The fifth inaugural lecture scheduled for the period January 2025 – July 2025 will take place on Thursday, 12th  June, 2025 and will be delivered by Prof. Samuel Adjei-Nsiah, Former Head, Forest and Horticultural Crops Research Centre.

 TOPIC: Bean there, Done that: Unleashing the Potential of Soybean in Contributing to Poverty Reduction in Northern Ghana

Date: 12th June, 2025

Time: 5:00 pm

Venue: Great Hall

Abstract

Soybean is more than just a crop; it is a global agricultural powerhouse that supports food security, drives industries and promotes sustainable livelihoods. Rich in protein, it serves both human consumption and animal feed needs, and it is a vital raw material for the food, feed and biofuel industries. As a leguminous crop, soybean enhances soil fertility through biological nitrogen fixation, reducing farmers’ production costs and increasing yields. Yet, despite these advantages, soybean production in Ghana, especially in the north remains underdeveloped.

This lecture reflects on my decade-long journey to unlock the untapped potential of soybean in northern Ghana. By facilitating the development of yield enhancing agronomic technologies, promoting improved production practices, building resilient value chains and fostering strong farmer-market linkages, my research has demonstrated that soybean has immense potential to transform lives and strengthen rural economies. This lecture will delve into the scientific advances, innovative approaches and key interventions that have enabled this progress, including domestic and global market dynamics showcasing how soybean farming is driving sustainable agriculture, empowering smallholder farmers and contributing to Ghana’s socio-economic growth.

One of the primary challenges facing soybean production in northern Ghana is low productivity due to low soil fertility, climate variability, limited adoption of yield-enhancing technologies and limited access to mechanisation services. My research has sought to address these barriers through a combination of public-private partnerships, capacity building, facilitating access to mechanisation, participatory action research and deployment of agronomic, weather and market advisories to smallholder farmers.

Through participatory research and on-farm trials, my team has promoted improved soybean varieties that are drought-tolerant, high-yielding and resistant to common diseases. By integrating these improved varieties into sustainable farming practices such as crop rotation, site-specific fertilizer recommendation and intercropping with maize, we have significantly improved yield of soybean and associated cereals such as maize while enhancing soil fertility. As a nitrogen-fixing legume, soybean contributes to improved soil health by reducing the need for chemical fertilizers, thereby supporting more resilient and cost-effective farming systems.

To overcome knowledge gaps and extend reach, we utilised ICT tools such as SMS, interactive voice response systems and short videos in local languages. These provided smallholder farmers with real-time agronomic advice, weather updates and market information, enhancing decision-making, productivity and grain quality. ICT has also improved coordination among farmers, aggregators, processors and marketers, reducing post-harvest losses and increasing value chain efficiency.

Robust value chains are critical to sustainability. We facilitated market linkages through partnerships among smallholders, aggregators and nucleus farmers. By connecting farmers to guaranteed markets and improving access to inputs, mechanisation and finance, we helped them obtain fair prices and reduce market uncertainties.

Our research emphasised building the capacities of SMEs in finance, market access and business development. Collaborations with financial institutions and input suppliers enabled farmers to access credit, seeds and fertilizers. Special attention was given to empowering women by enhancing access to planting equipment, allowing for timely planting, improved plant populations and reduced labour costs.

To further support women, especially in post-harvest processing, we facilitated access to multi-purpose threshers through aggregator grants. These technologies improved grain quality and reduced labour intensity, enabling farmers, particularly women, to obtain better market prices and returns.

These combined efforts have improved the livelihoods of over 100,000 smallholder farmers in northern Ghana. Average soybean yields increased from 0.87 t/ha to approximately 1.70 t/ha, boosting incomes, food security and employment opportunities across the value chain. Women and youth have especially benefited through access to resources, training and entrepreneurship in input supply, threshing and marketing.

A soybean production manual, derived from this body of work, has been adopted by Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture to train Agricultural Extension Agents. Nationally, increased soybean production holds potential to reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported soybean meal, strengthen local agro-industries, improve trade balances and stimulate economic growth

In conclusion, my journey with soybean research and development has demonstrated the immense potential of this versatile crop to drive sustainable agriculture, improve rural livelihoods and reduce poverty in northern Ghana. The successes achieved so far highlight the need for continued investment in scaling proven technologies, strengthening market systems,

and advocating for policies that promote soybean as a key driver of economic growth and food security.

Profile

Background

Prof Samuel Adjei-Nsiah is a Professor of Agronomy at the Forest and Horticultural Crops Research Centre, Kade of the School of Agriculture, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon. He has over two decades of experience in teaching, research and providing consultancy and mentorship. His research interests cover integrated soil fertility management, plant nutrition, climate change adaptation, agricultural innovation systems and food systems. With a career spanning over two decades, Prof. Adjei-Nsiah has made significant contributions to the field of agriculture and sustainable food systems, particularly focusing on nutritional quality of crops and integrated soil fertility management. He previously served as Head of the Forest and Horticultural Crops Research Centre, Kade.

Education

Prof. Samuel Adjei-Nsiah began his early education at Barekese Methodist Primary School and later continued at Bantama Methodist Primary School. Following his primary education, he attended Barekese Methodist Middle School, where he completed Middle School Form 1 and 2.

Prof. Adjei-Nsiah proceeded to Konongo-Odumasi Secondary School in Odumasi, Ashanti, where he successfully completed his GCE Ordinary Level and GCE Advanced Level examinations in 1984 and 1986, respectively. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi. He further pursued an MPhil degree in Crop Science at the University of Ghana, Legon and later earned a PhD in Production Ecology and Resource Conservation from the prestigious Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands. Following the completion of his PhD in 2006, Prof. Adjei-Nsiah undertook a post-doctoral appointment at the University of Ghana. This was within the framework of the Convergence of Sciences-Strengthening Innovation Systems (CoS-SiS) Programme, a research initiative implemented by Wageningen University in collaboration with the University of Ghana, University of Abomey-Calavi in Benin, and the Institut Polytechnique Rural de Formation et de Recherche Appliquêe in Mali.

Prof. Samuel Adjei-Nsiah began his academic career as a Research Fellow in October 1999 at the then University of Ghana Agricultural Research Station, Okumaning, Kade — now known as the Forest and Horticultural Crops Research Centre under the College of Basic and Applied Sciences. Through dedication and impactful research, he steadily progressed in his academic career, earning promotion to Senior Research Fellow in 2008, Associate Professor in 2012 and ultimately attaining the rank of Professor in 2021.

Prior to joining the University of Ghana, Prof. Adjei-Nsiah worked as a Research Associate at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ghana, where he contributed to critical research addressing soil fertility, pests and diseases in plantains in West Africa.

Extension Activities

Prof Adjei-Nsiah has served on several boards and committees at the University over the years, including University Academic Board, College of Basic and Applied Sciences Academic Board, College of Basic and Applied Sciences Research Board and School of Agriculture Management Committee. Outside the University, Prof Adjei-Nsiah served as a technical Advisor to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture on Tree Crops under the Government of Ghana’s Flagship programme, Planting for Export and Rural Development. He is currently the Board Chairman for the Nwabiagya Rural Bank in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

Grants and Consultancies

Prof. Adjei-Nsiah has successfully secured numerous research grants from diverse funding sources, significantly contributing to advancing agricultural research and development at the University. Notable among these grants are an EU-funded Project: Governing Multi-function Landscapes in Sub-Saharan Africa: Managing Trade-offs between Social and Ecological Impacts (2018–2021) — focused on balancing environmental sustainability with social development in agricultural landscapes; UK National Institute for Health Research Grant: Empowering Communities to Improve Maternal and Child Nutrition (March 2019–March 2021) — a project that strengthened community-driven initiatives to enhance nutrition outcomes and an IFPRI-Funded Project: From Oil Palm Mamas to Market Queens: Measuring the Gender Footprint of Informal and Formal Market Value Chains in the Eastern Region of Ghana (March 2021–March 2022) — an initiative that explored gender dynamics within palm oil market systems.

In addition to securing funding, Prof. Adjei-Nsiah has provided expert consultancy services to numerous international and advanced agricultural research institutions. His consultancy roles include engagements with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Wageningen University and Research and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA). His expertise has also been sought by prominent organisations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), USAID, International Market Ecology and Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

Teaching, Thesis supervision and Examination

Prof. Adjei-Nsiah’s teaching portfolio includes both undergraduate and graduate courses such as Climate Change Adaptation for Agricultural Development, Climate change and livelihoods, Advanced Pomology and Agricultural Production Systems for Sustainable Livelihoods. 

In addition to his teaching duties, Prof. Adjei-Nsiah has an impressive track record in postgraduate supervision. Over the years, he has successfully supervised more than 40 MPhil and PhD students from a variety of prestigious institutions. These include the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University for Development Studies, Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Côte d'Ivoire, Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft (HTW) Berlin in Germany and Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands. His supervision has enabled students to undertake groundbreaking research in areas such as integrated soil fertility management, climate change resilience and sustainable food systems. 

Prof. Adjei-Nsiah's contributions extend beyond supervision to critical academic assessment roles. He serves as an External Examiner for several universities including Wageningen University and Research, where he evaluates postgraduate theses and dissertations to uphold academic quality and research standards. His keen eye for research excellence has also earned him the role of External Assessor for Promotion at the Crop Research Institute and the Savannah Agricultural Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). 

Furthermore, within the Crop Science Department of the University of Ghana, Prof. Adjei-Nsiah serves as an Internal Examiner for postgraduate theses, demonstrating his commitment to nurturing research excellence within his home institution.

Mentorship

Prof. Adjei-Nsiah is deeply committed to mentorship, investing considerable time and resources in developing the skills and capacities of his students and junior colleagues. Since 2014, he has actively supported numerous staff members at both the University of Ghana and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, ensuring they attain at least a master’s degree — with several advancing to PhD levels. His dedication has resulted in many of his mentees securing influential roles in academia, international research organisations such as the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Through this mentorship, Prof. Adjei-Nsiah has played a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of agricultural scientists and policymakers, reinforcing his enduring impact on sustainable agriculture in Ghana and beyond.

Research and International Collaboration

Prof. Samuel Adjei-Nsiah’s research interests encompass a wide range of areas including integrated soil fertility management, crop nutrition, food systems, climate change, agricultural innovation systems and food security. He has contributed substantially to scholarly literature in these areas and his works have been published in various reputable Journals, reflecting his commitment to advancing knowledge in Agricultural Science to improve food security in West Africa. Prof. Adjei-Nsiah’s work on grain legumes, particularly soybean has attracted global attention and has benefited smallholder farmers, particularly rural farmers in northern Ghana.

He has extensive experience working within the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) system. As an international staff member at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), he coordinated impactful projects such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-funded N2Africa Project and the NORAD-funded Sustainable Soybean Production in Northern Ghana Project, which have contributed significantly to expanding grain legumes especially soybean production among smallholder farmers in northern Ghana.

In collaboration with Wageningen University and Research, Prof. Adjei-Nsiah served as Principal Investigator on several high-profile projects, including the Global Yield Gap Atlas (GYGA), a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-funded initiative (2010–2012) that maps and analyses crop yield gaps to guide national agricultural strategies. He also led the DFID-funded Integrated Assessment of Determinants of Maize Yield Gaps in Sub-Saharan Africa (2013–2016), which provided critical insights for improving maize productivity across the region.

Currently, Prof. Adjei-Nsiah serves as the GYGA Country Agronomist for Ghana, where he contributes to global efforts in enhancing crop yields through scientific data analysis.

With over 100 scholarly publications and presentations at more than 50 national and international conferences, Prof. Adjei-Nsiah continues to shape agricultural policies and promote sustainable agricultural practices that directly benefit rural communities in Ghana and beyond.

Personal details

Prof. Adjei-Nsiah hails from Barekese in the Atwima Nwabiagya North Municipal of the Ashanti Region, Ghana. He is the fifth of six children born to the late Obaapanin Adwoa Anaah and Nana Kwaku Adjei, both from Barekese in the Ashanti Region. He is married to Mrs. Charlotte Adjei-Nsiah, a professional teacher, and they are blessed with four children: Abena, Adwoa, Ama, and Kwame and two grand daughters, Obenewaa and Adjeiwaa. A devout Presbyterian, Prof. Adjei-Nsiah is a member of the Ramseyer Congregation, Afiaman. In his leisure time, he enjoys farming, and spending time with family.