Sustainable Agriculture
Advancing research on agriculture and energy policy. This year, in response to a groundbreaking gift to the Kleinman Center from alumnus Carl H. Goldmsith (W’88), the center established the Goldsmith Sustainable Agriculture Fund. The Kleinman Center drives significant advancements in the study of agriculture and supports the exploration of sustainable agriculture practices through the lens of energy policy.
Agriculture is at the forefront of global challenges. The need to redefine sustainable agriculture in the context of global energy transitions has never been more pressing. As the world grapples with the challenges of climate change, innovative approaches to agriculture are essential to ensure food security while reducing environmental impact.
Thabo Lenneiye, the inaugural managing director of the fund, is leading this effort—leveraging the Kleinman Center’s proven track record of delivering cross-campus, interdisciplinary programming while delving into complex research questions and policy issues.
Staff Leadership
Thabo Lenneiye
Managing Director, Goldsmith Sustainable Agriculture FundThabo Lenneiye is the managing director of the Sustainable Agriculture Fund. She’s responsible for operationalizing the fund, launching initiatives focused on sustainable agriculture, and framing a research agenda that intersects with energy policy.
“The challenges in agriculture and energy are deeply intertwined,” said Lenneiye. “Our goal is to develop a comprehensive research agenda that advances sustainable and regenerative agriculture while integrating with broader energy and climate discourse.”
With six new research projects awarded, the fund is already building momentum across campus. This year’s projects, awarded through a competitive grants program, span the disciplines of design, urban planning, veterinary medicine, economics, and engineering.
In addition to supporting research, the Goldsmith Sustainable Agriculture Fund successfully brought together internal and external partners during Penn’s annual Energy Week. The panel discussion “Growing Climate Resilience: Regenerative Agriculture at University Demonstration Farms” featured key figures like Dean Andy Hoffman of Penn’s veterinary school and Vice Chancellor Hazel Miseda of Great Lakes University of Kisumu, Kenya.
Through this fund, the Kleinman Center also secured two Penn Global grants and a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to expand research on mapping regenerative agriculture practices in Sub-Saharan Africa. Another highlight of this inaugural year was the appointment of Lindiwe Majele Sibanda as Penn’s first sustainable agriculture visiting scholar. Sibanda is the director of the ARUA Center of Excellence in Food Systems and global board chair of CGIAR and will visit campus in the upcoming academic year.
Our goal is to develop a comprehensive research agenda that advances sustainable and regenerative agriculture while integrating with broader energy and climate discourse.
Thabo Lenneiye, Managing Director, Goldsmith Sustainable Agriculture Fund
