Culinary innovator Fatmata Binta appointed FAO's Goodwill Ambassador for Africa

Appointment of Regional Goodwill Ambassador for Africa

Fatmata Binta , a chef and culinary innovator, has been appointed as the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization’s Regional Goodwill Ambassador for Africa. Born in Sierra Leone and based in Ghana, Binta has been a long-time advocate for African heritage foods, underused crops, and the empowerment of women farmers.

Binta's role emphasizes the intersection of culture, food, and policy, focusing on advocating for Africa’s overlooked foods and food systems while ensuring the representation of rural communities.

First African recipient of the Basque Culinary World Prize. Creator of the Dine on a Mat nomadic restaurant. Founder of the Fulani Kitchen Foundation, supporting small-scale female farmers in sub-Saharan Africa.

This appointment was announced on World Food Day, coinciding with the FAO's 80th anniversary celebrations.

Based on reporting by Africanews.