Teresa Corçao is a chef-proprietor, documentary maker and food activist. Several years ago she became aware that her work as a chef could have a big influence on the survival of local farmers, as well as their food products. And so, she founded the Instituto Maniva in 2002 to nurture organic family farming and better nutrition in society as a whole. The seed was sown with the Tapioca Project, which – via workshops in schools in Rio de Janeiro for children aged between 7 and 12 years old – aimed to revive the use of cassava, Brazil’s most famous ingredient. For eight years, students were taught how to prepare tapioca and its role in history, music, folklore and cuisine. Maniva’s Ecochefs network was set up in 2009 to promote ethical cuisine, as well as to encourage communication right across the food chain, from producers to consumers.
www.institutomaniva.org
