Canadian Smart Agriculture Mission visits Ghana
The Assistant Deputy Minister responsible for Alberta Agriculture and the Forestry Ministry in Canada, Mr Dave Burdek, has led a Climate Smart Agriculture Mission to the country.
The mission, which will be in the country for a week, was received by the Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana, Madam Heather Cameron.
It is expected to showcase Alberta agricultural expertise to key influencers and stakeholders; assist Alberta companies to increase their market intelligence and readiness to engage in agricultural projects and opportunities in Ghana, as well as strengthen collaborative relationships with key stakeholders in the region.
The visit by the Alberta delegation fits into the government of Ghana’s agenda to modernise the agricultural sector.
It also reaffirms the Ghana- Canada partnership and shared commitment to ensure that, once again, the agricultural sector contributes to poverty reduction, job creation and economic growth.
While in Ghana, the mission is expected to host a seminar in Kumasi to afford a select group of Canadian firms the opportunity to interact, exchange and showcase their expertise and innovative solutions in addressing agricultural impacts of climate change, livestock management and information technology solutions, and also support educational institutions in agriculture innovation.
As part of the programme, strategic meetings with Ghanaian research institutions, such as the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the University of Ghana and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), are being convened to discuss potential partnerships, learning and exchange opportunities.
Canada is the world's fifth largest agricultural exporter and agroprocessing is a significant part of the Canadian economy.
The province of Alberta accounts for about 20 per cent of Canadian exports of primary and processed agricultural and food products (agrofood exports), and has a strong history of developing innovation in livestock management.
