Goldsmith Sustainable Agriculture Fund
The Goldsmith Sustainable Agriculture Fund at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy is dedicated to advancing research at the intersection of energy policy, sustainable agriculture, and climate policy.
The Fund’s focus is on sustainable agriculture practices, policies, and science and technology that alleviate adverse environmental and socio-economic impacts. This initiative strives to deliver meaningful interdisciplinary outcomes and establish a foundation for long-term impact.
Energy-Agriculture Nexus
The energy-agriculture nexus, a distinct, bidirectional framework, anchors our multi-year research and policy agenda. Organized along the agricultural value chain, the agenda highlights key differences between the Global North and Global South while addressing cross-cutting systems such as climate finance; monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV); and policy coherence.
Read the Working Paper
Energy and Agriculture: A Bidirectional Relationship
Announcement
Climate + Agriculture Exchange
This new collaboration with Penn Climate brings together Penn expertise at the nexus of climate and agriculture.
The challenges in agriculture and energy are deeply intertwined. Our goal is to develop a comprehensive research agenda that advances sustainable agriculture and integrates broader energy and climate discourse.
Thabo Lenneiye, ManAGING Director
Special Thanks
The Goldsmith Sustainable Agriculture Fund, established through a generous gift from alumnus Carl H. Goldsmith (W’88), advances research at the intersection of energy and agriculture, anchored at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy.
Recent Publications
Calculating Carbon Benefits of Urban Orchards
Urban agriculture can help cities adapt to climate change, but its carbon benefits are not well understood. Using Philadelphia orchards as a case study, this study found significant carbon impacts and presents a simple, replicable method for measuring the carbon effects of urban orchards.
Agrivoltaics Ordinances for Greater Deployment of Solar with Agriculture
Local government zoning ordinances have posed an obstacle to solar electricity projects. By drafting ordinances that favor agrivoltaics, local governments may overcome opposition and enable solar projects that include agricultural production.
Current Projects
Cultivating Adoption: Evaluating the Impact of Optical Leaf Sensors on Precision Agriculture Outcomes
Akhila Mallavarapu
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.
