Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has underscored the need for stronger partnerships between research institutions and industry to accelerate the transformation of Ghana’s agri-food systems.
Speaking at the 8th Annual Conference of the Ghana Association of Agricultural Economists (GAAE) held at KNUST, the minister noted that the persistent gap between academia and industry has hindered the sustainable growth of agriculture over the years.
According to him, transforming agri-food systems requires joint action across government, the private sector, research institutions, and development partners.
“Transforming agri-food systems requires partnerships. It is not the job of government alone. We need strong collaboration between the public sector, private investors, research institutions, and development partners,” he said.
Mr. Opoku reaffirmed government’s commitment to establishing a policy environment that fosters innovation, fair trade, and responsible investment, emphasizing that sustainable agribusiness is vital for food security and inclusive economic growth.
The conference, themed “Transforming Agri-Food Systems in Developing Economies through Sustainable Agribusiness Development,” brought together key stakeholders and businesses in the agriculture value chain to discuss strategies for sectoral improvement and system transformation.
Responding to the minister’s remarks, Dr. (Mrs.) Adelaide Araba Siaw Agyepong, Chief Executive Officer of the African Agribusiness Consortium (AAC), stressed the need to close the gap between research and practice to achieve lasting transformation in Africa’s agriculture.
“The issue is not that we lack ideas or that we do not understand what to do. The issue is that our structures do not sustain action long enough to produce meaningful change,” she stated.
She further explained that sustainable agribusiness thrives on close collaboration among researchers, investors, and policymakers, supported by stable policy and financing frameworks.
On his part, GAAE President, Prof. John K. M. Kuwornu, reaffirmed the Association’s commitment to partnering with both public and private institutions to promote sustainable development.
“We are working assiduously with partners and other institutions to sustain productivity, logistics distribution, and marketing in the agricultural sector to ensure sustainable development,” he said.
Meanwhile, Henry Anim Somuah, a member of GAAE’s Policy Dialogue Committee, highlighted five key policy areas driving transformation, coordinated agricultural research, differentiated credit programs, organized farmer structures, targeted extension services, and structured market arrangements to ensure farmers’ access to markets.
He noted that these policies are reinforced by key enablers such as strong public–private partnerships, efficient financing systems, and coordinated research efforts critical to transforming Ghana’s agricultural sector and improving farmer livelihoods.
The experts collectively agreed that effective partnerships, innovation, and long-term investment are the backbone of Ghana’s sustainable agri-food transformation.
