Sibella Kraus
Sibella Kraus has long called upon cities to embrace the farms at their borders and in their regions.
Sibella’s work as a thought leader, project developer, and speaker have brought to life the connections between healthy local food, regional sustainable agriculture and resilient urban communities in the Bay Area and beyond.
In 2001, Kraus founded SAGE (Sustainable Agriculture Education), which cultivates urban-edge places where farming and local food culture can thrive and be celebrated. Today, as President of SAGE, Kraus continues to foster urban-rural linkages through the development of urban-edge AgParks, the regeneration of agricultural resource areas and the production of food system assessments for regional planning efforts. At the heart of her work is a determination to enhance the invaluable connections between farmer and consumer, urban hub and regional working lands.
Sibella’s diverse background also includes:
- Directed the Agriculture in Metropolitan Regions Program at the University of California Berkeley, a precursor to the Berkeley Food Institute, from 2006-2009
- Founded and directed the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA), from 1991-2000. Created, as a CUESA project, San Francisco’s iconic Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market in 1992
- Created the Tasting of Summer Produce Project and the Farm-Restaurant Project, bellwether projects connecting farms and restaurants
- Developed an organic and specialty produce department for a San Francisco produce wholesaler, Greenleaf Produce Company
- Worked as a print and television journalist covering regional food and agriculture, primarily for the San Francisco Chronicle and NBC-TV
- Cooked at Berkeley’s famed Chez Panisse Restaurant
Sibella has produced numerous influential publications and is an acclaimed, in-demand public speaker. She has received frequent recognition for her work from agricultural, food, planning and public market organizations. Most recently, she received the national 2014 Growing Green Regional Food Leader Award from the NRDC and the Berkeley Food Institute.
Awards and Recognition
- Regional Food Leader, 2014 Growing Green Awards
Speaking Engagements
Sibella Kraus is often recognized for her ability to articulate and operationalize her vision for fostering regional, sustainable agriculture frameworks and projects. If you are interested in having Sibella Kraus speak or present at an event, conference or workshop, please contact SAGE.
May 25, 2017 – Stanford-Berkeley Food Innovation and Design Symposium: “Delicious Innovation”
Ending Keynote Speaker
Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
May 12, 2017 – San Jose Food Works Implementation Kickoff at San Jose City Hall
Opening Remarks
San Jose, CA
October 16-18, 2014 – “New Ruralism Concept, Current Context and Coyote Valley Case Study” at the Ax:son Johnson Foundation New Ruralism Seminar
Keynote Speaker
Engelsbergs, Sweden
July 29, 2014 – Napa Valley Growers Organic Wine Growing Conference
Keynote Speaker
Napa, CA
May 14, 2014 – NRDC Growing Green Award
Sibella Kraus was awarded Regional Food Leader for her 30+ years workin the field of advancing sustainable food and agriculture.
October 31st, 2013 – Colorado Sustainability Conference
Starting the “Food Shift” in Colorado
Colorado Springs, CO
September 21st, 2013 – Hidden Villa’s Josephine and Frank Duveneck Humanitarian Awards Dinner
Los Altos, CA
June 22nd, 2013 – Slow Money Northern California
Sunol, CA
January 15, 2013 – San Francisco Planning & Urban Research Association, San Jose
Into the Great Wide Open
San Jose, CA
Sept 28 – Oct 1, 2012 – American Society of Landscape Architects
Metro-Region Agriculture
Phoenix, AZ
October 13, 2012 – North American Association for Environmental Education
Farming, Culture, and Environment:
On-Farm Hands-On Education for School Groups
Oakland, CA
Download PDF here
View slideshow.
August, 2012 – American Planning Association
National Conference:
What’s to Become of Our Small Towns and Rural Areas?
Los Angeles, CA
October, 2011 – Slow Money
3rd National Gathering
San Francisco, CA
October, 2011 – Urban Land Institute
The Food Revolution – and its Impact on Real Estate
Towards a New Ruralism: Integrating Agriculture into Sustainable Metro Regions
Los Angeles, CA
March, 2011 – California Small Farms Conference
Foodsheds -Investing in Metro-region Sustainability Tasting of Summer Produce:1983-1989
San Jose, CA
October, 2010 – Les Dames d’Escoffier Conference
Green Tables Panel:
Perspectives on Community Food Systems
Palm Springs, CA
October, 2010 – Gaining Ground Conference
Towards a New Ruralism:
Integrating Agriculture into Sustainable Metro Regions
Vancouver, British Columbia