Jim Kleinschmit
Senior Advisor on Climate, Energy and Sustainable Systems
Jim grew up on a farm in Northeast Nebraska, milking cows and learning about sustainable agriculture and farm policy from his family. During almost two decades on IATP’s staff, Jim worked on a wide array of policy, organizing and market efforts promoting resilient rural communities and sustainable farming systems. As director of the Rural Communities Program, he led the development of the Working Landscapes Certificates - NonGMOplus program, the Rural Climate Dialogues, and the Rural Climate Network.
In 2015, Jim began consulting with IATP and returned to active farming as co-owner and business development director of Regeneration Farms, producers of Tree-RangeTM chicken and sustainable perennial and annual crops in Southern Minnesota. He has an M.A. from the Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington-Seattle, and a B.A. from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, and resides in South Minneapolis with his wife and two sons.