Trilateral innovation for climate-smart forages: Strengthening livestock resilience in Ghana

Improving livestock forage crops in Ghana

Project Partners: Grupo Papalotla (Brazilian Seed Company), the University for Development Studies and the University of Nottingham 

This project will foster a six-month trilateral innovation partnership between the University of Nottingham (UK), the University for Development Studies (Ghana), and Papalotla Group, a private seed company in Brazil, to explore how to improve the quality of animal feed in Ghana, especially during dry seasons. Papalotla, the exclusive global rights holder for valuable forage germplasm, recognises the substantial potential for expansion into African markets, with Ghana identified as a key entry point. Across Ghana, livestock producers face significant challenges in securing consistent, high-quality feed for their animals throughout the year. This often leads to a reliance on costly imported feed, impacting the profitability and sustainability of livestock farming. To tackle this issue, the project will focus on two types of drought-resistant forage crops that are already used in other parts of the world for feeding cattle and other animals.  

Building a more sustainable livestock industry

The team will study how these grasses grow under dry conditions and identify the best traits that help them survive and thrive. The unique combination of physiological, phenotyping, and advanced genomic approaches in this project promises to deliver novel genetic insights into the key seed and root traits that underpin successful forage establishment and productivity, particularly in drought-prone environments. This foundational research will provide the essential knowledge base for the development of climate-smart forage technologies specifically tailored to the challenges faced by livestock producers in Ghana’s savannah regions.  

The goal is to support local farmers by giving them access to better forage options that grow well in tough conditions. This will make livestock farming more reliable, reduce the need for imported feed, and support more climate-resilient agriculture. Ultimately, the project aims to improve food security, boost local farming, and help build a more sustainable livestock industry in Ghana and across similar regions in Africa.  

For more information

For more information on this project, contact us, or view all projects funded under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Partnership programme.

Innovate UK Climate-Smart Agriculture Partnership: UK-Brazil-Africa brings together innovative people and organisations to promote climate-smart agriculture in Africa.