Elise Hu

Today, we'd like you to meet the satellite food security specialist, Catherine Nakalembe.

It might be hard to imagine how satellites orbiting in space can help farmers tending to the soil on Earth.

But for Catherine, who uses satellite technology and machine learning to monitor smallholder farming, this connection is essential.

She shares how satellites can play a vital role in helping to feed the world and why, even with her bird's eye view, a grounded, bottom up approach to supporting farmers is just as key.

As she puts it, true innovation isn't about high tech systems, but about making technology fit the problem.

After we hear from Catherine, stick around for her conversation with TED Fellows program director Lily James Olds.

And now a special conversation between TED fellow Catherine Nakalembe and TED fellows program director Lily James Olds.

That's coming up right after a quick break.

That was Catherine Nakalembe, a 2025 TED Fellow.

To learn more about the TED Fellows program and watch all the TED Fellows films, go to fellows.ted.com.

And that's it for today.

This episode was produced by Lucy Little, edited by Alejandra Salazar, and fact-checked by Eva Dasher.

The audio you heard at the top comes from the short film made by Divya Gidangi and Owen McLean, story edited by Corey Hajim, and produced by Ian Lowe.

Video production manager is Searing Dolma.

Additional support from Lily James Olds, Leonie Horster, and Allegra Pearl.

TED Talks Daily is part of the TED Audio Collective.

Our team includes Martha Estefanos, Oliver Friedman, Brian Green, Lucy Little, and Tansika Sangmarnivong.

Additional support from Emma Tobner and Daniela Balarezo.

I'm Elise Hu.

I'll be back tomorrow with a fresh idea for your feed.