African-German Research Centre for Food Systems and Data Science Formed; UG’s Prof. Eric Danquah Appointed to Steering Committee
A new African-German research initiative designed to strengthen food systems and advance applied data science has been officially launched, with the goal of equipping the next generation of African scientists to tackle pressing agricultural challenges.
Known as the African-German Centre for Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems and Applied Agricultural and Food Data Science (UKUDLA), the initiative was launched on January 20, 2025, during the 11th German-African Agribusiness Forum.
In recognition of his expertise, Prof. Eric Y. Danquah, Professor of Plant Genetics at the University of Ghana and Founding Director of the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), has been appointed to serve on UKUDLA’s International Steering Committee.
Prof. Danquah's appointment highlights his outstanding contributions to agricultural research and capacity building in Africa. As a member of the Committee, he will help shape the Centre’s strategic direction, advising on business planning, outreach, sustainability, partnerships and identifying new opportunities for impact.
The mandate of the UKUDLA is to offer cutting-edge training for postgraduate students, early-career researchers and university lecturers across the continent, enhancing their ability to drive transformative research and practical solutions for sustainable food systems.
The Centre’s work will focus on three core pillars including research, practical application and knowledge transfer. It will provide structured, interdisciplinary training that connects applied data science directly to the realities of food security and agricultural development in Africa.
A dedicated Graduate Centre hosted at the University of Pretoria (UP) under the Future Africa Chair in Sustainable Food Systems will complement these activities by offering tailored mentorship and continuous learning opportunities.
The initiative’s key focus areas include building capacity to develop a new generation of scientists, advancing food systems through digital innovation and applied data science and fostering collaborative knowledge production by co-creating solutions with stakeholders across academia, industry, government and society.
The Centre is supported by a consortium of distinguished institutions, including the University of Hohenheim (Germany), the University of the Western Cape, the University of Pretoria, the University of Mpumalanga and the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Malawi. It is supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the German Federal Ministries and South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF).
The University of Ghana and the WACCI community warmly congratulate Prof. Danquah on his appointment. It is a fitting recognition of his leadership in agricultural science and his enduring commitment to improving food and nutrition security across the continent.