Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Hosts Food Festival 2026, Champions Indigenous Food Systems for Sustainable Development.
Information gathered by Noticeboardgh indicates that the Pro Vice-Chancellor of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Professor David Asamoah, has called for increased investment in indigenous food systems as a strategic pathway to achieving Zero Hunger in Ghana and across Africa.
The call was made during the 2026 KNUST Food Festival, held under the theme “Our Heritage on the Plate: Indigenous Foods for a Hunger-Free Future.” The event brought together students, faculty, researchers, and industry stakeholders to reflect on the role of indigenous foods in promoting sustainable development.
Indigenous Knowledge as a Development Tool
Information gathered by Noticeboardgh further reveals that Prof. Asamoah, who represented the Vice-Chancellor at the event, encouraged the university community to reflect on the deep knowledge embedded in local food systems and their relevance in addressing today’s global challenges.
“The theme invites us to reflect on the deep knowledge embedded in our indigenous food systems and their relevance to today’s global challenges,” he stated.
He emphasized that embracing indigenous foods requires aligning culture with science and tradition with innovation. According to him, KNUST’s role as the United Nations Academic Impact SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) Hub Vice-Chair for Teaching and Education for the 2025–2027 period reaffirms its responsibility to educate, innovate, and inspire action toward sustainable food systems in Ghana, Africa, and beyond.
“Each meal reflects a story, and the choices we make can contribute to a hunger-free future,” he added.
Food Security Beyond Scarcity
Noticeboardgh also gathered that the Provost of the College of Science, Professor Philip Antwi-Agyei, described the festival’s theme as timely and relevant to pressing national and global food security concerns.
He stressed that food insecurity goes beyond scarcity and must be understood in terms of access, affordability, sustainability, nutrition, and resilience.
According to him, the festival seeks to rediscover and modernize indigenous foods, promote and celebrate them, and apply science and technology to transform them into practical solutions in the fight against hunger. He further noted that the initiative aims to strengthen partnerships among academia, industry, and government to drive national development.
A Call for Homegrown Solutions
Guest speaker Emmanuel Ohene Afoakwah, President of GhaFoST and Vice-Chancellor of Ghana Communication Technology University, observed that despite Ghana’s rich biodiversity and vibrant food culture, food insecurity remains a challenge.
Information gathered by Noticeboardgh suggests that he attributed the situation to broken food systems, weak value chains, and the under-prioritisation of indigenous knowledge and local food resources.
“Africa must feed Africa, and Ghana must feed Ghana, using solutions that are homegrown, rooted in our environment, in our culture and our collective ingenuity,” he stressed.
He further urged universities to move beyond theoretical instruction and ensure that research translates into practical solutions capable of producing innovators rather than job seekers.
“This responsibility extends far beyond the transmission of theory,” he noted.
Addressing students, he encouraged them to embrace their responsibility in reshaping the future of food systems by repositioning indigenous foods as modern, appealing, and suitable for contemporary lifestyles.
“We must reconnect science with culture, ensuring that innovation builds upon indigenous knowledge,” he concluded.
Driving a Hunger-Free Future
The 2026 KNUST Food Festival, according to information gathered by Noticeboardgh, served not only as a celebration of Ghana’s culinary heritage but also as a strategic platform for dialogue, innovation, and collaboration.
The event reinforced KNUST’s commitment to advancing Sustainable Development Goal 2 – Zero Hunger, with stakeholders expressing optimism that renewed investment in indigenous food systems will help Ghana and Africa chart a resilient and self-reliant path toward food security and sustainable development.