The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) is pleased to announce that Prof Dr Lindiwe Majele Sibanda, a globally respected authority at the intersection of agriculture, climate change, and sustainable food systems, will visit South Africa as an ASSAf Distinguished Visiting Scholar (DVS) for 2025/26.
Prof Sibanda will undertake a national lecture and engagement programme during March 2026, hosted in partnership with leading South African universities and research institutes. Her visit forms part of ASSAf’s annual Distinguished Visiting Scholar Programme, which brings internationally eminent scholars to South Africa to stimulate scholarly exchange, interdisciplinary dialogue, and policy-relevant research.
Prof Sibanda’s recent roles reflect exceptional global influence and leadership. These include serving as Chair of the CGIAR Integrated Partnership Board (until mid-2025), Co-Chair of the Food Planet Prize, Extra-ordinary Professor at the University of Pretoria, board member of Nestlé, member of the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA) Board, and Chair of Council of Zimbabwe’s National University of Science and Technology.
Her international standing is further underscored by fellowships at the Robert Bosch Academy (2025) and the University of Pennsylvania’s Kleinman Center for Energy Policy (2024), influential publications in Nature and Nature Plants, and her pivotal contribution to the UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture adopted at COP28. A committed food systems champion, Prof Sibanda is widely recognised for bridging farmers, science, and policy, and for pioneering innovative approaches such as Theatre for Policy Advocacy.
During her visit, Prof Sibanda will deliver a public lecture series titled:
“Reflecting on the Agriculture, Climate and Sustainable Food Systems Policy Nexus”
In addition to public lectures, her programme will include high-level engagements with academics, senior researchers, early-career scientists, and postgraduate students, aimed at fostering dialogue across disciplines and strengthening evidence-informed policy thinking.
Lecture programme (March 2026)
- 4 March 2026 – Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS) - 5–6 March 2026 – Mbombela
University of Mpumalanga (UMP) - 9–10 March 2026 – Thohoyandou
University of Venda (UniVen) - 12 March 2026 – Pretoria
University of Pretoria (UP)
Through the Distinguished Visiting Scholar Programme, ASSAf advances its mandate to place science in the service of society, enriching South Africa’s research ecosystem and strengthening the interface between science, policy, and societal impact.
Prof Sibanda’s visit comes at a critical moment for global and African debates on food security, climate resilience, and sustainable development, and offers a unique opportunity for engagement with one of the world’s leading voices in this field.