To boost local production, the HBP is rolling out pilot programmes to simplify access for market women to buy local crops. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Ghana is taking bold steps to improve food security and sustainability by bringing together agritech, agribusiness, and collaborative partnerships

With digital training and support from the Netherlands Trust Fund V (NTF V) Ghana Tech project, initiatives like the Horticulture Business Platform (HBP) and the Agricultural Innovation for Africa (AIA) Conference are reshaping agriculture. 

The HBP gathers farmers, small businesses, input suppliers, and farmer-based groups, all working toward shared goals. By working with key organisations, HBP promotes sustainable growth in horticulture, offering its members opportunities to access local and global markets, benefit from training programmes, and engage in trade fairs. 

The NTF V support brings together agribusinesses, technology companies, investors, and government agencies to find sustainable solutions. One example is the Agricultural Innovation for Africa Conference (AIA), co-hosted by KIC. At the 2024 event, over 1,500 farmers, tech innovators, and policymakers explored opportunities to work together. Youth engagement and gender equality are central to Ghana’s agricultural transformation. Agritech startups in the NTF V cohort prioritise empowering women farmers.

Despite substantial achievements, Apom said many farmers still lack access to smartphones and the digital skills needed to use advanced tools. To boost local production, the HBP is rolling out pilot programmes to simplify access for market women to buy local crops. This not only helps reduce post-harvest losses but also strengthens local food systems. Ghana’s commitment to achieving food security and sustainability offers a blueprint for other nations grappling with similar challenges.

The draft NALC project document will be presented and validated by key stakeholders from both the Government and donor community on 30 January 2025. (Image source: FAO)

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) is providing technical assistance to the Government of Zimbabwe in developing a National Agricultural and Livestock Census (NALC) Plan of Action

This collaboration is part of FAO’s broader efforts to support Zimbabwe in strengthening its agricultural data systems and ensuring food security for its population. For the next two weeks, senior statisticians and economists from key strategic sectors are gathered in Harare to discuss and document data needs, methodological considerations, overall planning and the required resources for undertaking the agricultural and livestock census in a project document as per the FAO World Programme for the Census of Agriculture (WCA 2020).

At the same time, the Government professionals are updating data on food availability for human consumption in terms calories, fats, minerals, proteins, vitamins and other micro and macro nutrients per capita per day to support food security and nutrition policies.

The draft NALC project document will be presented and validated by key stakeholders from both the Government and donor community on 30 January 2025, as an important tool for resource mobilisation to be used by both the Government and its development partners. The implementation of NALC will follow once the required resources become available.

Participants engaged in extensive discussions on the presentations and adopted various recommendations. (Image source: Ministry of Information Eritrea)

A meeting by the National Agricultural Research Institutions was held on 21 January at the Halhale Agricultural Research Centre to review the activities of 2024 and action plan for 2025

During the meeting, detailed briefings were provided on natural and transformative resources, crop improvement, livestock resources, agricultural engineering, food and biotechnology, ongoing research activities, and the challenges encountered.

Participants engaged in extensive discussions on the presentations and adopted various recommendations. These included publishing and distributing research outcomes, strengthening research on vegetables and fruits, reviving the research centre in Sheib, and reinforcing research on food technology.

Minister of Agriculture, Arefaine Berhe called for intensified research activities and urged a revision of policies to improve and renovate certain crops. He further emphasised the importance of engaging the public and local administrations in efforts to identify and hybridise animal types, recruiting young agricultural researchers, and reviving research activities in the eastern plains.

Strict regulations such as the HACCP, ISO 2200 AND nsf have been implemented to ensure product quality and reduce significant risk. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The food industry has strict hygiene and product quality requirements which it expects food manufacturers to follow through the use of reliable and accurate technologies   

Leading global provider of weighing and inspection technologies, Minebea Intec offers customised solutions designed to meet food production challenges. According to reports by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the EU RAPEX database, foreign bodies in food account for up to 23% of all recalls in industrialised countries, depending on the region. 

Strict regulations such as the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), international standard (ISO) 22000 and National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) have been implemented to ensure product quality and reduce significant risk, thereby preventing contamination along the entire production chain.

HACCP system

The HACCP system, which is used in the food industry worldwide, is a preventive management system for ensuring food safety and is considered a mandatory requirement for food production in the European Union (EU) and other countries around the world. Minebea Intec technologies, such as the Mitus metal detector, are ideally suited for monitoring and controlling such critical points. In addition to metal contaminant detection, Minebea Intec offers solutions with its X-ray inspection systems that detect not only metallic foreign bodies but also glass, stones, some plastics and bones. 

ISO 22000

The international standard ISO 22000 defines uniform requirements worldwide for management systems for food safety, covering all stages of food production from production to delivery. The precise and reliable weighing and inspection systems of Minebea Intec help food producers to meet the requirements of ISO 22000. These include dynamic checkweighers, which monitor product weight in real time during the production process. 

NSF certification

The NSF certification is an internationally recognised seal that ensures that production systems, such as weighing and inspection technologies, meet the highest hygiene and safety standards. This certification plays a particularly crucial role in the food industry, where strict regulations apply to avoid contamination and ensure compliance with hygiene requirements. The Weighing Platform MiNexx 3000 of Minebea Intec is NSF certified, which makes it particularly ideal for the food industry. Thanks to its hygienic design, it is easy to clean and thus minimises the risk of cross-contamination. 

In addition to installation, Minebea Intec experts ensure to provide comprehensive service and support to enable smooth and efficient production. This helps food producers to shift their focus from crisis management to boosting sales.