Ghana’s coconut and oil palm industries are poised for transformative growth, but sustainable scaling requires tackling biotic stress effectively. Daniel Jeddman reports on Permia’s innovative approach in collaboration with local and international research partners.
CEO Insights on Ghana’s Growth Potential
“Ghana has a powerful growth story in coconut and oil palm, but it will only scale sustainably if we get ahead of biotic stress. Working hand-in-hand with CSIR–OPRI, we’re adapting a platform proven under Innovate UK-backed trials to Ghana’s conditions, enabling earlier detection and targeted response that boosts productivity, reduces blanket pesticide use, and supports climate-smart agriculture across West Africa,” said Permia’s CEO.
Permia collaborates with CSIR–OPRI to boost Ghana’s coconut and oil palm productivity.
Next Steps and Timelines in Ghana
Next steps in Ghana are already underway through Permia’s Innovate UK-funded project with CSIR–OPRI (Kade) and Embrapa, structured to test and scale the early-detection platform in both commercial and smallholder contexts. The initiative aims to provide actionable insights for farmers, reduce crop losses, and support sustainable practices.
Impact on Climate-Smart Agriculture
By integrating advanced biotic stress detection with local farming knowledge, Permia’s approach promises to reduce unnecessary pesticide use, improve yields, and strengthen Ghana’s role in West Africa’s climate-smart agricultural transition. The platform also creates opportunities for local farmers to adopt technology-driven methods that are both environmentally friendly and economically beneficial.Learn more about Ghana’s oil palm and coconut sectors through related insights: FAO Palm Oil Insights, International Coconut Community, and CSIR–OPRI Ghana Research.
