The Work We Do - Ep1. How to Build Resilient Agrifood Systems. Máximo Torero, FAO Chief Economist.

In this first episode of The Work We Do, we speak with Máximo Torero, Chief Economist of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Máximo served as the Director of Markets, Trade and Institutions Division at IFPRI and later as an Executive Director for the World Bank representing several South American countries. The conversation explores how agrifood systems, global markets, financing, and macroeconomic stability are deeply interconnected, and why food security is not only a humanitarian concern but a central pillar of economic and political resilience, promoting national security. Máximo explains how countries can better protect themselves against food crises through smarter investment, early action, and risk-informed policies, and why prevention is far more effective than crisis response. The episode also unpacks the links between hunger, migration, and conflict, and the role international institutions play in stabilizing agrifood systems and reducing systemic risk in an increasingly volatile global environment. Máximo also offers a glimpse into how his upbringing in Peru and his early years as a researcher have shaped his career and worldview. Subscribe! http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=FAOoftheUN 00:00 - 01:34 Intro 01:34 - 10:11 The Situation Room and anticipatory action. 10:11 - 17:04 Why is it so difficult to end hunger and poverty? 17:04 - 21:52 Why should people care about hunger? 21:52 - 25:04 Food Security and global security. 25:04 - 27:06 Investing in food security as a peace strategy. 27:06 - 32:05 Increasing efficiencies in public spending. 32:05 - 38:41 The war in Ukraine. 38:41 - 41:05 Gaza, Sudan and other global hotspots of food insecurity. 41:05 - 41:07 The FAO Four Betters. 43:47 - 45:26 How have we stayed resilient despite shocks? 45:26 - 58:05 Geography, poverty and the Hand-in-Hand Initiative 58:05 - 01:05:29 Reflecting on Máximo’s career 1:05:30 - 01:09:32 How has coming from Peru shaped your worldview? 01:09:32 - 01:09:40 Outro Follow FAO on social media! * Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/UNFAO * Instagram - https://instagram.com/fao * LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/fao * TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@fao * Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/fao/ * Weibo - https://www.weibo.com/unfao © FAO: http://www.fao.org #SDGs #Agenda2030 #GlobalGoals