Associate Professor Jane Battersby: Department of Environmental and Geographical Science, University of Cape Town– Food Security | Womanity

Associate Professor Jane Battersby from the University of Cape Town Department of Environmental and Geographical Science was recently featured on the Womanity Podcast — a weekly talk radio show celebrating women’s milestone achievements in their ongoing struggle for liberation and self-emancipation.

The podcast explores a wide range of issues affecting women, including politics, human rights, democracy, socio-economic inequality, cultural perspectives and legal rights. In this episode, Jane reflects on the intersections between gender, food security and food systems, while also sharing insights into her journey as a woman in academia.

A leading scholar in urban food systems and food security, Jane discusses how food insecurity disproportionately affects women and vulnerable communities, highlighting the importance of inclusive and equitable approaches to building resilient food systems. The conversation also touches on the challenges and opportunities women face within academic spaces and leadership roles.

During the discussion, Jane shared several valuable reflections for young women entering academia and the broader workforce:

• Ensure your voice is heard early in meetings.
• Amplify the contributions and ideas of other women.
• Turn underestimated roles into opportunities for influence and leadership — for example, taking ownership of report writing or administrative responsibilities and transforming them into spaces of impact.

Her interview serves as both an important contribution to conversations on food security and a powerful source of encouragement for emerging women scholars and professionals.

Listen to the full interview on the Womanity website.