By Juliet ETEFE ([email protected])
The country could save billions of cedis in fertiliser imports and strengthen its agricultural resilience if it fully embraces circular agriculture and scales up organic waste recovery, Dr. Bertha Darteh, Sub-Division Lead for Water, Sanitation & Environment at the Ghana Institution of Engineering, has said.
Speaking at a multi-stakeholder consultation on circularity in the agri-food system, she said Ghana is sitting on an untapped economic opportunity that could reduce foreign exchange pressures, restore degraded soils and boost national food security—if supported by a coherent national framework.
Dr. Darteh argued that the current linear production model is both costly and unsustainable.
She explained that more than 60 percent of the country’s waste is organic and suitable for composting. Yet the country imports up to 554,457 metric tonnes of inorganic fertiliser annually, while locally produced organic fertiliser meets only about one percent of national demand.
“We have more than about 60 percent of our waste being organic. So we can potentially make use of this organic waste for compost, and that can help to improve soil quality and help retain more moisture.
“We import more than 500,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser in a year. If we are able to substitute or use organic compost alongside, it helps reduce the cost of farm inputs because inorganic fertiliser is very expensive,” she said.
Fertiliser imports were valued at US$254.95 million in 2023, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade.
Circular solutions for agriculture
The engineer stressed that transitioning to circular agriculture—anchored on composting, biochar production, nutrient recovery and insect-based waste conversion—could drastically reduce fertiliser imports and improve soil health in key crop-growing areas affected by erratic rainfall and declining fertility.
She revealed that farmers in northern Ghana already request organic waste to rehabilitate their fields, but often face contamination challenges due to poor waste segregation.
Drawing from field work in Tamale, Yendi and Kumasi, Dr. Darteh pointed to tested innovations such as black soldier fly larvae systems, cassava peel-based feed production, briquette manufacturing and wastewater-fed aquaculture.
However, she said weak regulatory enforcement, inconsistent product quality and limited financing have constrained commercialisation.
Unlocking the sector’s full value, she argued, will require a national circular agriculture innovation hub, stronger standards and certification, and targeted support for smaller organic fertiliser producers.
“We have the resources, the knowledge, the research and examples from practice. What we need is connection and scale,” she emphasised.
Her call resonated with other experts at the workshop, who agreed that Ghana must urgently shift from isolated pilot projects to a coordinated, market-driven circular economy capable of generating new industries and green jobs.
Dr. Gianpiero Menza, Senior Manager for Partnerships and Innovative Finance at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, said Ghana is well-positioned to lead West Africa in circular and climate-smart agriculture.
He disclosed that the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) has already piloted more than 20 circular solutions capable of converting waste and wastewater into valuable agricultural resources through public–private partnerships.
These models, he said, demonstrate that circularity is both technically sound and commercially viable.
“The goal now is to connect researchers, innovators, investors and policymakers so we can unlock opportunities across the agri-food space,” he said.
Finance and scaling opportunities
The African Development Bank (AfDB) also underscored the need for scale. Country Manager Eyerusalem Fasika said the bank sees circularity as a key driver of agricultural resilience, youth employment and inclusive economic growth.
“Ghana is ready to transition from pilot projects to large-scale circular solutions,” she said, identifying opportunities in food systems, plastics recycling, electronics and textile waste.
She added that pairing circularity with digitalisation and real-time data systems would accelerate efficiency and help farmers access new markets.
Italy’s Ambassador to Ghana and Togo, Laura Ranalli, reaffirmed her country’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s circular agriculture ambitions, highlighting ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, including a model sustainable farm in the Volta Region.
She emphasised that circularity must become central to agricultural transformation given global climate and resource pressures.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also stressed its regulatory readiness to support this transition.
Dr. Jacob Paarechuga Anankware, Deputy CEO of the EPA, reiterated the need to break away from “business as usual” and adopt regenerative systems that convert waste into wealth.
He added that the EPA stands prepared to support the shift with regulatory frameworks, monitoring systems and technical guidance for large-scale circular innovations.
Global, national collaboration
Prof. Kehinde Olufunso Ogunjobi, IWMI Country Representative for Ghana, said the workshop aimed to move from discussion to action by identifying gaps, opportunities and national priorities for Ghana’s circular agriculture transition.
He highlighted that participants would co-design evidence-based, farmer-informed solutions—such as waste valorisation, regenerative agriculture, nutrient recovery and circular logistics—and noted that the consultation would lay the groundwork for the Circular Economy for Ghana Innovation Challenges 2026, modelled on successful initiatives in six other countries.
Stakeholders therefore urged government to develop a clear policy framework, incentivise local fertiliser producers, establish product standards and fund early-stage circular ventures.
Doing so, they argued, would not only reduce the country’s fertiliser import bill but also boost yields, strengthen the cedi, create green jobs and enhance climate resilience across the agri-food value chain.
The post Unlocking circular agriculture could save billions in fertiliser imports – Dr. Darteh appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.
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