JL Plantations, an agro-tourism entity, and WES Trade Limited, based in Malta, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Cape Coast (UCC) to boost commercial agriculture in Ghana.
Dr. Daniel Opoku Mensah, a Development Planner and Management Expert, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of JL Plantation, speaking duiring the signing event, said the partnership unites important stakeholders in the agricultural value chain, including the Ministry of Agriculture, which oversees all agricultural initiatives in the country.
‘We have already interacted with the Ministry, and all the divisional directors of the country, to showcase what we have, and they were enthused,’ he said.
Dr. Mensah said that he had a private meeting with the Minister of Education and was pleased to be assigned the task of adapting two STEM schools to incorporate the Irrigoptimal, a Maltese AI solution for addressing climate change, into their curriculum.
He mentioned that the University of Ghana was another key university participating in the collaboration.
As per the agreement, the parties would collaborate to set up Living Labs at three farm sites, with WES Trade supplying the integrated systems and essential resources for the Labs.
Additionally, WES Trade will offer expertise in technological sensors, artificial intelligence (AI), and deep machine learning.
Dr. Mensah stated that under the agreement, his organization would assist with the logistical setup, training, and maintenance of the Living Lab.
He added that the universities would provide advanced research expertise, along with laboratories, equipment, and personnel.
Dr. Mensah noted that the parties would identify a pilot research project to be collaboratively implemented with UCC, utilising the Living Lab.
Additionally, WES Trade, JL Plantation, and UCC would monitor national and international research opportunities to propose agricultural research projects.
Regarding the relevance of establishing the Living Lab, Dr. Mensah explained that it would allow the parties to refine project ideas based on collected data.
He added that it would serve as an open lab for collaborative studies, enhance the refinement of existing solutions, facilitate the development of project ideas from monitored data, and enable presentations at national events in Ghana.
Dr. Mensah stated that JL Plantation aimed to create an agricultural and tourism ecosystem in Ghana utilizing established technologies.
He highlighted specific services provided by JL Plantation, which include an Agro-Tourism Resort, Aqua-Culture Value Chain, Aqua-sports and Recreation, Plantation Crop Development, Afforestation and Land Reclamation, Agricultural Value Chain, as well as the manufacturing of natural mineral water and food processing.
‘The business seeks to create an agricultural value chain cum creative tourism that brings measurable benefits to key stakeholders and establishes a sustainable business environment for the enhancement of Agro-Tourism Productivity and Rural Development,’ he stated.
Dr. Mensah expressed the intention ‘to disrupt the agriculture sector,’ emphasizing the need for innovation and a commitment to commercial agriculture.
‘We think that small-scale agriculture cannot propel the agricultural revolution that we have in mind for Ghana and particularly Africa.
‘Therefore, because of this vision and mission, we have always tried to look out for technology that will formulate us, and for that matter, we got engaged with a Maltese company – WES Trade,’ he said.
Dr. Opoku noted that WES Trade was active in multiple sectors, particularly agriculture, where it leverages AI, algorithms, and machine learning to aid in tracking diseases and pests and, crucially, in optimizing irrigation water usage.
He emphasized that water was vital for both humans and plants, which cannot relocate to find new water sources, prompting their decision to enter a partnership.
Dr. Mensah stated that UCC wass focused on establishing export crops such as pineapple and vegetables.
He was optimistic that the three Living Labs would effectively demonstrate the technology’s capabilities.
‘We want to prove that irrigoptimal functions optimally on farmers’ fields and at the university research stations,’ he emphasised.
Source: Ghana News Agency