Ghana’s Selassie Atadika named in 2025 TIME Earth Awards

TIME has named Chef Selassie Atadika as a 2025 Earth Awards honoree. This award recognizes six individuals worldwide for their work in sustainability, climate justice, and innovation.

Other honorees this year include climate philanthropist Michael Bloomberg.

Past recipients include U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres and Indigenous leader Nemonte Nenquimo. These leaders work to restore balance between people and the planet.

Chef Atadika is the first Ghanaian to receive this honor. She is recognized for her visionary work in African foodways and sustainability.

As the Founder of Midunu, she has a background in humanitarian work with the United Nations. Her approach focuses on climate resilience through culinary heritage.

"Africa’s culinary knowledge holds the blueprint for a more sustainable future,” said Atadika.

She emphasized that Africa's food systems are rooted in biodiversity, culture, and care. This honor represents Africa’s leadership in creating a just and climate-resilient food future.

Selassie Atadika is also a La Liste New Destination Champion and a MacMillan Fellow at Yale University. She has been ranked among the Top 100 Chefs in the World by The Best Chef Awards.

Her work has appeared in major publications like The New York Times, CNN, BBC, and The Financial Times.

At Midunu, she leads a culinary movement that combines delicious African ingredients with indigenous knowledge. This includes storytelling and sensory experiences through acclaimed nomadic dinners and handcrafted chocolate collections.