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03 March 2025 | Story Andre Damons and Adele Louw | Photo Tania Allen
Agriculture Risk Financing research chair
Prof Johan van Niekerk, Vice-Dean for Agriculture for the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences; Prof Liezel Massyn, UFS Business School; Prof Nicolene Barkhuizen, Director of the UFS Business School; and Prof Cobus Oberholster, from the Agriculture Risk Financing research chair.

A newly established multi-stakeholder research chair at the University of the Free State (UFS) Business School will focus on holistic and interdisciplinary research that will create new knowledge, contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation in the food and agricultural sector.

The Agriculture Risk Financing research chair, led by Prof Cobus Oberholster from the Business School, will also support sector specific policy development and implementation, and steer the societal discourse on climate financing and sustainable agriculture. The chair forms part of the UFS, Agricultural Research Council (ARC), and the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) research chairs. Prof Oberholster joined the university on 1 February 2025 in this prestigious position which is a collaboration between the Business School and the UFS Department of Agricultural Economics.

Prof Oberholster, who spent a big portion of his corporate career in the banking environment, brings extensive expertise in climate finance, resource mobilisation, and sustainable economic practices. His appointment marks a significant milestone in advancing research at the intersection of finance, sustainability, and agriculture, ensuring that innovative financial solutions contribute to environmental resilience and responsible resource management. Prof Oberholster also gained extensive management experience over the past 15 years regarding the agribusiness environment (non-Bank) in South Africa with a specific focus on value-chain financing.

Focus of research chair

Says Prof Oberholster: “The research chair will strategically focus on the mainstreaming of climate-smart financing solutions within the food and agricultural sector. To achieve this, the research will focus on three strategic and interrelated pillars (Regulatory and policy, Entrepreneurial market exchanges and Digital financial innovations), which aim to provide a governance framework within which innovative financing and market mechanisms can be developed and commercialised.

“The chair will reside at the UFS Business School, but form part of a group of research chairs being hosted within the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science. These chairs cover the full food and agricultural value chain, which allow for leveraging the output of the chair within very specific components of the value agrifood value chain.”

The ARC-DALLRD-UFS research chairs were established last year in an effort to address the challenges and impact of climate change in Southern Africa and fall under the umbrella of climate change.

Prof Oberholster, who completed two doctoral degrees focusing on agriculture, agricultural development, and agricultural financing, says he is excited to be part of this joint initiative, and the opportunity to share his business and financing experience. “Climate change, and the corresponding need to find innovative financing solutions, is currently one of the biggest global challenges. It requires an accelerated and responsible approach to research and innovation which, together with the university’s trusted reputation, must be used to build social licence for disruptive technological solutions.”

Contributing to food security

According to Prof Oberholster, both the UFS Business School and the faculty, are ideally suited to find complementary commercial solutions for accessing and mobilising climate finance in South Africa and the wider African continent. The chair, through the UFS Business School, will also focus on capacity building which will be done through selected training and educational interventions, with the aim of addressing existing constraints in mobilising and accessing climate finance.

“The chair will focus on the integration of social, ethical and environmental parameters into climate-financing decisions. By focusing on these key sustainability aspects, access to climate finance will not only contribute to specific development objectives but also significantly contribute to food security,” Prof Oberholster says.

“Climate change, and the corresponding need to find innovative financing solutions, is currently one of the biggest global challenges. As such I’m looking forward to guide the creation of new knowledge in this specialised field, and especially to find complementary commercial solutions for accessing and mobilising climate finance in South Africa and the bigger African continent. What is standing out for me is the level of expertise available within the UFS, and the willingness of academics to work together on grand challenges such as climate finance. This is a winning recipe.”

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Kovsie student and reigning Miss Lesotho en route to Miss World 2015
2015-11-03

 Relebohile Kobeli - the beauty queen of Lesotho

Relebohile Kobeli was crowned Miss Lesotho 2015 earlier this year, and is now en route to Miss World International 2015 in China to represent the mountainous Kingdom. The beauty pageant, which takes place between November and December, will see contestants from over 150 countries contending for the title.

The nineteen-year-old second-year Geography and Environmental Management student at the University of the Free State (UFS) also won Miss Lesotho in 2014. She holds other titles, such as Miss Outeniqua 2014, and First Princess Face of Lesotho 2013.

What would it mean to be the first from Lesotho to sit on the Miss World throne?

I believe that it would be a turning point for pageantry in Lesotho. We are one of the few countries that do not fully recognise pageants, and the value they add to the tourism industry. Winning the throne would be putting into practice the theory that we, as beauty queens in Lesotho, always practice what we preach.

Since beginning this Miss World contest, in what way have you reached out to your community through the Beauty with a Purpose project?

My Beauty with a Purpose project focuses mainly on introducing and helping start up sustainable projects in communities. I wanted to move away from giving people donations to giving them the skills to ensure their long-term livelihood.

What skill sets do you possess that are essential to succeeding as an international first queen?

I am a very creative individual who thinks on her feet. That is important for me because, when you are far away from home, should things go wrong, there's no room for panic. I am sociable and human-centered, I relate to different people, regardless of cultural differences, and, as an international queen, it is important to be appreciative of others’ way of life, regardless of how different it is are from your own.

Rolene Strauss, the current Miss World, stated her ambition to capitalise on promoting forgiveness, hope, and unity during her tenure. What are you hoping to achieve, given the chance as her successor?

I would definitely speak about self-reliance among young women and the youth at large. I come from a country where not everyone is lucky enough to get a job. In such cases, young men and women fall into crime, young women become victims of sexual abuse or prostitution, and, although one may argue that that is self-reliance, is it sustainable? Is it not escaping one fire to jump into another? It is important for me to represent every girl who has ever had a dream. I am spreading the message of possibilities when the world is yelling "Impossible!"

What has been the highlight of your term as Miss Lesotho?

My greatest highlight was finding myself through service to others. I discovered that the more I invest in myself, the more of me I can give and share.

The Miss Lesotho 2016 competition is around the corner, what words of wisdom would you like to share with hopefuls?

Pageantry is not all about pretty dresses and tiaras. It is hard work. Always be humble, and remember that, whatever the outcome, it is your life's journey.  You are destined for greatness. Don't deny yourself that privilege.

In your experience, what is the Kovsie feeling referred to in the maxim “Only a Kovsie knows the feeling”?

It is the desire to want to be great, the motivation to live to my full potential.

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