Chef Turns Food Waste Into Hope and Dignity

Massimo Bottura, a globally renowned three-Michelin-star chef, established the nonprofit Food for Soul with his wife, Lara Gilmore. Inspired by his grandmother's lesson to respect food and minimize waste, Bottura aims to combat food waste and food poverty simultaneously.

The Refettorio model, central to Food for Soul's mission, rescues surplus food destined for disposal. This rescued food is then transformed into nourishing meals by chefs and volunteers within thoughtfully designed spaces.

The first Refettorio, Ambrosiano, was created in a disused Milan theatre, emphasizing that aid need not appear bleak. This philosophy extended to Rio de Janeiro in 2016, utilizing excess food from the Olympic Village.

Now a global network, Food for Soul supports 12 Refettorios across 9 countries on 4 continents. A new project is planned for Nairobi, underscoring the movement's continuous growth and international impact.

Food for Soul frames its work against the backdrop of a significant global crisis: widespread food waste coexisting with widespread hunger. In 2022, approximately 1 billion tonnes of food were wasted while up to 783 million people faced hunger.

Bottura's approach is practical, treating surplus ingredients like stale bread and excess produce as valuable resources. By combining this with an environment of beauty, community, and respect, the project addresses not only hunger but also shame, waste, and isolation.