GRASAG president calls for sustainable funding for agricultural research in Africa

Richard Class-Peters, the President of the Graduate Students Association of Ghana (GRASAG), has advocated for sustainable funding for agricultural research in Africa. This call came during the World Bank’s Africa Growth and Opportunity – Research in Action (AGORA) 2026 conference in Palermo, Italy. Class-Peters emphasized that African nations must increase their investment in research and innovation, while simultaneously strengthening farmer cooperatives.

He stressed that sustainable financing for agricultural research is crucial for fostering innovation, bolstering farmer cooperatives, and transforming local agriculture to ensure food security and economic prosperity in Africa. Class-Peters argued that enhanced funding for agricultural research could enable farmers to access advanced technologies, increase production levels, and devise practical solutions to sectoral challenges.

He further highlighted the importance of supporting farmer cooperatives, as these entities facilitate knowledge sharing, resource access, and productivity improvement among farmers. Class-Peters asserted that empowering local farmers and cooperatives with the necessary knowledge, technology, and support is essential for boosting agricultural output and contributing significantly to Africa’s economic development.

He also pointed out that bolstering domestic agricultural production could decrease African countries’ dependence on imported food, generate employment, and enhance livelihoods, especially in farming communities. The AGORA 2026 conference centered on equipping African countries with the requisite skills, businesses, and systems to convert investments into job creation and economic growth.