Ismahane Elouafi has once again made headlines, securing a place on Time magazine’s prestigious 2025 Time100 list of the most influential people in the world. The recognition marks yet another milestone in a career already filled with groundbreaking achievements. Known for her unwavering commitment to food justice, Elouafi has long used science as a tool to address one of humanity’s most pressing challenges: how to feed a growing population in a fair and sustainable way.
As the head of CGIAR, the world’s largest global research network focused on agricultural development, Elouafi is spearheading a bold transformation of food systems worldwide. Her mission is ambitious—reinvent agriculture to make it more resilient to climate change, more equitable for farmers, and more sustainable for future generations. Her focus isn’t just on boosting yields or optimizing production—it’s about reshaping the foundations of how food is grown and shared, especially in parts of the world where food insecurity is a daily reality.
Born and raised in Morocco, Elouafi has carved out a global path that bridges hands-on science and high-level leadership. Before leading CGIAR, she served as the chief scientist at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), where she tackled the complex agricultural issues facing some of the planet’s most vulnerable regions. Her expertise in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, both of which are heavily impacted by climate instability, has made her a vital voice in global food policy. In these areas, scientific innovation doesn’t just improve lives—it saves them.
Elouafi’s approach is grounded in rigorous science, but it’s her passion and clarity of vision that truly set her apart. That combination caught the attention of Bill Gates, who penned her profile for Time. In it, he describes her as “brilliant and determined,” someone with the rare ability to “nourish our future.” Coming from one of the most influential philanthropists of our time, that’s no small endorsement.
Her inclusion in the Time100 list isn’t just a personal triumph. It highlights the global struggle for access to healthy, affordable food—and shines a light on the role science can play in building a better, fairer food system. It’s also a celebration of a different kind of science—one that’s more inclusive, more diverse, and deeply committed to social good.
