Category:
Recipe

What an incredible day of collaboration, culture, and momentum in Dakar!

We gathered with an inspiring group of chefs, smallholder producers, nutritionists, researchers, processors, agrifood businesses, and partners—including @a_better_life_by_sos_sahel, @helenkellerintl @myagro ...@gatesfoundation, and DYTAES (the coalition leading agroecology in Senegal).

Together, we held a vital conversation on how culinary leaders can bridge the gap between underutilized indigenous crops and sustainable commercial markets.

Key Takeaways from the day:
Case studies highlighted concrete success stories like women fonio growers working with @a_better_life_by_sos_sahel, @findifoods (CAA) expanding fonio affordability, and new efforts building local wheat independence.
Addressing the preference for imported products by positioning traditional ingredients as premium choices. As one speaker put it: "We need to put our local foods in evening wear: give them back their light and make them beautiful!"
Calling for national political will to bring indigenous foods into schools, canteens, and hotel chains.
Preparing leaders to showcase Senegal’s culinary heritage at upcoming global milestones like the Youth Olympic Games and #COP32.

🥣 We wrapped up with a vibrant showcase of West African culinary food heritage curated by @fenacs.sn chefs. The dishes were rich in traditional textures, and local flavors.

Huge thanks to our co-hosts and partners @a_better_life_by_sos_sahel, @fenacs.sn, and chef champion @didjibril84 for making today a milestone for Senegal's agricultural future.

#ChefsManifesto #SustainableFoodSystems #IndigenousIngredients

We are thrilled to welcome Mamadou Moustapha Sall, CEO of Les Moulins du Sénégal🇸🇳, to share his insights on transforming local agriculture.

By bridging the gap between research, local producers, and consumer needs, his leadership is driving the integration of native Senegalese ...grains into everyday food systems, advancing food sovereignty and reducing reliance on imported wheat.

We look forward to an inspiring session!

#ChefsManifesto #GoodFoodForAll

Highlights from the Chefs Manifesto Lagos Action Hub! 🇳🇬

Food system transformation happens when every voice in the ecosystem is heard.

On Day 2 of our Lagos gathering, leaders in agriculture, policy, and the culinary arts came together to explore how radical partnership and... indigenous crops can drive sustainable, long-term change in our food systems.

A few big takeaways from the session
🌾 Leena Hoffman from SOS Sahel underscored the importance of underutilized crops like fonio, sorghum, and millet because of their climate-resilience and nutrition-boosting power.
🤝 Farmers, processors, and chefs can’t succeed in isolation. If farmers aren’t earning a sustainable living, the whole system breaks down. We have to build connected ecosystems where everyone thrives.
📋 For too long, chefs have been left out of food policy conversations. Bringing culinary voices into these discussions bridges the gap between agricultural potential and what actually ends up on our plates.

Thank you our partners @a_better_life_by_sos_sahel, brilliant speakers and chefs champions @moyo_rb & @chefseyitan! Thank you to everyone who joined us in #Lagos with such passion, energy, and open dialogue.

#ChefsManifesto #GoodFood4All #SustainableFoodSystems

What’s one ingredient that’s worth saving?

Thousands of plants are edible, yet 60% of our diet comes from nine crops. Traditional, local and indigenous ingredients are some of the most climate-smart, nutritious foods, but they're slipping off our plates.

But chefs and ...home cooks have the power to change this!
From 15–20 October, celebrate World Food Day & International Chefs Day with us:

1️⃣ Cook one dish featuring a forgotten or indigenous ingredient (like fonio, sorghum, millet, or a local variety from your region).
2️⃣ Post a photo/reel between Oct 15–20
3️⃣ Collab/ tag @chefsmanifesto using #WorldFoodDay #Internationalchefsday

What ingredient will you champion? 🔗 Click the link in our bio for more details.

#ChefsManifesto #WorldFoodDay #InternationalChefsDay

📍 Dakar, Senegal!🇸🇳
We are on the ground and getting ready for the Chefs’ Manifesto Action Hub this Friday!
This action-packed gathering brings together chefs, advocates, and food champions to dive deep into sustainable gastronomy and practical solutions for our food system.
...
🔥 Don't miss your chance to be part of the conversation
Tap the link in our bio to sign up.

#ChefsManifesto #GoodFoodForAll #FoodSystemsChange

Bringing Nigeria’s indigenous crops back to the center of the table. 🍽️

We recently gathered at @atijeexperience for Day 1 of the Lagos Action Hub hosted in collaboration with @a_better_life_by_sos_sahel.

Chefs and partners from across Nigeria came together to share ...heritage dishes celebrating Nigeria’s rich biodiversity, native ingredients, and culinary traditions.

Key takeaways and ideas from the table:
⚠️ There is an abundance of food in Nigeria, yet millions face malnutrition while huge amounts rot post-harvest. The issue is an infrastructure challenge driven by bad roads, power gaps, and a lack of market data.
🥒 By leaning into time-tested traditional techniques like pickling, drying, and fermenting, chefs can protect harvests, directly back local farmers, and keep shelf-stable ingredients on our menus.
🌾 Staples like bambara, iru, cocoyam, finger millet, and fonio are available in local markets, but we need to bring them into mainstream culture, pairing them with something familiar to meet people where they already eat and drink!
💼 Pushing the food systems forward starts with knowing our farmers and building kitchens that pay fair wages, so everyone along the chain can build a sustainable livelihood.

A special thank you to our partners @a_better_life_by_sos_sahel, our host team @atijeexperience, our chef champions @moyo_rb and @chefseyitan and all the brilliant chefs who brought their passion and flavor to the room.

This #WorldFoodDay & #InternationalChefsDay, we challenging chefs to feature and share an indigenous ingredient on their menus! See the link in our bio to get involved!

#ChefsManifesto #IndigenousCrops #Biodiversity #SustainableFood

The Chefs' Manifesto October newsletter is out! 🗞️

Inside this edition:
❤️ Celebrating World Food Day & International Chefs Day (15-20 October)
🧑‍🍳 Convening #ChefChampions at Action Hubs across West Africa
🌾 How culinary champions are driving ...sustainability using indigenous ingredients

Check your inbox or click the link in our bio to read the full issue! 🔗

Are you using your plate to tell a story of transformation? Let us know below 👇

#ChefsManifesto #InternationalChefsDay #WorldFoodDay

Excited to have Leena Hoffmann, PhD joining us in Lagos for the Chefs Manifesto Action Hub.

Together, we're driving powerful conversations on food heritage, innovation, culinary leadership, and building resilient, climate-adaptive food systems for generations to come.

What ...are your thoughts on preserving food heritage? Share your experiences with us and tag someone who should be part of this conversation.

#ChefsManifesto #SustainableFoodSystems #FoodHeritage #GoodFoodForAll

We are live at the Chefs Manifesto Action Hub in Lagos! 🇳🇬

Excited to share insights on sustainability, and indigenous African ingredients. Thanks @mimierocks for sharing yours today.

Join the action in the comments below and tag someone who should be part of this ...conversation! 🌿🍽️

#ChefsManifesto #SustainableFoodSystems #GoodFoodForAll