“Developing resilient and sustainable food systems is crucial in building sustainable economies and livelihood everywhere,” he said.

Mr Addo mentioned the chal­lenges of increase in prevalence of shocks from diseases, climate change, conflict, policy instability, and low crop yield among other factors which he explained, threat­ened sustainable food production.

He was speaking at the opening of the sixth annual conference of the Ghana Association of Agriculture Economists currently on-going at Cape Coast, the Cen­tral Regional capital.

The four-day conference on the theme: “Sustainable food systems for national development” is being attended by over 100 participants across the country.

Mr Addo stated that, ensuring the population’s health and well­being depends on access to safe, nourishing and affordable diet.

He opined that, the current food systems do not adequately priori­tise safety, fairness, sustainability, and health.

“A sustainable food system delivers food security and nutrition for all in such a way that the eco­nomic, social and environmental bases to generate food security and nutrition for future generations are not compromised,” he said.

The Deputy Minister further stated that, government had put in place measures in food systems including strengthening the food supply systems by increasing key stables with a focus on nutritious indigenous staples.

Other measures, he said, include capacity building of farmers on climate and smart practices, enhancing availability and accessi­bility of healthy food and promot­ing healthier eating habits among Ghanaians.

Prof. Daniel Bruce Sarpong, the Ghana Association of Agriculture Economists (GAAE) president, in his welcome address, explained that global challenges such as Russia-Ukraine war, COVID-19, Middle East conflicts and climate change were posing a challenge towards achieving sustainable food systems in the world.

“It is imperative to explore innovative pathways towards sustainable food systems, national develop­ment and youth em­ployment through entre­preneurship, especially in Africa,” he said.

He stated that: “The youth pop­ulation is expanding rapidly, and Africa is grappling with the task of creating sustainable jobs for her young population”.

Prof. Sarpong indicated that, sustainable agricultural innova­tion and entrepreneurship offer a way of enhancing livelihoods and improvement in living conditions, especially in rural areas where agriculture plays a crucial role.

He further stated that, the les­sons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic underscore the impor­tance of food self-sufficiency for the nation, saying, “Climate change poses a significant threat to African agriculture, and the issue of “galamsey” which is destroying farm lands, is a pressing concern”.

Mr Addo stated that, the com­plexity of food systems requires a more holistic and coordinated approach and called for collab­oration from all stakeholders in building such systems in order to lay the foundation for a trans­formed country.

In an address read on his be­half, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong, noted that, the conference would offer a unique forum to foster knowledge ex­change, collaboration, and innovation towards achieving sustainable food systems for national development.

The Central Regional Minis­ter, Mrs Justina Marigold Assan, in a speech read on her behalf underscored the government’s commitment towards reducing the challenges of food systems in the country.

“Among these, are the govern­ment’s flagship programmes-Plant­ing for Food and Jobs Phase II, which was a five-year plan to attain food and raw materials self-suffi­ciency in vegetables, grains, roots and tubers and poultry,” she said.

The aim of the initiative, she indicated, was to contribute to food and nutrition security as well as improving the nation’s exchange earnings and import substitution.