In a transformative move to create possibilities and innovatively advance youth involvement within our food systems, Ghana’s Agrihouse Foundation and Italy’s Rural Hack have entered into a long-term strategic partnership aimed at empowering the youth to take lead in building a sustainable, inclusive, and innovative agrifood solutions and approaches.
The collaboration further seeks to cultivate a new generation of young leaders and changemakers across Africa and Europe who are well-equipped to address emerging challenges and seize new opportunities within the agrifood sector.
It also focuses on creating meaningful pathways where young people, from two worlds are brought together to access and tap into global knowledge, advanced technologies, practical skills, and entrepreneurial network, that can enable them contribute effectively to shaping the future of food.
In a statement, Alex Giordano, Founder and Scientific Director of Rural Hack, and Director of the FoodSystem 5.0 Summer School, expressed his optimism about the collaboration with Agrihouse Foundation.
“Africa is speedily embracing innovation, digital tools, and youth-led solutions in agriculture,” he said. “We see Agrihouse Foundation as a catalyst in this transformation, actively nurturing the next generation of agrifood leaders. Their commitment to grassroots impact and youth empowerment deeply resonates with our mission at Rural Hack.
By partnering with Agrihouse Foundation, we believe we can drive greater impact not only across Africa but on the global stage. Together, we are laying the foundation for more inclusive, resilient, and innovative agrifood systems that place young people at the center of lasting change.”
Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation and 2024 AgriFood Future Prize recipient, expressed her excitement about the long-term partnership with Italy’s Rural Hack, stating, this marks a pivotal milestone in the growth trajectory of Agrihouse Foundation.
It’s a huge milestone and representation of a major growth opportunity for Agrihouse Foundation, one that aligns with our long-term vision to deepen our impact across Africa and expand our reach globally,” she said. “It allows us to scale our youth-focused programs, broaden our knowledge-sharing platforms, and actively engage in international collaborations that bring new tools, perspectives, and technologies to the African agri-food space.”
She noted that the partnership will help Agrihouse Foundation accelerate its efforts in building a vibrant pipeline of young agribusiness leaders, especially improving the impact of a number of its existing projects and interventions, such as the Agricultural Students Career Guidance and Mentorship Bootcamp.
“Our work has always been rooted in the belief that when young people are equipped with the right skills, mindset and opportunities, they can transform food systems. This partnership with Rural Hack gives us the leverage to enhance and demonstrate these efforts, integrate global best practices, and open up new pathways for mentorship, innovation, and academic exchange.”
“With Rural Hack already setting remarkable examples in youth inclusion and agri-innovation, we are excited to draw from those experiences. We are equally eager to share the successes of our local models, and together, build a stronger, interconnected agri-food future not just for Ghana or Africa, but for the world at large.”
“Working with Alex Giordano and the Rural Hack team is inspiring. Their dedication aligns perfectly with our mission to make agriculture a space of creativity, empowerment, and real opportunity.
Together, we hope to lay the foundation for a future where agriculture drives development not just in policy, but in our farms, communities, and digital spaces.”
This partnership will be centred on programs, initiatives and activities, that empower women and youth-led groups in agritech, artificial intelligence in agriculture, digital innovation innovations, and technology, with the intent to equip them with the skills, tools, and opportunities needed to thrive in the modern agrifood sector
About Alex Giordano
Alex Giordano is the founder of Rural Hack and Scientific Director of the FoodSystem 5.0 Summer School. He serves as Associate Professor at Giustino Fortunato University and lectures on Digital Transformation at the University of Naples Federico II, where he leads the SocietingLab within its Technology Hub. His work focuses on agroecological transformation, digital rural development, and sustainability. He is the author of FoodSystem 5.0: Agritech, Mediterranean Diet and Communities.
About Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa
Alberta is a pioneering agribusiness advocate and the Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, a Ghanaian NGO that champions youth, women, and rural farmers across the agricultural value chain.
She is the visionary behind impactful initiatives like 1 Household, 1 Garden, WOFAGRIC and Gold in the Soil Awards, Ghana Poultry Festival, Ghana Agrochemicals and Crop Protection Exhibitions and Awards, Gathering of the Royals, and the Pre-Harvest Agribusiness Conference.
Internationally recognized with awards such as the 2024 Agrifood Prize and the Rally Mulheres do Agro Ambassador, Alberta is also the Co-Director of the FoodSystem 5.0 Summer School and Co-Founder of the Ghana-Nebraska Agribusiness Chamber
