Ghana’s Eric Yirenkyi Danquah awarded the 2022 Africa Food Prize

Ghanaian plant geneticist, and professor, Eric Yirenkyi Danquah has been awarded the 2022 Africa Food Prize at the AGRF2022 Summit. The event took place on the 7th of September, in Kigali, Rwanda.

This recognition is coming on the heels of his amazing contribution to the growth of agriculture in Africa. Danquah is the founder of the West Africa Center for Crop Improvement (WACCI). This establishment is aimed at training a young generation of farmers to develop improved varieties of staple crops in West and Central Africa.

Over the years the WACCI has been able genetically to enhance 60 seed varieties, effectively boosting productivity, yield, and nutritional value.

Through this initiative, the professor has been able to amass US$30 million of research and development funding. He has also been able to train more than 120 Ph.D. and 49 MPhil students in Seed Science and Technology from 19 African countries.

In recognition of his efforts, Danquah was awarded the grand prize of US$100,000. This award is given to those who have made a tremendous effort in improving the current state of agriculture in Africa.