Food Sleuth Radio

Did you know that agribusiness logic places emphasis on big yields while neglecting the value of small farms and gardens? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Andrew Flachs, PhD., Associate Professor of Anthropology at Purdue University, food and farming systems researcher, and author of Feeding the World as If People Mattered: How Small Farms Produce Value Beyond Yields. Flachs continues his conversation in the second of a two-part interview on the benefits of smaller scale farming and home and community gardens, especially in times of crisis. He discusses his research into Cleveland Ohio’s urban gardens, GMO vs. organic cotton in India, and home gardens in Bosnia. He is also the author of an Op-Ed in Civil Eats: “Facing Global Disruptions, Congress Should Invest in Local Food” https://civileats.com/2026/04/23/op-ed-facing-global-disruptions-congress-should-invest-in-local-food/

Related Websites:   https://www.cla.purdue.edu/directory/profiles/andrew-flachs.html

Did you know that the push towards efficiency is often a trap? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Andrew Flachs, PhD., Associate Professor of anthropology at Purdue University, and food and farming systems researcher. He discusses highlights from his new book, Feeding the World as If People Mattered: How Small Farms Produce Value Beyond Yields. To receive a discount, use the code AZFLR which gives 30% off from the press website (https://uapress.arizona.edu/book/feeding-the-world-as-if-people-mattered

Related Websites:   https://www.cla.purdue.edu/directory/profiles/andrew-flachs.html

Did you know that glyphosate is the most commonly used herbicide in the world, and because of its ubiquitous use, glyphosate can be found in most of our bodies? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Lianne Sheppard, PhD, Professor in the Departments of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, and Biostatistics at the University of WA-Seattle. Sheppard discusses highlights and conclusions from the Seattle Glyphosate Symposium, and the risks from long term, low-level exposure. She also discusses why EPA registration of a pesticide does not mean that the pesticide is safe. To see the pesticides (insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and rodenticides) used in your part of the country, see the USGS maps of pesticide use: https://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/usage/maps/compound_listing.php

Related Websites:   Glyphosate symposium: https://deohs.washington.edu/sgs/statement

Did you know that mechanical stimulation nourishes our bones? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Margaret Martin, physical therapist and expert on bone health. Martin explains why exercise and getting nutrients from foods is critical for promoting bone health, and preventing osteoporosis.
 
 Related Websites:   www.melioguide.com

Did you know that 75 percent of immerging infectious diseases are zoonotic in origin? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Meghan Davis, DVM, PhD MPH, Associate Professor of Environmental Health and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University’s Center for a Livable Future. Davis discusses the concept of “One Health,” provides an update on the prevalence and spread of avian influenza (bird flu) to dairy cows and other animals, challenges related to vaccination, and the risks of raw milk. For a check list for One Health, see: Check list for One Health: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352771417300022

Related Websites:   Population Health Spotlight Series: One Health and the human/animal interface: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHMtykPmJCQ