Something to Chew On

Poetry provides a conduit for engaging readers in fostering feelings and understandings. Food, creativity, language, and words all play a significant role in our lives and relationships.

In the latest episode of Something to Chew On, Traci Brimhall, professor in the Department of English at K-State and Kansas Poet Laureate, shares about her passion for poetry and food. She draws a connection between the two and shows that the humanities – including poetry – fit into so many places within the food system.

How do we maintain relevant information on public health in the arena of local food producers? Is there a connection between food security and food safety? How do we make information on mitigating these challenges available?

In this podcast, we will discuss these issues and more with Londa Nwadike, Extension Associate Professor of Food Safety for Kansas State University and the University of Missouri. With a rich background in the international food system along with a passion for food safety and human wellbeing, Nwadike shares her insight into today’s challenges with food quality and availability.

The sustainable production of beef cattle and other animal protein is complex, and the achievement of ‘net zero’ production from an environmental perspective is challenging at best, making it difficult to know where to begin. Areas of focus in this field include using food waste streams as quality animal feed, gathering all the areas of expertise need to tackle sustainability, impacting the microbiome of feed and reducing greenhouse gases.

Phillip Lancaster, clinical assistant professor and member of the Beef Cattle Institute at Kansas State University, joined “Something to Chew On” to discuss the work he is doing to tackle these issues.

The agriculture industry has advanced in many positive ways, including increases in productivity and efficiency, but the cost of those advancements could be high. Current research in agronomy is seeking ways to manage food production that will feed an ever increasing population with improved efficiency, productivity and nutritional value.

Ignacio Ciampitti, professor of agronomy at Kansas State University, is working with colleagues — both inside and outside of the college of agriculture — and is encouraging students to broaden their view of agronomy due to the increasing need for a multidisciplinary approach to solving problems. He joins the podcast and takes us through his passion and vision for improving the future of agronomy and food production around the world.

This summer, 24 recipients from the 2022 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders program joined K-State faculty in learning about leadership in civic engagement.

In this episode, we are pleased to welcome one of those participants, Saykwayee Harmony Henry from the Republic of Liberia. Saykwayee is a mother, public speaker, entrepreneur, advocate for the rights of women and children and is the executive director at Kids Development Initiative.

Children in Liberia go to school hungry while companies from other countries use Liberian land to grow and export crops around the world. The heart of Saykwayee’s work focuses on agriculture development and her country’s need to produce food for themselves through practical education and prioritizing healthy food production as a lifestyle and profession from a very young age.