Fumesua, Ashanti Region – The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research–Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI), in collaboration with the Agroecology and Circular Economy for Ecosystem Services (ACE4ES) Consortium, has hosted a landmark Open Day event, combining the launch of a Regional Policy Guide on Agroecology, Circular Economy and Climate Action with the commissioning of the Multicultural Technology Park (MTP).
The Regional Policy Guide provides a framework for Sub-Saharan African countries to integrate sustainable farming, waste-to-resource solutions, and climate action into national strategies. It aligns with the Paris Agreement, AU Agenda 2063, and the Sustainable Development Goals, while placing emphasis on gender, youth, and farmer participation. Representatives of ECOWAS, civil society, youth, and the private sector symbolically received the guide, demonstrating broad ownership and commitment.
The MTP, officially commissioned at the CSIR-CRI campus in Fumesua, will serve as a living laboratory showcasing practical agroecological and circular economy technologies. These include composting, biochar production, rice-duck-fish systems, agroforestry, biogas digesters, rotational grazing models, and advanced monitoring equipment for greenhouse gases and black carbon. The multicultural identity of the park was highlighted by blending traditional farming innovations from Africa, Asia, and Latin America with modern science.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Maxwell Darko Asante, Director of CSIR-CRI, emphasized the institute’s leadership in advancing climate-smart agriculture: “This park and the policy guide position Ghana as a continental hub for agroecology and innovation. Our mission is to translate science into practice for farmers and communities.”
Dr. Kwaku Onwona-Hwesofour Asante, Principal Investigator of ACE4ES, added: “The ACE4ES Consortium is committed to linking research, policy, and grassroots practice. Through this initiative, we are demonstrating that agriculture can drive both food security and climate solutions.”
Ministers of state, the Ashanti Regional Minister, directors of all 13 CSIR institutes, farmer organizations, development partners, and private sector leaders joined the ceremony. The event concluded with a commitment by stakeholders to integrate short-lived climate pollutants and other super pollutants into national climate strategies, ensuring agriculture plays a central role in Ghana’s journey to sustainability.
Story by:
Nana Yaw Reuben
