New Ghana–Australia agriculture partnership targets climate change and food insecurity

Australia and Ghana have launched a new research partnership aimed at strengthening climate-resilient agriculture and improving food security in the country.

The initiative, known as the Africa-Australia Partnership for Climate Responsive Agriculture, was unveiled at an event hosted by the Australian High Commission in Ghana in Accra last week.

The programme is being implemented in collaboration with Ghanaian institutions and is designed to support research and innovation that can help farmers adapt to the growing pressures of climate change while improving agricultural productivity.

According to organisers, farmers in Ghana are already experiencing the effects of shifting weather patterns, including irregular rainfall and shorter planting periods. These changes, combined with rising production costs, pressure on land and water resources and a rapidly growing population, are increasing the strain on agricultural systems.

The challenge is particularly significant given that more than 12.5 million people in Ghana are estimated to be food insecure, with women-headed households among the most affected, according to data from the Ghana Statistical Service.

The partnership is being led by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), the Australian government’s flagship agricultural research-for-development programme in Africa.

ACIAR has spent four decades working with research institutions across eastern and southern Africa, supporting locally driven agricultural research aimed at strengthening institutions, informing policy and delivering practical solutions for smallholder farmers.

Officials say the collaboration is expected to benefit both regions, noting that parts of Africa and Australia share similar agricultural conditions and climate challenges. By combining expertise from both continents, researchers hope to develop practical solutions that can increase productivity while protecting natural resources.

Among the areas of focus are circular agricultural systems, including innovations that convert organic waste into animal feed using black soldier fly technology. Such approaches are seen as a way to reduce environmental pressure while improving productivity in livestock, poultry and aquaculture production.

The partnership has already begun early activities centred on knowledge exchange between researchers and institutions in both regions.

Ghanaian scientists and agricultural organisations have taken part in study visits examining the use of indigenous crops in Vanuatu, workshops on black soldier fly technology in Kenya and discussions on sustainable livestock management at the International Rangeland Congress held in Adelaide in 2025.

The initiative builds on existing cooperation between Ghana and Australia, including scholarship programmes such as the Australia Awards and the Direct Aid Program, which supports community-based development projects.

A key focus of the new partnership will be ensuring that research is designed jointly with Ghanaian institutions and aligned with national development priorities. The programme will support smallholder farmers to adopt climate-resilient farming practices, expand opportunities for women’s leadership in agriculture and strengthen research collaboration between African and Australian institutions.

Organisers say the emphasis on inclusion is central to the initiative, arguing that agricultural systems become more productive and innovative when women and young people are actively involved in decision-making and leadership roles.

The partnership also aims to place research at the centre of agricultural development strategies, encouraging policymakers to prioritise evidence-based solutions that can improve food production while building resilience to climate change.

With climate pressures intensifying across the region, the Ghana–Australia collaboration is expected to contribute to efforts to develop sustainable farming systems capable of supporting food security and rural livelihoods in the years ahead.