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The United Nations University-Institute for Natural Resources in Africa (UNU-INRA) has launched a two-day capacity-building workshop for AgriTech innovators in Ghana under its Innovate for Clean Agricultural Technologies (INFoCAT) initiative. This workshop, integral to the INFoCAT Innovation Challenge selection process, is designed to offer a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, skill development, and networking. The goal is to explore and expand the role of clean agricultural technologies in promoting sustainable development.
Themed “Empowering Innovators: Strategies for Sustainable AgriTech Solutions,” the workshop includes interactive sessions, expert-led discussions, and opportunities for participants to present and refine their innovative ideas.
The INFoCAT project aims to leverage innovative approaches to address critical challenges in sustainable natural resource management while fostering collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and practitioners across Africa. It also seeks to enhance economic empowerment for women and youth in rural areas of selected West African communities by promoting low-cost, clean energy-powered technology solutions that can significantly boost agricultural productivity and incomes for smallholder farmers.
Speaking to the media at the event, INFoCAT Project Coordinator Dr. Ferdinand Tornyie highlighted the project’s focus on empowering women, particularly through funding support, mentorship, and equipping them with the knowledge and skills to design green technologies that address agricultural challenges.
“Through the INFoCAT Innovation Challenge,” Dr. Tornyie noted, “we are providing green innovators with the necessary funds to design and test their technologies on their farms. A green innovator is someone who can create a renewable energy-powered machine that solves agricultural problems.”
He further explained that out of approximately 100 applicants, 30 have been shortlisted to proceed to the next stage. The top 10 innovators, selected based on their pitching performance, will compete for a grand prize of $34,000 to scale up their business. “Today’s session is dedicated to capacity building, while tomorrow will focus on practical work and pitching to experts in green technologies,” he added.
In a speech delivered on her behalf during the opening session, UNU-INRA Director Dr. Fatima Denton emphasized that agriculture is the backbone of Africa’s economy, and its future hinges on innovation and adaptation to challenges like climate change, food security, and environmental degradation.
“Clean agriculture technologies provide the tools to address these challenges and create new opportunities for growth, resilience, and prosperity,” she said. “However, the success of these technologies depends on those who develop, implement, and champion them—namely, you, the green entrepreneurs.”
Dr. Denton also underscored the importance of a gender-sensitive, low-carbon development agenda for sustainable economic growth across sectors. She noted that while smallholder farming has proven effective in reducing hunger and poverty among rural populations, the lack of access to clean energy remains a significant challenge for rural agriculture, particularly in production, post-harvest activities, and agro-processing.
UNU-INRA, one of 15 research and training centers of the United Nations University (UNU), focuses predominantly on Africa. It serves as a platform to amplify the continent’s voices and showcase solutions made in Africa. The institute is implementing this project in partnership with its operating unit in Côte d’Ivoire and ENDA Energie in Senegal.
The workshop, held from August 14 to 15, 2024, at the University of Ghana, Legon, covers essential topics such as design thinking and ideation for AgriTech solutions, scaling innovations in clean energy agriculture, funding strategies and grant usage, and building collaborative partnerships.
