/africa-agrifood-collaborative/ en /africa-agrifood-collaborative/%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A//www.mcgill.ca/africa-agrifood-collaborative/article/strengthening-market-access-and-digital-capabilities-agri-food-businesses-ghana%22%20hreflang%3D%22en%22%3Eview%3C/a%3E The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has successfully delivered a two-city Market Access, Sales, and Digital Marketing training programme in Accra and Kumasi, aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of businesses within Ghana’s agri-food sector. Held in March 2026, the initiative brought together entrepreneurs and industry players to build practical skills in market expansion, customer acquisition, and the effective use of digital tools for business growth in an evolving economic landscape. The programme was designed to equip participants with practical market access strategies for Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:58:36 -0400 Marie Antoinette Kosiba 47 /africa-agrifood-collaborative/%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A//www.mcgill.ca/africa-agrifood-collaborative/article/nkabom-collaborative-ug-positions-youth-led-agri-food-ventures-sustainable-market%22%20hreflang%3D%22en%22%3Eview%3C/a%3E “I had relied on technical language, making it difficult to identify real buyers or sell existing products. Now I appreciate the value in shifting from an ‘everyone is my customer’ mindset to a one priority-focused segment mindset. This has helped me develop a small market-test plan focused on customers I can realistically reach.” This reflection captures more than personal growth — it suggests a foundational shift in the business thinking of Elpidio Tossu, whose agri-tech start-up, Feathery-Care, provides digital solutions to make poultry farming and other food systems more attractive and Wed, 25 Mar 2026 09:07:24 -0400 Enid Asamoah 46 /africa-agrifood-collaborative/%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A//www.mcgill.ca/africa-agrifood-collaborative/article/milk-market-youth-and-pwds-build-enterprise-skills-koforidua%22%20hreflang%3D%22en%22%3Eview%3C/a%3E The Nkabom Collaborative at Koforidua Technical University organized a 3-day experiential entrepreneurship training on fresh yoghurt production for the youth at the Koforidua Technical University. Participants attended the training with enthusiasm and curiosity as they did not know how fresh yoghurt is made. On the final afternoon of the training, trays were displayed with freshly set yoghurt, and participants leaned in to check the texture and consistency of their products. They tasted the yoghurt with quiet pride as this was the first time many of them had turned a simple raw material into a Wed, 04 Mar 2026 11:55:21 -0500 Emmanuel Gamor 44 /africa-agrifood-collaborative/%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A//www.mcgill.ca/africa-agrifood-collaborative/article/nkabom-collaborative-knust-launches-second-cohort-agribusiness-trainers%22%20hreflang%3D%22en%22%3Eview%3C/a%3E The Nutrition and Sustainable Agri-food Collaborative at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation (Nkabom Collaborative), has begun training the second cohort of facilitators under its Entrepreneurship Empowerment (A2Es) Training of Tutors (ToT) programme. The intensive 10-day programme has brought together 30 facilitators from agricultural colleges across Ghana to equip them with practical skills in agribusiness, business plan development and pitching techniques. Participants are expected to cascade the training to Tue, 03 Feb 2026 10:22:59 -0500 KNUST 42 /africa-agrifood-collaborative/%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A//www.mcgill.ca/africa-agrifood-collaborative/article/nkabom-collaborative-knust-shortlists-30-youth-ventures-funding-pitch%22%20hreflang%3D%22en%22%3Eview%3C/a%3E The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi Nutrition and Sustainable Agri-food Collaborative, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation (Nkabom Collaborative), has shortlisted 30 youth-led business ideas for a funding pitch, opening a new pathway for unemployed and underemployed young people to access start-up support. The opportunity was extended to beneficiaries who had participated in training programmes organised by the project. Following a competitive call, more than 90 applications were received, with 30 ventures selected to advance to the pitching stage Tue, 20 Jan 2026 13:35:31 -0500 Michael Kwawu 41 /africa-agrifood-collaborative/%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A//www.mcgill.ca/africa-agrifood-collaborative/article/training-enterprise-deepening-skills-sustainable-vegetable-production%22%20hreflang%3D%22en%22%3Eview%3C/a%3E The Education Pillar of the Nkabom Collaborative at UG has hosted the fourth in a series of short courses intended to equip a select number of youth in vegetable farming, agri-business, and sustainable agriculture. The two-week intensive training, held at the University of Ghana, successfully empowered 43 young Ghanaians with modern skills for a transformative agri-food landscape. The participants included 21 males and 22 females. Opening the session, the Pillar lead, Dr. Hayford Ayerakwa, highlighted the introduction of a critical component which would equip the participants with practical Mon, 05 Jan 2026 09:39:41 -0500 Nkabom Collaborative 40 /africa-agrifood-collaborative/%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A//www.mcgill.ca/africa-agrifood-collaborative/article/nkabom-collaborative-knust-trains-msmes-business-plan-development%22%20hreflang%3D%22en%22%3Eview%3C/a%3E The Nkabom Collaborative at KNUST, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, has commenced a five-day Business Development Training Programme aimed at strengthening the capacity of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across Ghana. The training programme, which brought together 25 participants from across the country, seeks to equip existing and aspiring entrepreneurs with practical skills in business planning and strategic management to enable them to build sustainable and scalable enterprises. Participants are being introduced to the Nkabom Hybrid Business Model Canvas as a Thu, 11 Dec 2025 08:31:58 -0500 Nkabom at KNUST 39 /africa-agrifood-collaborative/%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A//www.mcgill.ca/africa-agrifood-collaborative/article/building-future-agri-food-innovation-ug-nkabom-kicks-prototype-development-phase%22%20hreflang%3D%22en%22%3Eview%3C/a%3E One hundred selected agri-food and nutrition-based start-ups have been officially onboarded onto the UG Nkabom Mentoring and Prototype Development Programme. Held earlier this month, under the aegis of the Entrepreneurship Pillar, the activity sought to equip participants with the technical, financial, and entrepreneurial support required to transform their ideas into viable prototypes. The session which took place virtually, featured a dry run involving mentors and component leads, as well as presentations on fundamental, yet topical issues pertinent to entrepreneurship. An equally important Mon, 24 Nov 2025 10:10:54 -0500 UG Nkabom 37 /africa-agrifood-collaborative/%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A//www.mcgill.ca/africa-agrifood-collaborative/article/strengthening-global-partnerships-nkabom-collaborative-partners-visit-mcgill-university%22%20hreflang%3D%22en%22%3Eview%3C/a%3E In early November 2025, a distinguished delegation from the Nkabom Collaborative, comprising Ashesi University, the Association of Ghana Industries, Koforidua Technical University, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, ���������Թ�, the University of Environment and Sustainable Development, the University of Ghana, and the University of Health and Allied Sciences, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, gathered in Montreal to advance a shared vision for transforming nutrition, agri-food, and health systems. The visit marked a significant step toward advancing shared Thu, 20 Nov 2025 10:22:07 -0500 Stephane Mukunzi 35 /africa-agrifood-collaborative/%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A//www.mcgill.ca/africa-agrifood-collaborative/article/vegetable-production-cohort-two-youth-equipped-sustainable-future%22%20hreflang%3D%22en%22%3Eview%3C/a%3E A total of forty-four youth have undergone a two-week capacity-enhancement session in vegetable production. This is the second cohort of participants to receive the training by the Education Pillar of the UG Nkabom Collaborative. The training took place at the University of Ghana Vegetable Centre of Excellence and comprised theoretical and practical sessions to ground participants in climate-smart and indigenous vegetable production practices. Speaking at the commencement of the training, the Pillar Lead, Dr. Hayford Ayerakwa, highlighted the value of the intervention. “This initiative, Adwuma Fri, 14 Nov 2025 15:21:28 -0500 Benedicta Afi Agbodzi 34