Mpumi Mahlangu isn’t your typical agribusiness leader, and that’s exactly the point. With a background in computer science and telecommunications, her path to becoming the CEO of Pretoria Protein Trading underscores a growing trend: women are entering and reshaping agricultural industries from the top down.

Her journey began with a doctoral focus on circular economies in telecoms, but quickly pivoted when she saw the opportunity in sustainable protein production. Mahlangu’s vision helped launch a separate trading arm for Pretoria Protein Company – bridging innovation in processing with commercial access to the market.

Her leadership signals something vital: the protein economy isn’t just about farming. It’s about science, systems, and strategic thinking. And women like Mahlangu are helping define what the future of agri-business looks like in South Africa.

Yet across the continent, women still face barriers in land ownership, financing, and access to agri-tech. What kind of policy support or industry shift would help more women take on leadership roles? And how can companies intentionally foster inclusive environments that bring more diverse voices into this space?

Could the next wave of growth in soybeans – and agriculture more broadly – depend as much on gender equity as it does on yield?