Africa – in market visit (February 10-14, 2025)
A delegation from the UK Agri-Tech Centre has completed a successful weeklong visit to Nigeria and Ghana as part of the DATA-BEE scoping project focused on digital farming and precision agriculture.
The scoping project is part of the Innovate UK Climate-Smart Agriculture Partnership and aims to build networks between the UK, Brazil, Ghana and Nigeria identifying opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing to develop technologies and practices that promote climate-smart agriculture solutions for sustainable food production systems in Ghana and Nigeria.
The visit aimed to build knowledge and foster collaboration, which included engagement with government agencies, research institutions and agribusinesses.
During the mission, the UK delegation engaged with various local companies and organisations to explore opportunities for knowledge exchange, technology transfer and capacity building. Meetings and site visits provided valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities within the agricultural sectors of Nigeria and Ghana, reinforcing the importance of international collaboration in advancing climate smart farming solutions in digital farming and precision agriculture.
Key highlights of the visit included:
- Roundtable discussions with agricultural experts including farmers, growers, agripreneurs, technology companies, innovation centres, research organisations and universities.
- Site visits to innovative agribusinesses and research centres leveraging precision farming techniques including the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Kosmos Innovation Center and the Ghana Climate Innovation Centre.
- Workshops with farmers and technology providers to understand challenges they are facing and explore the impact of data-driven decision-making in agriculture.
- Networking events with the support of UK Government in both Ghana and Nigeria, bringing people together from across the sector and supply chain.
The outcomes of this mission will be instrumental in shaping upcoming initiatives, including further engagement with regional partners and potential project ideas.
Next Steps: Join Our Dissemination Events
This Friday (February 21, 2025), we are hosting two online sessions to update UK and Brazilian stakeholders on our findings, market insights and early-stage project ideas. There will also be Nigerian and Ghanaian stakeholders on the call that we have connected with through the visit.
Nigeria Webinar (10:45 – 11:45 UK time)
Ghana Webinar (12:00 – 13:00 UK time)
James Kayam, International Business Development Manager at the UK Agri-Tech Centre:
“The visit was an important element of our DATA-BEE project for our team to validate research, build an understand of market requirements and develop key contacts in the sector. We engaged with over 200 individuals from across government, academia and industry. From hearing about the effects of climate change to how post-harvest losses can account for up to 60% of food waste, our team have come away with key insights and connections that will help us in developing future projects in the region with UK and Brazilian expertise and capability.”
Claire Hodge, Head of Agri-System at the UK Agri-Tech Centre:
“We can support the development of agri-tech solutions in Nigeria and Ghana by leveraging our UK facilities and expertise in technology development. Key focus areas include affordable connectivity via satellite and mobile platforms, IoT-driven water management for efficient irrigation, AI-powered forecasting to help farmers anticipate weather shifts and planting seasons and digital pest and disease management for early detection and control. In partnership with Brazil, we aim to develop globally scalable solutions, addressing these challenges across diverse farming systems. We can ensure practical adoption by working with Ghana and Nigeria businesses to develop and integrate these technologies with established KE networks and farmer cooperatives, enhancing productivity across staple and horticultural crops.”
Mark Smithson, Department for Business and Trade Country Director, British Deputy High Commission Lagos, Nigeria:
“The UK Agri-Tech Centre’s visit to Nigeria highlighted the transformative potential of the DATA-BEE project in supporting and advancing digital agriculture. By harnessing data and precision farming technologies, DATA-BEE (one of the 12 Innovate UK scoping projects) aims to support farmers with actionable insights to enhance productivity, improve resource efficiency and drive sustainable agricultural practices. This initiative underscores the UK’s commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration in Nigeria’s agri-tech sector, paving the way for greater food security and resilience in the region.”
Godlove Otoo, Department for Business and Trade, British High Commission Accra, Ghana:
“The UK Agri-Tech Centre’s visit to Ghana highlights the transformative potential of the DATA-BEE project to empowering and transforming farmers crop production and post-harvest handling with real-time, data-driven insights. Strengthening UK-Ghana partnerships, we are advancing sustainable agriculture through innovation and technology.”