Time 100 Includes Food Leaders

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Thursday, April 29th, 2010

Time Magazine announced its annual list of Time 100: The World’s Most Influential People. Included in the list of 100 are six leaders within the food and agriculture sector.

1. Thinkers: Kathleen Merrigan, Michael Pollan
2. Artists: David Chang
3. Heroes: Temple Grandin, Will Allen, Valentin Abe

- Kathleen Merrigan, PhD is the current Deputy Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, who helped develop the 1990 Organic Food Production Act.

- Michael Pollan is a best-selling author, journalist, and professor best known for his book The Omnivores Dilemma and his work on the film Food, Inc.  Pollan credits Wendell Berry as his biggest influence, who will be at the Arlington Central Library on May 4th.

- David Chang, who was raised in Northern Virginia, is chef/owner of Momofuku and author of the cookbook, Momofuku.  He has won two James Beard Foundation awards and is nominated for another this year. 

- Temple Grandin, PhD is a professor and animal scientist focusing on reducing animal stress.  She works as a consultant to the livestock industry and advocates for autism.  She is also known from Oiliver Sacks’ book, An Anthropologist on Mars: Seven Paradoxical Tales.

- Will Allen is a leader in the urban agriculture movement and owner of the non-profit Growing Power Inc. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  The mission of Growing Power Inc. is: “to grow food, to grow minds, and to grow community.” 

- Valentin Abe, PhD runs the solar and wind-mill powered Haiti Fish Development Project, which converts fishermen into fish farmers.

Video: VodPod

Congratulations to these influential individuals within the food industry!

–Aisha Salazar

Tags: Aisha Salazar, David Chang, Gut Check, Kathleen Merrigan, Michael Pollan, Northern Virginia Magazine, Temple Grandin, Valentin Abe, Will Allen