Growing up on a farm, Beth Bechdol never dreamed of following in her agricultural family’s footsteps. Now Deputy Director-General of the UN’s , she has not only returned to her roots, but is now fighting in the corner of farmers the world over.
“[Farmers have] a lot of difficult workdays … and that's the same if you are in Auburn, Indiana, or you are in Bangladesh,” Bechdol?says.
The United Nations works to defeat hunger and achieve food security around the world, providing emergency agricultural aid to help mitigate food crises.
In this episode, Bechdol reflects on the perils of donor fatigue, the devastation wrought on agriculture by war and climate change, and what the world can learn from the wisdom of farmers.
“I know what it takes to grow a crop and to provide enough support for your animals. And if you don't have access to any of that, it's crushing. These are the things that on a regular basis keep me up at night,” she shares.
Listen to this episode by tuning in on your or visiting the Awake at Night website.
About Awake at Night:
Hosted by Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, the podcast Awake at Night?is an in-depth interview series focusing on remarkable United Nations staff members who dedicate their careers to helping people in parts of the world where they have the hardest lives – from war zones and displacement camps, to areas hit by disasters and the devastation of climate change.
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