The Research Chair in Agriculture Risk Financing, under the leadership of Prof Cobus Oberholster, represents a new initiative aimed at addressing one of the most pressing global challenges – climate change and the need for innovative financing solutions. Based in the UFS Business School, this research chair takes a responsible, cross-disciplinary approach to research and innovation. It builds on the university’s strong reputation for building trust and social acceptance of disruptive technological advancements.
It brings together different partners to explore how climate change affects agricultural finance. The aim is to help develop smarter policies, support climate adaptation and mitigation, and guide public conversations around sustainable, climate-friendly farming. The chair focuses on helping banks, financial institutions, and value chain actors, building more sustainable businesses. It looks at how climate change, finance, and digital technologies come together – especially through climate fintech – to support green investments, eco-innovation, and financial inclusion. With a strong emphasis on collaboration, it also explores areas such as regenerative agriculture and carbon credits. A key goal is to develop an executive education platform that offers practical training and course content on climate finance.
By centring sustainability, these efforts will not only unlock development funding but will also contribute meaningfully to food security.
The research chair supports several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
About the chair holder:
Alongside his strong background in marketing, Prof Cobus Oberholster brings recognised expertise in agricultural financing and has extensive experience in delivering financial services to the agricultural and related sectors. He also has management experience within South Africa’s non-bank agribusiness environment.
His areas of specialisation include agricultural marketing, agribusiness management, agricultural financing, and development financing. Prof Oberholster is also an advocate for agricultural value chain financing as a dual framework for financing and development to guide future financing activities in sub-Saharan Africa agriculture. He actively promotes the development of integrated, pro-smallholder agricultural value chains to facilitate market integration and increased levels of financial inclusion, contributing to sustainable agricultural development.
Prof Oberholster, currently working on his third doctoral degree, is developing an integrated framework for agribusiness executive education aimed at driving innovation in South Africa’s food and agricultural markets through futures studies. He believes that visionary leadership and strong, collaborative teams are important for building a sustainable agricultural sector. For him, executive education is a powerful tool to help leaders navigate change and unlock innovation in food and agribusiness.
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