The Chief Executive Officer of the African Agribusiness Consortium (AAC), Mrs. Adelaide Araba Siaw Agyepong, has called on agricultural economists and researchers to convert their research findings into enterprise-driven solutions that can transform Africa’s agricultural sector.
Delivering the keynote address at the opening of the 2025 Ghana Association of Agricultural Economists (GAAE) Conference at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi on Thursday, Mrs. Siaw Agyepong emphasised that the continent’s challenge lies not in generating ideas but in translating them into viable commercial ventures.
“Africa’s challenge has never been a lack of ideas or innovation,” she said. “Our real struggle lies in creating the systems, financing structures, and institutional coordination that turn knowledge into action.”
The three-day conference, held from November 6 to 8 under the theme “Transforming Agri-Food Systems in Developing Economies Through Sustainable Agribusiness Development,” brought together policymakers, academics, private sector leaders, and development partners to discuss strategies for advancing sustainable agri-food transformation across Africa.
Mrs. Siaw Agyepong explained that the African Agribusiness Consortium, an initiative of the Jospong Group of Companies, was established to drive agribusiness-led transformation by linking research outcomes with commercial applications through innovation, financing, and capacity development. She pointed to global examples such as Brazil, Thailand, and Argentina, where agricultural transformation has been driven by strong collaboration between research, policy, and industry.
She urged African countries to adopt similar frameworks that ensure continuity of agricultural initiatives beyond political cycles.
The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr. Eric Opoku, who was the Guest of Honour, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to boosting productivity and promoting agribusiness growth. He highlighted the central role of agriculture in Ghana’s economy, citing its contribution to GDP, job creation, and rural development. He also referenced government initiatives such as the Feed Ghana Policy and the 24-Hour Economy Policy as key measures to enhance sector performance.
In his welcome address, the President of the GAAE, Professor John K.M. Kuwornu, stressed the importance of collaboration in transforming agricultural systems across financing, production, processing, logistics, and marketing. He commended the African Agribusiness Consortium for its headline sponsorship, describing it as a “transformative partnership” that demonstrates private sector commitment to research-driven agribusiness in Africa.
Prof. Kuwornu also announced new initiatives at this year’s conference, including a pre-conference session for graduate students and the introduction of academic awards to recognise excellence in agricultural economics research.
The opening session featured panel discussions, technical presentations, and networking engagements between researchers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers. With the AAC as headline sponsor, this year’s conference placed strong emphasis on linking innovation, enterprise, and policy as tools for transforming Ghana’s agri-food systems.