FAO names Chef Fatmata Binta Regional Goodwill Ambassador for Africa
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has appointed Chef Fatmata Binta, an award-winning culinary innovator and advocate for African agrifood systems, as FAO Regional Goodwill Ambassador for Africa.
Born in Sierra Leone and based in Ghana, Chef Binta is the first African to win the prestigious Basque Culinary World Prize.
Through her celebrated ‘Dine on a Mat’ nomadic restaurant and the Fulani Kitchen Foundation, she has championed African heritage foods, promoted underutilised crops such as fonio, and empowered women farmers.
Welcoming her as a FAO Goodwill Ambassador, Director-General QU Dongyu said Chef Binta will continue to use her voice and networks to support farmers, especially women and young farmers, promote healthy diets, highlight indigenous crops, and help reduce food loss and waste.
“A chef can inspire people to value food, the traditions that accompany it, and respect its origins,” the Director-General noted.
In accepting the title, Chef Binta reaffirmed her commitment to advancing FAO’s mission, particularly in supporting African women farmers and promoting indigenous foods that are both nutritious and climate-resilient.
“This role places me at the intersection of culture, food, and policy. I will advocate for Africa’s forgotten foods, uplift the matriarchs of our food systems, and ensure rural communities are heard. With FAO, I am committed to championing indigenous knowledge, advancing food security, and working towards a just and sustainable future for all,” she said.
The announcement coincided with World Food Day, which also marked FAO’s 80th anniversary.
Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute Wins FAO Achievement Award
Later on, FAO presented the FAO Achievement Award 2025 to the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) for its flagship Agricultural Commercialisation Cluster programme.
The initiative has successfully brought farmers together into clusters, providing access to markets, adoption of innovations, and sustainable productivity improvements. It has become a model for agricultural transformation across the continent.
Accepting the award, Mandefro Nigussie, Chief Executive Officer of ATI, stated: “This recognition by FAO is both an honour and a call to do more and better. The challenges of climate change, food insecurity, and inequality remain immense. ATI stands ready to continue working with our partners to scale innovations, empower women and youth, and build a resilient agricultural system that ensures prosperity for farmers and other actors along the value chains, while nourishing generations to come.”
