STIAS ASSAf Public Lecture 2026: Sustainable Food Systems in an Era of Uncertainty - Lindiwe Sibanda

Sustainable Food Systems in an Era of Uncertainty: Science, governance and planetary stewardship In an age defined by climate volatility, geopolitical fragmentation, economic inequality and nutritional transition, food systems sit at the centre of global stability. Yet they are increasingly exposed to systemic shocks. This lecture explores how science, governance and ethical stewardship must converge to secure resilient and equitable food systems. Drawing on global research networks, policy platforms and corporate governance experience, the lecture will examine the limits of technocratic solutions and argue that sustainable transformation requires moral imagination as much as scientific innovation. Prof Dr. Lindiwe Majele Sibanda is a global leader at the critical intersection of agriculture, climate, and sustainable food systems policy. Until mid-2025 she chaired the Integrated Partnership Board of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), steering the world’s largest publicly funded agricultural research network. STIAS has partnered with ASSAf to host an annual public lecture as part of the Academy’s Distinguished Visiting Scholar Programme according to which the Academy invites one or more distinguished scholars to present a lecture at various higher education institutions around the country. The scholars are internationally prominent academics with the ability to engage beyond discipline divides.