Feed: a food systems podcast · TABLEdebates.org

What biodiversity do you care about?

·35 min·3 clips

Anna Lappe explains why the 'insect apocalypse' is driven by our food systems and why scientists call it catastrophic.

This final episode of Feed's nature season explores how personal values shape our concern for different species and examines food systems as the primary driver of global biodiversity loss. Host Matthew Kessler speaks with farmers, scientists, and advocates about reimagining our relationship with nature. The episode features Anna Lappé, Executive Director of the Global Alliance for the Future of Food, who argues food systems and biodiversity discussions must leave their separate silos. Anna Lappé cites a meta-analysis on global insect collapse, identifying monoculture agriculture and increased pesticide use as key drivers creating "food deserts" for insects. She references lead author Francisco Bayo Sánchez, who defended using the term "catastrophic decline" to describe the trends. Small-scale Dutch farmer Els Hager describes her community-supported farm with 60 families and 60-70 crop varieties, intentionally designed with water features and flowers to support frogs, insects, and birds. Els views humans as a "custodial species" within nature's web and criticizes viewing food purely as a commodity. Silvia Cuaranta, working at the regenerative Camp Altiplano farm in Spain, critiques the ideological battle over land use, warning of research selection bias. She describes transforming over 1,000 hectares from cereal production to a mosaic of pistachios, almonds, apple orchards, and restoration projects. Conservation biologist Ben Bendixen from Cornell University proposes a vision where North American prairies support bison herds instead of corn and soy, referencing Native American-led bison collaboratives. Senior researcher Adrian Müller argues sustainability should be evaluated by inputs and impacts, not "naturalness," and includes vertical farming and aquaculture as potential tools. A surprising insight is Els Hager's rejection of the idea of "true nature" existing without humans, arguing many species flourish alongside human activity. Ben Bendixen provocatively labels the historical replacement of bison with corn and soybean farming a "real stupid idea" for soil and biodiversity. Adrian Müller presents the controversial but data-driven goal of a "smaller" food system, focusing on reducing nutrient throughput and waste rather than calorie output. The episode reveals a tension between land-sharing models that integrate agriculture and nature versus high-tech, efficient production to spare land elsewhere. The tone is exploratory and conversational, weaving personal narratives from farmers with scientific evidence and systemic analysis from researchers. It maintains an educational style while presenting conflicting viewpoints on optimal paths forward without advocating for a single solution. Listeners interested in practical agroecology, community farming, and critiques of industrial agriculture will find strong voices here. Those seeking debates on high-tech solutions like vertical farming or detailed policy analysis might find the episode leans more toward on-the-ground stories and broader philosophical questions.

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