Kumasi: Professor David Asamoah, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has emphasized the need for increased investment in indigenous food systems as a means to achieve zero hunger in Ghana, Africa, and globally. He highlighted that traditional foods are not just cultural symbols but are nutritious, climate-smart, and sustainable, offering solutions to food insecurity and malnutrition.
According to Ghana News Agency, during the KNUST Food Festival 2026, Prof Asamoah urged the university community to consider the knowledge within local food systems and their importance in tackling global challenges. The festival, themed 'Our Heritage on the Plate: Indigenous Foods for a Hunger-Free Future,' showcased a variety of Ghanaian foods, including those with medicinal research backing.
The event gathered students, researchers, food processors, and vendors from the KNUST community. Prof Asamoah stressed the need to integrate culture with science and tradition with innovation, affirming KNUST's leadership role in this global agenda. He mentioned the university's position as the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) SDG Two - Zero Hunger Hub Vice Chair for 2025-2027, underscoring its commitment to sustainable food systems.
Prof. Emmanuel Ohene Afoakwah, President of the Ghana Association of Food Scientists and Technologists (GhAFoST), linked Ghana's food insecurity to broken food systems and the neglect of indigenous knowledge. He emphasized the importance of utilizing homegrown solutions to address these challenges and urged universities to focus on practical research outcomes.
Prof Afoakwah also highlighted the need to modernize indigenous foods to align with contemporary lifestyles, advocating for a reconnection between science and culture. Prof Philip Antwi-Agyei, Provost of the College of Science at KNUST, reiterated the festival's objectives, emphasizing the broader aspects of food insecurity, including access, affordability, and sustainability.