Ambassadors

Linda Manyeza is an award-winning agro-processor and founder of Food Masters Africa. This Johannesburg-based company reduces post-harvest losses by dehydrating surplus and imperfect produce into nutritious, shelf-stable foods. Her work promotes food security, sustainability, and skills development in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

A certified entrepreneur through the University of Johannesburg’s Centre for Entrepreneurship, Soweto Campus, Linda trains small-scale farmers, mainly women and youth, in dehydrating fruits and vegetables. This enables them to start businesses, reduce food waste, improve nutrition, earn sustainable incomes, and create jobs in their communities. She believes Africa’s food waste challenges can be solved by harnessing solar energy, using other off-grid technologies, and fostering strong collaboration.

As Value Chain Ambassador for African Food Changemakers, she drives inclusive agro-processing solutions through strategic engagement and representation.

Linda has received multiple recognitions, including 2nd Runner-Up for the AGRA Women Agripreneurs of the Year Award (WAYA 2021) in Nairobi, Kenya; winner of the Branson Food Waste Innovation Challenge (2021); and Changemaker – Spark International (2019). She is an associate signatory to the CGCSA Food Loss and Waste Voluntary Agreement, which is aligned with UN SDG 12.3, aiming to halve global food waste by 2030.

Linda is a speaker on food waste reduction, agro-processing, and women’s empowerment in agro-processing, sharing practical insights at conferences, workshops, and industry events. She actively engages a wide range of stakeholders across the food value chain.

Quote: “Let us starve the landfills and put food on more tables.” — Linda Manyeza