S4, Ep.9 What do balconies have to do with food security?

Did you know that in 2021 about 2.1 million, or 11,6%, of South African households reported experiencing hunger? Food insecurity remains a major social justice issue in South Africa due to the country’s history of inequality. What if vulnerable communities could relearn the lost art of cultivating and growing their own food again?

Our guest for this episode, Renschia Manuel, founder of GrowBox Nursery, is showing local communities how to do just that, even in small spaces. Renschia has her own story of food insecurity and shares how she went from being unemployed to running a successful social enterprise which helps others gain food sovereignty. We also hear from Nicole Paganini, Programme Lead at Urban Food Futures, whose work in the area of food security has a special focus on women and children. She shares her thoughts on transforming food systems.

The Bertha Centre is the first specialised centre in Africa dedicated to advancing social innovation and entrepreneurship and focuses on researching, educating, convening, catalysing and advocating for social, environmental and economic justice. Find out more at https://gsbberthacentre.uct.ac.za/. This podcast is produced by 2stories in collaboration with the Bertha Centre, UCT Graduate School of Business, and the Bertha Foundation.