The Future of Hunger - AI and the Fight Against Food Insecurity

Harvard Center for International Development

In this episode of Road to GEM, Harvard PhD Student and CID Affiliate Jasmin Higo speaks with Jean-Martin Bauer, Director of Food Security and Nutrition Analysis at the World Food Programme, about how AI is shaping the global response to hunger. With over 700 million people facing chronic food insecurity—and food crises driven by conflict, climate change, and economic instability—this conversation asks a pressing question: can innovation keep pace with the complexity of today’s hunger challenges? They explore how AI is being used to anticipate emergencies, improve decision-making, and reimagine humanitarian response. The conversation also touches on the ethical limits of technology in fragile settings, the shift from rural to urban hunger, and what the future holds for global food systems. Whether you're interested in technology, development, or humanitarian work, this episode offers timely insight into how AI is being deployed—and questioned—in the fight against global hunger.