Massimo Bottura is a renowned Italian chef and owner of Osteria Francescana, a three Michelin star restaurant in Modena, Italy. He has consistently been listed as one of the world’s best chefs, and is among the 2019 TIME 100 most influential people. Chef Bottura uses his global platform to advocate for the reduction of food waste, for healthy and sustainable food systems, and for the protection of the environment and biodiversity through sustainable cooking practices and ingredient sourcing.
In 2016, Bottura founded Food for Soul together with his wife Lara Gilmore, a nonprofit organization that runs inspiring food waste, social and cultural initiatives around the globe. His Refettorios are community hubs built in underused spaces, where people in situations of social and economic vulnerability are welcomed and served free nutritious meals cooked with surplus ingredients that would have otherwise been thrown away.