The Mindset Shift Needed to Tackle Big Global Challenges | Bernhard Kowatsch | TED

TL;DR

Discover how innovation and technology are being used to address global challenges like hunger, through examples of initiatives such as the Share the Meal app and the World Food Programme's Innovation Accelerator.

Transcript

When you think about innovation and technology, you're most likely thinking about the latest app on your smartphone, or maybe you think about rockets going into space. But what about some of the world's biggest challenges, like global hunger or climate change? They can seem overwhelming or, you know, maybe you just think there should be a nonprofit... Read More

Key Insights

• 🌍 Innovation and technology have the potential to address global challenges such as hunger and climate change, but our traditional thinking can be a barrier to progress.
• 🙌 An app called Share the Meal allows users to easily donate 80 cents to feed a hungry child with just one tap on their smartphone. So far, over 130 million meals have been shared by six million users around the world.
• 💡 The World Food Programme’s Innovation Accelerator was created to support social entrepreneurs and replicate the success of start-up accelerators in solving global hunger.
• 🔗 Blockchain technology, such as the innovation called Building Blocks, enables aid organizations to collaborate more effectively and provide refugees with a secure means of purchasing food.
• 🌽 Sanku is a social business that uses an internet-enabled machine to fortify maize flour with critical nutrients in Africa, providing fortified, nutritious food to millions of people.
• 📈 Since its inception, the World Food Programme Innovation Accelerator has consistently doubled its impact, reaching 8.6 million people in 2021 alone.
• 💪 The Accelerator now runs programs for other global problems, including primary healthcare, vaccine delivery, and gender equality, demonstrating the potential of innovation and technology to address a wide range of challenges.
• 💥 Taking action as individuals, companies, or start-up founders can have a significant impact in harnessing innovation and technology to solve the world's biggest challenges.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are some of the world's biggest challenges that can benefit from innovation and technology?

Some of the world's biggest challenges that can benefit from innovation and technology include global hunger, climate change, primary healthcare, vaccine delivery, and gender equality. These issues can seem overwhelming, but with the right use of innovation and technology, significant progress can be made in addressing them.

Q: How many people on the planet are experiencing hunger?

According to the speaker, there are up to 811 million people on the planet who are hungry. This means that they do not have enough calories on a daily basis to live a healthy life. Hunger is a significant problem that affects a large portion of the global population.

Q: What is Share the Meal?

Share the Meal is an app founded by the speaker and a friend. With just one tap on your smartphone, you can share your meal with a hungry child in need for only 80 cents. The app makes it easy for people to contribute and help combat global hunger. It has been successful so far, with over 130 million meals shared by six million app users across the world.

Q: How does blockchain technology help aid organizations in addressing global hunger?

Blockchain technology is utilized by aid organizations for an innovation called Building Blocks. It allows refugees to purchase food from stores using a neutral blockchain network. Aid organizations transfer money to individual blockchain accounts, and refugees can shop for groceries and pay using an iris scan or another authentication method. This innovation has proven successful, benefiting over one million people and transferring over 300 million dollars of cash to those in urgent need of food.

Q: How does food fortification contribute to tackling global hunger?

Food fortification, which is the addition of critical nutrients to staple foods, plays a crucial role in combating global hunger. Sanku, a social business, has developed an internet-enabled machine that fortifies maize flour at small mills in Africa. With their market-based model, they provide fortified, nutritious flour to clients of small mills at no additional cost. This initiative has reached up to three million people, ensuring they have access to a healthy diet.

Q: Has innovation and technology made a significant impact on global hunger?

Yes, innovation and technology have made a meaningful impact on global hunger. Since the establishment of the World Food Programme Innovation Accelerator in 2015, the number of people reached through supported innovations has consistently doubled. In 2021 alone, their efforts have positively impacted the lives of 8.6 million people. The success of these initiatives demonstrates the potential of innovation and technology in addressing the world's biggest challenges.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Innovation and technology have the potential to tackle some of the world's biggest challenges, such as global hunger and climate change.

• The app "Share the Meal" allows users to easily donate 80 cents to feed a hungry child, resulting in over 130 million meals being shared so far.

• The World Food Programme's Innovation Accelerator supports start-ups and nonprofit innovations, utilizing technologies like blockchain and internet-enabled machines to address global hunger.