Nadine Du Piesanie
Nadine Du Piesanie is a lecturer and PhD candidate in the Department of Consumer and Food Sciences at the University of Pretoria. Her work sits at the intersection of food literacy, sustainable food systems, consumer behaviour and experiential learning.
Her research examines how gamification can foster food literacy among Generation Alpha and support more informed, healthy, and sustainable food choices. Her work has received national and international recognition, including second place in the 2024 International E-Learning Excellence Awards, the South African Women in Science Awards DSTI–Dr Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri Doctoral Fellowship, and the 2025 Emerging Scholar Award from the International Conference on Food Studies.
Beyond her research, she contributes to several sustainability-focused initiatives, including the UPCYCLE team, the Moja Gabedi Community Garden and the Gcwalisa food hub initiative. Through these projects, she advances circular food practices, waste reduction, farm-to-fork learning, access to nutritious food, practical food knowledge and the preservation of culinary heritage. Through the management and coordination of large-scale events, Nadine collaborates with industry, community partners and external stakeholders to create meaningful consumer education experiences. These initiatives use food as a vehicle to engage audiences on topics ranging from culinary heritage and indigenous foods to public health, sustainability and responsible consumption.