2026 Seeds of Change with Dr. Giles Oldroyd

Seeds of Change 2026 brings a timely message: plants can help us meet the biggest challenges of our era—feeding the world and healing the planet.

Now leading the Danforth Center, visionary scientist Dr. Giles Oldroyd is advancing a bold, science-driven vision for how plants can do more: grow food with fewer inputs, strengthen soils, reduce agriculture’s environmental footprint, and unlock innovations that make farming more resilient in the face of extreme weather. At Seeds of Change, he’ll share what’s possible when discovery moves quickly from the lab to the field—and why it matters now more than ever.

Edward Jones Managing Director Penny Pennington serves as emcee. Join us for an evening of big ideas and real optimism: inspiring remarks, meaningful connections, and a front-row seat to what’s next in plant science with impact.

5:30 PM Program
6:30 - 7:15 PM Reception

Reservations are free for both in-person and virtual attendees, but required.

REGISTRATION COMING SOON

Become a Corporate Sponsor

Seeds of Change attracts more than 300 influential business and community leaders from the St. Louis region, with additional audiences joining via livestream. Sponsorship offers a unique opportunity to connect your brand with a highly engaged audience and demonstrate your commitment to science, innovation, and community impact.

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, call 314.587.1234 or email development@danforthcenter.org.

Giles Oldroyd, PhD

Danforth Center President Dr. Giles Oldroyd is a plant geneticist internationally recognized for pioneering research on beneficial plant–microbe partnerships that improve nutrient uptake, especially nitrogen and phosphorus. He ranks among the world’s top 1% most-cited plant scientists and is a rare dual member of the UK’s Royal Society and the US National Academy of Sciences. Most recently director of the Crop Science Centre at University of Cambridge UK, he also led a Gates Foundation–funded international program to develop nitrogen-fixing cereals. Known for bridging discovery with real-world impact, Giles collaborates widely to address food security and environmental challenges, and was named a World Food Prize Top Agri-Food Pioneer in 2024.

Penny Pennington

Pennington is managing partner of leading financial services company Edward Jones. She is the first woman and sixth person at the firm’s helm in its 102-year history. A native of Nashville, Pennington began her career with Edward Jones as a financial advisor in 2000 after a 14-year career in banking and was named a principal in 2006. She held various leadership roles in the firm's St. Louis home office before being named managing partner in 2019. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. She is No. 69 on Fortune's "Most Powerful Women" list and under her leadership, Fortune named Edward Jones one of the "World's Most Admired" companies in 2024.

Past Seeds of Change Speakers

2025 Dr. Cary Fowler, agriculturalist and "father" of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault
2024 Penny Pennington; Managing Partner of Edward Jones and Danforth Center Board Chair
2021 Susan Hockfield, PhD, president emerita of MIT, author of The Age of Living Machines.
2019 Bob Chapman, chairman and CEO of Barry-Wehmiller and founder of Truly Human Leadership
2018 Ruth K. Oniang’o, PhD, winner of Africa Food Prize and founder, Rural Outreach Program
2017 Jeff Raikes, co-founder, Raikes Foundation, former CEO, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
2016 David Karandish, founder and CEO, Jane.ai; former CEO, Answers.com
2015 Peter A. Seligmann, CEO, Conservation International
2014 Amory B. Lovins, co-founder and chief scientist, Rocky Mountain Institute
2013 Mark Lynas, environmentalist and author of The God Species
2012 Jim McKelvey, co-founder, Square, Inc. and the nonprofit LaunchCode
2011 Richard Longworth, journalist and author of Caught in the Middle
2010 Hugh Grant, chairman and CEO, Monsanto

Watch Dr. Oldroyd's TED Talk

10:37

Meet the leaders of today.

Check out photos from past Seeds of Change events.

What to Expect

About Seeds of Change
Organized by the Danforth Leadership Council since 2010, the annual Seeds of Change program is a networking and education event featuring a visiting high-level thought leader. Typical programs energize the audience with inspirational stories, uniting people to work in collaboration toward common goals that connect with the Danforth Center's values and mission.

Attendee Notice of Release
By entering the Danforth Center for this event, you acknowledge that you are providing your consent to be photographed, filmed, and otherwise have your likeness or voice recorded for use by the Danforth Center in any and all media materials, including websites and in other marketing or educational materials, in perpetuity.