The Head of the Department of Food Science and Technology at the College of Science, KNUST, Professor Jacob Kwaku Agbenorhevi, has called for stronger ties among academia, industry, government and professional bodies to accelerate innovation in food science and address pressing challenges affecting food systems.
Speaking during the 2026 International Webinar jointly organized by the Department of Food Science and Technology and the Ghana Association of Food Scientists and Technologists (GhAFoST), Professor Agbenorhevi said collaborative approaches are essential to tackling food insecurity, climate change, food waste and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases.
Delivering a presentation on "Building Strategic Partnerships to Advance Food Science Innovation, Human Health and Sustainable Food Systems," he said no single institution can adequately respond to today's food and nutrition challenges on its own.
He explained that working together opens the door to joint research, technology transfer, student mentorship, international grant applications and industry consultancy, translating research into practical solutions while strengthening innovation across the food value chain.
Professor Agbenorhevi highlighted food science as a critical tool for improving public health, pointing to research on healthier foods, low-glycaemic products, dietary fibre, bioactive compounds and functional foods that can help prevent diet-related diseases.
He added that innovation should also focus on climate-smart food processing technologies, sustainable packaging and circular bioeconomy approaches to reduce food losses and build more resilient food systems.
According to him, deeper ties between universities, industry and development partners carry wider benefits: greater research impact, improved graduate employability and better public health outcomes across the country.
He concluded by urging stakeholders to promote knowledge exchange and capacity building, and to work collectively to transform food systems through science and innovation.
