Amman:Dr Meshack Oguna Malo, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Representative to Ghana, emphasized the need for innovation and the adoption of science, technology, and artificial intelligence (AI) to transform Ghana's agriculture and food systems. He highlighted how innovation could offer practical solutions to challenges facing farmers, thereby boosting production and productivity in the sector.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr Malo articulated his vision during a press briefing ahead of World Food Day on October 16, 2026, themed 'Innovate Today, Nourish Tomorrow.' He stressed that simple innovations, when properly identified and disseminated, could significantly impact farmers and young people. He provided an example of a rabbit farmer who used an innovation to track birthing times, reducing production losses.
Dr Malo encouraged collaboration with the media to communicate these innovations to young people, helping them develop technology-based solutions. The FAO is partnering with others under the 'Innovate Today, Nourish Tomorrow' initiative to pinpoint technology's role in creating solutions. He noted that innovation, particularly by young people and women, could address food insecurity and enhance the agricultural sector's capacity to sustain the population.
Dr Grace Forson from the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research highlighted that 17.4 percent of Ghanaian children are malnourished, and 45 percent of women of reproductive age suffer from anaemia. She stated that malnutrition costs Ghana about 6.4 percent of its GDP annually, necessitating coordinated efforts across health, education, and social protection sectors.
Ms Aimee Wallin, Co-Director of the Ghana Food Movement, discussed the organization's focus on young people and the potential of Ghana's local food system to improve food security, health, and livelihoods. The Movement emphasizes community building, food education, and promoting local foods, bringing various stakeholders together to collaborate.
Ms Wallin also advocated for integrating traditional and indigenous knowledge into innovation, emphasizing Ghana's diverse crops, recipes, and food heritage. She urged Ghanaians to value indigenous knowledge and local products as part of the efforts to nourish the country.