Could chickens solve poverty?

Billionaire philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates have developed a new strategy to alleviate world poverty: delivering hundreds of thousands of chickens to developing countries to provide food and income to local communities.

Think:Sustainability producer Jake Morcom talked to Nic about this novel program and how it’s being received by impoverished nations. While chickens may seem like a reasonable low-tech solution to hunger, countries like Bolivia have rejected the offer, insulted by the somewhat paternalistic offering of wealthy Westerners.

Are chickens an “appropriate technology” for the diverse communities of Africa, Latin America and Asia? Or is a more consultative, in-country approach a more effective aid strategy? This week’s episode of Think:Sustainability was produced by Miles Herbert.

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