Danish chef Rasmus Munk named first Nordic WFP Goodwill Ambassador to raise awareness of global hunger

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has named Danish chef Rasmus Munk, founder of the Copenhagen restaurant Alchemist and the food innovation centre Spora, as its newest Goodwill Ambassador. The appointment, announced today, makes Munk the first from the Nordic region to assume the role, and forms part of WFP’s wider effort to raise awareness of global hunger at a time when the issue is receiving diminished media attention.

Munk, who was named World’s Best Chef at the Best Chef Awards in both 2024 and 2025, is recognised internationally for using gastronomy as a platform for social commentary. Alchemist is known for its immersive dining concept, while Spora works on sustainable food solutions intended to address the needs of a growing global population. In his new role, Munk will use his international profile to support WFP’s work in addressing hunger and malnutrition.

“Feeding a growing population without exceeding our planetary boundaries is a challenge in itself,” Munk said. “Add to those ongoing conflicts natural disasters and climate change, and it becomes clear that we must work together to bring relief to millions of people facing hunger and malnutrition today. That’s why I see it as essential to join forces with the World Food Programme and use the platforms I have available to both provide concrete support and help create awareness of the more than 318 million acutely hungry people in the world today.”

The appointment follows a previous collaboration between Munk and WFP. In October 2025, on World Food Day, the chef launched a month-long fundraising initiative called Serving Change, which brought together chefs and members of the global gastronomy community to raise funds the programme’s operations.

Andreas Hansen, WFP’s Nordic director, acknowledged the contrast between the two organisations’ day-to-day activities but pointed to a shared focus on food.

“WFP and Rasmus Munk’s work at Alchemist might seem worlds apart – one focused on fighting global hunger, the other on immersive dining experiences and culinary innovation,” he said. “However, dig a little deeper and you find a strong shared commitment to leveraging the power of food in support of the most vulnerable. We are excited to welcome Rasmus to the WFP family, as his voice and reach will help us reach new and diverse audiences far beyond the Nordics at a time when the global food crisis is unfortunately no longer making headlines and getting the attention it requires.”

Munk joins a list of WFP Goodwill Ambassadors that includes actor Kate Hudson, designer Michael Kors, musician Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye, tennis player Ons Jabeur, footballer Son Heung-Min and actor Lucy Hale. The WFP describes itself as the world’s largest humanitarian organisation, providing emergency food assistance and supporting longer-term recovery in communities affected by conflict, natural disasters and climate change.

Food Desk

For further information about the World Food Programme, visit the agency’s website here.

For further information about Rasmus Munk, visit the chef’s Instagram here.