Honoring Women Scientists

The current issue is dedicated to women scientists that work closely with us. These are highly qualified individuals in food systems, while the young scholars have a promising journey ahead. I wish to appreciate them for their support and afford them visibility, to be invited for collaboration, talks at conferences, consultancies, or scholarship support. I value them and appreciate them for their unrelenting support to the journal and propagation of food systems knowledge. Although the whole idea of women’s history month was started in the USA, United Kingdom and Australia, with eased communication, it rubs on all of us. For me, every day is woman's day. No problem, it is good to pick a month, a day to focus. Over the years I have focused on widows in my development work, because I became aware of their vulnerability once widowed at the hands of those who once embraced them before. It is bad in certain cultures; all of a sudden, you are no one. Then I started to advocate for smallholder women farmers in Africa, who toil away, with few resources, to feed their families. Over the years, I have supported the girl child with school fees, school uniform and sanitary pads, especially those that show promise but come from impoverished backgrounds. Being a woman myself, who made it despite many challenges, I do understand. And now even as I cut down on professional work, I mentor young scholars, especially women. One told me recently that socially for her as a young married scholar, it is easier to have a mature woman who has been through so much, as a mentor. I agree. I find mentoring is two ways. There is so much for me to learn in this fast-growing AI world. So, to try and keep up, my mentees teach me what my head can absorb. On my part I introduce them to what else they can do beyond their profession, that as women we need to show empathy and support those most vulnerable in the society. The ones I wish to pay special attention to today are the women scientists close to me because either they review for this journal or I mentor them. Being a woman scholar is quite a journey and being a woman scientist is even more challenging but also quite fulfilling. There are tens of thousands more out there. Be proud of yourselves. It is about being inquisitive and seeking answers to the world's most pressing problems. Feel valued and value yourselves as well.