i-0" role="article"> <header class="article-header"> <a href="https://blog.ted.com/category/countdown/" class="category-title">Countdown</a> <a href="https://blog.ted.com/initiatives/countdown/" class="tag-initiative">Countdown</a> <h1 class="single-title" itemprop="headline">Setting the table: Notes on Session 1 of TED Countdown 2024 Dilemma Series</h1> <div class="meta clearfix"> <div class="author-desc">Posted by: <a href="https://blog.ted.com/author/marialadias2/" title="Posts by Maria Ladias" class="author url fn" rel="author">Maria Ladias</a>, <a href="https://blog.ted.com/author/oliverfriedman/" title="Posts by Oliver Friedman" class="author url fn" rel="author">Oliver Friedman</a> and <a href="https://blog.ted.com/author/renaereints22/" title="Posts by Renae Reints" class="author url fn" rel="author">Renae Reints</a> <br> <time datetime="2024-06-6">June 6, 2024 at 12:00 pm EDT</time> </div> <div class="share"> </div> </div> </header>  <section class="entry-content clearfix"> <div id="attachment_117256" style="width: 910px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-117256" class="size-full wp-image-117256" src="https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_1GT0518-medium.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_1GT0518-medium.jpg 1200w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_1GT0518-medium.jpg?resize=150,100 150w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_1GT0518-medium.jpg?resize=250,167 250w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_1GT0518-medium.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_1GT0518-medium.jpg?resize=530,353 530w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /><p id="caption-attachment-117256" class="wp-caption-text">The stage is set for Session 1 of TED Countdown 2024 Dilemma Series: The future of food, hosted by TED’s David Biello and Nicole Ng, at the TED World Theater in New York City on June 5, 2024. (Photo: Gilberto Tadday / TED)</p></div> <p>Can we nourish 10 billion people while restoring the earth? That’s the question on hand for the <a href="https://countdown.ted.com/dilemma-series/food-dilemma-can-we-nourish-10-billion-people-while-restoring-the-earth">TED Countdown 2024 Dilemma Series</a> on the future of food.</p> <p>In Session 1, five speakers explored how we can turn the challenge of providing healthy food for everyone into solutions for regenerating nature and society. It’s a question riddled with competing views, from how to address food insecurity and waste to the myriad cultures surrounding food production and consumption. At the same time, the food we eat is the single biggest impact we have on the planet, and it’s not just on climate change. Let’s dig in.</p> <p><b>The event</b>: TED Countdown 2024 Dilemma Series: The future of food, hosted by TED’s <strong>David Biello</strong> and <strong>Nicole Ng</strong></p> <p><b>When and where</b>: June 5, 2024 at the TED World Theater in New York City</p> <p><b>Speakers</b>: Jonathan Foley, Agnes Kalibata, Gonzalo Muñoz, Dana Gunders, Aline Sousa</p> <p><strong>The talks in brief</strong>:</p> <div id="attachment_117258" style="width: 910px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-117258" class="size-full wp-image-117258" src="https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_2GT0575-medium.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_2GT0575-medium.jpg 1200w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_2GT0575-medium.jpg?resize=150,100 150w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_2GT0575-medium.jpg?resize=250,167 250w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_2GT0575-medium.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_2GT0575-medium.jpg?resize=530,353 530w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /><p id="caption-attachment-117258" class="wp-caption-text">Jonathan Foley speaks at Session 1 of TED Countdown 2024 Dilemma Series: The future of food, at the TED World Theater in New York City on June 5, 2024. (Photo: Gilberto Tadday / TED)</p></div> <p>Sustainability scientist <strong>Jonathan Foley</strong> gives an overview of the devastating environmental impact of conventional agriculture and its associated land use. What can we do about it? He presents a potpourri of solutions to help build a sustainable food system that nourishes the world.</p> <div id="attachment_117259" style="width: 910px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-117259" class="size-full wp-image-117259" src="https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_2GT0668-medium.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_2GT0668-medium.jpg 1200w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_2GT0668-medium.jpg?resize=150,100 150w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_2GT0668-medium.jpg?resize=250,167 250w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_2GT0668-medium.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_2GT0668-medium.jpg?resize=530,353 530w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /><p id="caption-attachment-117259" class="wp-caption-text">Agnes Kalibata speaks at Session 1 of TED Countdown 2024 Dilemma Series: The future of food, at the TED World Theater in New York City on June 5, 2024. (Photo: Gilberto Tadday / TED)</p></div> <p>Smallholder farmers produce most of Africa’s food, yet they often lack the resources needed to thrive, says agricultural scientist and policymaker <strong>Agnes Kalibata</strong>. Working to empower farmers, she highlights how providing better tools, climate resilience strategies and market access can help nourish both people and the planet.</p> <div id="attachment_117260" style="width: 910px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-117260" class="size-full wp-image-117260" src="https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_2GT0840-medium.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_2GT0840-medium.jpg 1200w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_2GT0840-medium.jpg?resize=150,100 150w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_2GT0840-medium.jpg?resize=250,167 250w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_2GT0840-medium.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_2GT0840-medium.jpg?resize=530,353 530w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /><p id="caption-attachment-117260" class="wp-caption-text">Gonzalo Muñoz speaks at Session 1 of TED Countdown 2024 Dilemma Series: The future of food, at the TED World Theater in New York City on June 5, 2024. (Photo: Gilberto Tadday / TED)</p></div> <p>Chilean farmer and UN Climate Change High-Level Champion <strong>Gonzalo Muñoz</strong> explores the interconnectedness of food and politics, sharing how his team successfully negotiated two international pledges to make agriculture part of the climate solution, and outlines three goals for the effort’s success.</p> <div id="attachment_117261" style="width: 910px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-117261" class="size-full wp-image-117261" src="https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_1GT0820-medium.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_1GT0820-medium.jpg 1200w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_1GT0820-medium.jpg?resize=150,100 150w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_1GT0820-medium.jpg?resize=250,167 250w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_1GT0820-medium.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_1GT0820-medium.jpg?resize=530,353 530w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /><p id="caption-attachment-117261" class="wp-caption-text">Dana Gunders speaks at Session 1 of TED Countdown 2024 Dilemma Series: The future of food, at the TED World Theater in New York City on June 5, 2024. (Photo: Gilberto Tadday / TED)</p></div> <p>A trillion dollars’ worth of food is wasted annually, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, says food waste expert and executive director of ReFED <strong>Dana Gunders</strong>. From solar-powered cold rooms to phone apps that sell discounted restaurant leftovers, she shares innovative solutions and tips to keep good food from going to the trash.</p> <div id="attachment_117262" style="width: 910px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-117262" class="size-full wp-image-117262" src="https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_2GT1175-medium.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_2GT1175-medium.jpg 1200w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_2GT1175-medium.jpg?resize=150,100 150w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_2GT1175-medium.jpg?resize=250,167 250w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_2GT1175-medium.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://blog.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/Countdown_Dilemma_20240605_2GT1175-medium.jpg?resize=530,353 530w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /><p id="caption-attachment-117262" class="wp-caption-text">After delivering a pre-recorded talk, Aline Sousa (middle) and translator Victor Argentino (left) speak alongside David Biello at Session 1 of TED Countdown 2024 Dilemma Series: The future of food, at the TED World Theater in New York City on June 5, 2024. (Photo: Gilberto Tadday / TED)</p></div> <p>The improper handling of waste is the third largest source of methane in the world, says <strong>Aline Sousa</strong>, but waste pickers like her help reduce this environmental impact. She dives into the monumental role of those who ensure recyclables, compostables and trash end up in the right facilities — and calls for broader support of their efforts at the local level.</p> <div class="meta clearfix"> <div class="share"> </div> </div> </section>  <div class="article-footer"> <div class="tags"><div class="tags-title meta-title">Tags for this story:</div><div class="tag-list clearfix"><a href="https://blog.ted.com/tag/agnes-kalibata/" rel="tag">Agnes Kalibata</a><a href="https://blog.ted.com/tag/aline-sousa/" rel="tag">Aline Sousa</a><a href="https://blog.ted.com/tag/countdown/" rel="tag">Countdown</a><a href="https://blog.ted.com/tag/dana-gunders/" rel="tag">Dana Gunders</a><a href="https://blog.ted.com/tag/gonzalo-munoz/" rel="tag">Gonzalo Muñoz</a><a href="https://blog.ted.com/tag/jonathan-foley/" rel="tag">Jonathan Foley</a></div></div> </div>  </article> </div>  <div id="sidebar1" class="sidebar fourcol last clearfix" role="complementary"> <div id="nav_menu-4" class="widget widget_nav_menu"><div class="title">Follow TED</div><div class="menu-social-sidebar-container"><ul id="menu-social-sidebar" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-89070" class="soc-twitter soc-icon menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-89070"><a href="http://twitter.com/tedtalks">Twitter</a></li> <li id="menu-item-89073" class="soc-instagram soc-icon menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-89073"><a href="http://instagram.com/ted">Instagram</a></li> <li id="menu-item-89074" class="soc-youtube soc-icon menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-89074"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/ted">YouTube</a></li> <li id="menu-item-89076" class="soc-mail soc-icon menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-89076"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=TEDBlog&loc=en_US">Subscribe to TED Blog by email</a></li> </ul></div></div><div id="acm_ad_zones-4" class="widget acm_ad_zones"><div id='acm-ad-tag-advertisement' style="esc_attr( )"> <script type='text/javascript'> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('acm-ad-tag-advertisement'); 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