Ghana and other African countries need stronger scientific research capacity and commercially sustainable technologies to improve natural resource productivity, reduce agricultural costs and protect economic value, researchers have said.
The call emerged at the fifth Summer School on Sustainable Natural Resource Management, hosted by the University of Ghana, Legon, from October 5 to 16, 2026, where 25 early-career scientists received training in digital research tools, statistical analysis, modelling and the responsible use of artificial intelligence.
The programme highlighted a critical economic challenge for African countries: natural resources alone cannot guarantee development without the technical capacity to measure, manage and use them efficiently.
Weak data collection, limited analytical skills and inadequate access to modern technologies can undermine decisions affecting fisheries, agriculture and other resource-dependent sectors, with consequences for productivity, livelihoods and long-term investment.
Dr Benjamin Osei Botwe, Head of the Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences at the University of Ghana, said the training was intended to equip researchers with the skills to generate and analyse reliable data for improved natural resource management.
“For better management of our resources, we should be equipped with knowledge and skills in the way we collect data and analyse data,” he said.
Participants were introduced to geographical information systems, statistical analysis and other digital tools to improve their research capabilities and support evidence-based decisions.
The 25 participants comprised 14 females and 11 males from countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, South Africa and Kenya, alongside a participant from Germany.
The programme was supported by Germany’s Volkswagen Foundation, with researchers and professors from different countries providing instruction.
Research Capacity Has Economic Implications
Professor Hartmut Stützel of the University of Hannover in Germany said the summer school aimed to give young scientists the technical and professional skills needed to produce high-quality research.
The training covered statistical methods, modelling, scientific writing and presentation, which he said were necessary for researchers to conduct and communicate their work effectively.
He urged African countries to invest in young scientists by expanding access to international conferences, scientific publications and research networks.
For economies seeking to improve the productivity of agriculture, fisheries and other natural resource sectors, the ability to generate credible evidence is important for identifying inefficiencies, assessing environmental pressures and guiding investment decisions.
Professor Stützel said the programme formed part of a series of six summer schools organised in two phases of three editions each. Its continuation beyond the planned series would depend on the availability of funding.
The funding uncertainty highlights a broader challenge for research development: maintaining scientific training programmes requires sustained investment beyond individual projects and short-term partnerships.
Solar-Powered Farming Offers A Route To Lower Operating Costs
The economic stakes were also evident during participants’ visit to the Vegetable Hub of Excellence at the University of Ghana, where researchers demonstrated how renewable energy and automated irrigation could support more efficient agricultural production.
Professor Naalamle Amissah, an Associate Professor at the university’s Department of Crop Science, said the facility used solar panels to power an automated drip irrigation system, reducing dependence on the national electricity grid.
The hub, funded by the MTN Ghana Foundation through a partnership involving the university and private-sector partners, provides training in vegetable production, crop variety selection, testing and market access.
The model combines technical instruction with practical farming. Participants cultivate crops and receive guidance through the production cycle, including the process of finding buyers and taking produce to market.
Professor Amissah said identifying a reliable market before planting was essential to helping trainees understand farming as a commercial enterprise rather than a production activity alone.
For Ghana, such an approach could help address some of the operating challenges facing agricultural businesses, particularly the cost and reliability of electricity, irrigation and access to markets.
However, the commercial viability of the model will depend on whether farm revenue can cover the cost of maintaining its infrastructure.
Professor Amissah said the facility was testing a sustainability model over a two-year period to determine whether it could generate enough income to maintain its solar panels, irrigation lines, water tanks and other equipment without depending indefinitely on external funding.
The outcome could provide useful lessons for agricultural training centres and other technology-based farming initiatives seeking to remain operational after initial project funding ends.
Digital Agriculture Could Expand Rural Opportunities
The centre is also exploring the use of drones, artificial intelligence and digital data collection to improve farm management and expand its training programmes.
Professor Amissah said the solar-powered system could potentially be replicated in communities where unreliable electricity supply constrained agricultural production.
The combination of renewable energy and automated irrigation offers a possible model for reducing dependence on grid electricity, although the cost of equipment, maintenance and technical support would remain important considerations for wider adoption.
She said the initiative was also intended to change perceptions of farming among young people by demonstrating how technology could make agriculture a modern, commercially viable profession.
The economic opportunity extends beyond crop production to the services and skills required to operate modern agricultural systems, including data analysis, irrigation management, drone technology and digital farm monitoring.
The two initiatives presented during the summer school point to a common development priority: ensuring that scientific knowledge and technology translate into measurable economic value.
For Ghana and other African countries, the challenge is not only to train researchers or introduce modern equipment, but to build sustainable systems that turn research into better resource decisions, lower operating costs and stronger productive capacity.
