Prof. Riana Kleynhans has built a distinguished career in horticultural research, teaching, and postgraduate supervision, with a particular focus on indigenous and medicinal plant species. During her more than 20 years as a researcher at the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), she made significant contributions to the flower bulb industry, culminating in the registration of seven new cultivars under Plant Breeder’s Rights.
In 2011, she expanded her research focus by joining the ARC’s medicinal plant research programme, where she led and managed multidisciplinary, externally funded projects. Her work brought together researchers from diverse fields while also fostering community-based initiatives that promoted sustainable development and knowledge transfer.
Since joining the Department of Horticulture at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in 2013, Prof. Kleynhans has combined academic leadership with a strong commitment to research and student development. Appointed Associate Professor in 2021, she teaches across horticultural disciplines and supervises numerous postgraduate students, guiding research that advances the cultivation and commercialisation of indigenous plant species.
Driven by a passion for sustainable agriculture and biodiversity conservation, Prof. Kleynhans’ research is dedicated to developing scientifically based production protocols for indigenous and medicinal plants. Her work seeks to unlock the cultivation potential of these species while supporting sustainable utilisation, and the growth of South Africa’s indigenous plant sector.