Collaboration crucial to sustainable systems, food security – Experts

With growing concerns over food insecurity in the country, panellists at this year’s Sustainability Summit have emphasised that collaboration between government and the private sector is critical to ensuring sustainable food systems through climate resilience agriculture.

The 2024 Sustainability Summit, the 3rd edition, was held under the theme ‘Ensuring Environmental and Economic Sustainability: Collaborating for a Greener Future’.

Speaking on the sub-theme “Climate change and its impact on sustainable food systems”, the panel agreed that it is important for government to forge lasting partnerships with the private sector to drive food production on a large scale while mitigating the current havoc from climate change.

General Manager, Green Transition Office-Jospong Group, Dr. Glenn Kwabena Gyimah, argued that the country needs to do more in strengthening its food systems as the current situation is not encouraging.

“The current situation we find ourselves is not the best. However, government must deepen partnerships with the private sector to help raise the needed finance, attract the right technology and get the right expertise. This will go a long way in helping reduce the food insecurity that we are likely to face in the future,” he noted

According to him, the Jospong Group is currently cultivating about 250 hectares of rice in Akuse, using environmentally-friendly technology.

He said this initiative could be implemented by government in collaboration with private sector entities to expand opportunities in the agricultural sector through provision of an enabling environment and the right policies.

Similarly, Head of Training, General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU), Emelia Ghansah, emphasised the importance of collaboration between government and research institutions to promote agroecology through appropriate technologies.

“We at GAWU are currently collaborating with some research institutions to explore new seed varieties and farming techniques that can enhance productivity while maintaining the land’s health and well-being of farming communities. This is an initiative to deepen food systems in the country,” she said.

More importantly, Madam Ghansah said the private sector cannot work in isolation – hence the need to forge these collaborations to improve the country’s food systems.

“Collaboration is crucial for us as a union. We don’t work in isolation, but rather we join forces with like-minded institutions to negotiate better conditions of service for our members and advocate for policies that support sustainable farming practices,” she added.

She further suggested that the agricultural sector should prioritise promoting agroecology, a farming approach that emphasises the interdependence of natural systems and use of appropriate technologies.

According to her, agroecology can address the shortcomings of conventional farming practices, which have led to high fertiliser costs, environmental degradation and negative impacts on the health of farmers – particularly women.

Head of Department, Water Resources and Sustainable Development, University of Environment and Sustainable Development, Dr. Michael Tuffuor equally called for real-time solutions to help address the issue of drought which is currently ravaging farms across the country.

Dr. Tuffuor underscored the need for proactive engagement with the sector’s stakeholders to help devise better strategies for solving the problem at hand.

“We cannot talk about climate change and its impact on sustainable food systems without emphasising the solutions to mitigate them,” he said.

Dr. Tuffour said climate change and sustainable food systems must be included in the course curricula of universities, adding: “Academics need to take the gowns to town and engage on challenges of the environment with farmers, loggers, galamseyers and charcoal-burners about the impact of their activities on the environment”.

Meanwhile, Dr. Portia Adade Williams – Research Scientist at CSIR-STEP Ghana – said whereas there are numerous policies to make the agriculture sector resilient, implementation of these policies has always been a problem.

“Without strong collaboration with private sector players and government, these policies will remain dormant. Collaboration is key to pushing policy forward and enforcing regulations” she said.

Managing Partner-Farmer Globale, Fred Kukubor, however indicated that food systems cannot be sustainable without application of the right technologies.

He said government must make a conscious effort to support farmers in deepening sustainable food systems through the provision of solar-powered equipment for farming, agro processing and climate-smart cooking among others.

World Bank predictions

Supporting the discussions with expert predictions, the World Bank estimates that funding and maintaining Ghana’s climate-smart agriculture needs will require approximately US$2billion annually.

According to the Bank, rising temperatures are projected to lower yields in major staple crops – for example, cassava yields are projected to fall 29.6 percent by 2080 and corn yields seven percent by 2050.

These forecasts will have dire consequences on the country’s climate change experiences and their impact on sustainable food systems for a long while if appropriate measures are not immediately adopted to mitigate the looming climate crisis.