The inaugural 50 Next list from 50 Best, which features the young people who are driving change in the world of food and drink, includes six entries from Asia. We look at who they are
The latest list from 50 Best, the 50 Next list, celebrates the people under the age of 35 who are shaping the future of gastronomy. Hailing from 34 countries across six continents, the 50 entries (some featuring pairs or groups of individuals) are unranked, with honourees divided into seven categories: Gamechanging Producers, Tech Disruptors, Empowering Educators, Entrepreneurial Creatives, Science Innovators, Hospitality Pioneers and Trailblazing Activists.
Compiled through an open application process where people could apply themselves or nominate someone else, the list was whittled down from 700 candidates and finalised with the help of 50 Best’s Academic Partner Basque Culinary Center.
Six entries include people based in Asia, with a further three featuring individuals originally from the region. Read on to see the full list of inspiring honourees and ones to watch who hail from Asia.
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Louise Mabulo, 22, San Fernando, Philippines
Gamechanging Producer and Gen.T honouree Louise Mabulo is a farmer, entrepreneur and chef, and is the founder of The Cacao Project, an initiative that seeks to help farmers work sustainably and future-proof their livelihoods. The social venture came about following a typhoon in Mabulo’s home of San Fernando, Camarines Sur in 2016 when Mabulo, just 18 at the time, saw the impact of the typhoon on farmers’ livelihoods. Identifying that cacao plants were among the few crops still standing post-typhoon, her disaster relief assistance stretched into the longer term as she encouraged the planting of more resilient crops like cacao. The Cacao Project has helped more than 200 farmers plant 80,000 trees to date and Mabulo hopes to extend her scope of work to include a series of chocolate products. In addition to her agriculture advocacy, Mabulo runs The Culinary Lounge, a farm-to-table kitchen space, where she hosts workshops, pop-up dinners and other events.
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