The North-West University (NWU) Technology Transfer and Innovation Support (TTIS) office is proud to celebrate the achievements of Dr Mariaan Wicks, a senior lecturer in Dietetics and a woman innovator whose work is transforming the way South Africans understand their food.
Dr Wicks is the developer of NutriRank™, a web-based nutrient profiling calculator designed to evaluate the nutritional quality of food and beverage products. By simplifying complex nutrition information, NutriRank™ empowers consumers to make healthier choices, supports reformulation in the food industry, and provides policymakers with evidence-based tools to strengthen food labelling regulations.
“Affordable, highly processed foods are becoming more widely available, and many South Africans are moving away from healthier whole foods such as vegetables, fruit and dairy,” explains Dr Wicks. “This shift is fuelling obesity and diet-related diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and certain cancers. NutriRank™ plays a vital role in creating a healthier food environment for all.”
Behind NutriRank’s success is the support of TTIS, which helps researchers translate their work into practical, real-world solutions.
Ms Charlotte Mashaba, senior specialist for Commercialisation at TTIS, says: “Clear and effective nutrition front-of-pack labelling plays a vital role in empowering consumers to make healthier choices and drive positive change in the food environment. Dr Wicks’s innovation showcases how research can be transformed into practical solutions that tackle real-world challenges. At TTIS, we are proud to champion women innovators like her, who are not only advancing science but also building healthier futures for our communities."
As a woman innovator in science, Dr Wicks has had to navigate the demands of research, development and impact in a traditionally male-dominated space. “I have learned to stay true to who I am: a wife, mother, dietitian, academic and dreamer. In a space where many roles compete for attention, I focus on protecting my ‘glass balls’ – the values and responsibilities I cannot afford to sacrifice,” she reflects.
Her advice to other women researchers at the NWU is simple yet powerful: “Keep dreaming, and do not be afraid to use the resources and support available to you. Innovation is rarely a journey you take alone.”
For Dr Wicks, NutriRank™ is more than just a research outcome, it represents lasting change. “NutriRank™ puts nutrition policy into action by making complex nutrition information accessible to everyone. It empowers the public, encourages reformulation in the food industry, and supports health professionals and researchers. Together, these efforts can help reduce obesity and diet-related diseases in South Africa.”
As the NWU celebrates Women’s Month under the theme “Empowered to Lead: NWU Women Shaping the Future”, Dr Wicks stands as an inspiring example of how women researchers are leading with vision, innovation and impact.
For more information on NutriRank™ or collaboration opportunities, contact: Technology Transfer and Innovation Support (TTIS) Charlotte.Mashaba@nwu.ac.za | +27 18 285 2136
