The Ashanti regional capital, Kumasi, is set to host the first-ever Agricultural Researchers – Investors summit from June 26 – 27, 2025.

The initiative is spearheaded by the Agri Eye Consult in partnership with the Crops Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-CRI), the KNUST Faculty of Agriculture and the Ghana Agricultural and Rural Development Journalists Association (GARDJA).

Ghana’s agricultural space, like many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, is at a crossroads.

While the nation boasts a strong tradition of academic excellence and scientific research especially in agriculture, natural resources, and food systems there remains a persistent gap between research institutions and the industries that stand to benefit from their work. Groundbreaking research sits idly on shelves, underutilized, while entrepreneurs and investors struggle to find innovative solutions to scale and sustain agribusiness ventures.

This disconnect represents not just a missed opportunity, but a call to action.

Chief Executive Director of Agri Eye Consult, Richmond Frimpong, recognizes that research should not be confined to the academic realm, but must be harnessed to drive national development, job creation, and food system resilience.

“There is a rich trove of Ghanaian research that has the potential to revolutionize seed systems, improve soil health, enhance postharvest value chains, optimize irrigation, and promote climate-smart farming. What is missing is a structured, intentional platform that connects researchers with investors individuals and institutions who are ready to fund, scale, and support the deployment of these innovations,” he noted.

The Researchers-Investors Summit is emerging as a timely intervention designed to break down silos, build bridges, and foster a new ecosystem where ideas are transformed into action, and where science is translated into sustainable enterprise.

This summit seeks to catalyze a new era of investment-driven research utilization in Ghana.

The two-day event is under the theme: “Bridging Innovation and Investment for a Resilient Agrifuture in Ghana”, happening at the KNUST Faculty of Agriculture.

Mr. Frimpong notes the summit is critical in pushing the country’s agriculture sector into a thriving space that would provide significant livelihoods to its stakeholders.

“In a time when Ghana is grappling with economic uncertainty, rising youth unemployment, and the threat of climate-induced agricultural instability, the need to transform research into tangible, scalable solutions has never been more urgent,” he said.

The Researchers–Investors Summit is a strategic intervention aimed at unlocking Ghana’s innovation potential and driving inclusive economic growth through agribusiness.

Several experts in the agricultural space and well-versed investors are expected to participate in the event seeking to proffer innovative solutions.