Members of a United States agribusiness delegation visiting Ghana say they are encouraged by what they describe as strong enthusiasm, practical innovation, and a growing collective drive to tackle food security challenges.

Douglas Matthys, a farm manager and member of the delegation from Indiana, said the systems observed during their visit point to a country moving deliberately towards solving its agricultural constraints.

“There’s a lot of positive energy and excitement here,” he noted. “That enthusiasm is creating opportunity, and it’s clear there is a collective effort to solve food production challenges in a sustainable way.”

The delegation, comprising about 27 agribusiness chief executives from the Agri-Institute, is in Ghana on an Agricultural Study and Leadership Tour.

Global-Standard Practices at Marphlix Trust

A key stop on the tour was a working visit to Marphlix Trust Limited at Dawhenya in the Greater Accra Region, where visitors observed greenhouse farming systems, drip irrigation, fertigation techniques, and youth training programmes.

According to Matthys, the controlled greenhouse environment stood out as a critical solution for managing pests, diseases, and productivity.

“What we see here is the foundation for producing nutrient-dense food at a reasonable cost,” he said, adding that such systems are relevant not only to Ghana but also to farming conversations back in the United States.

Learning and Collaboration, Not Comparison

Chief Executive Officer of Marphlix Trust, Dr Felix Kamassah, described the engagement as a two-way learning process rather than a one-sided transfer of knowledge.

“We learn from each other,” he said. “They learn from what we are doing here, and we also want to learn from what they are doing, particularly in technology.”

He explained that modern agriculture now extends beyond production into training, technology deployment, exports and agritourism, creating multiple entry points for partnerships and investment.

Reviving Irrigation and Training the Youth

The visit also highlighted Marphlix Trust’s role in reviving dormant public infrastructure. In early 2025, the company rehabilitated a long-abandoned irrigation facility under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, converting it into a practical training centre for young agribusiness entrants.

Agriculture as a Jobs Engine

Dr Kamassah stressed that agriculture remains one of Ghana’s most viable employment engines, particularly for the youth.

“Government cannot employ everybody, but agriculture can,” he said, noting that the sector supports not only farmers but also engineers, accountants, economists and logistics professionals.

He added that private sector participation, backed by irrigation development, is essential for absorbing unemployed youth and driving productivity.

Reducing Imports Through Local Production

The Marphlix Trust CEO also pointed to Ghana’s heavy reliance on imported tomatoes, arguing that greenhouse farming offers a clear pathway to closing that gap.

“We import tomatoes we should be producing locally,” he said, calling for better alignment between local production capacity and consumer demand.

Youth Training Model Draws Praise

The delegation was particularly impressed by the structured approach to youth training and post-training opportunities.

Matthys described the model as “forward-thinking,” noting that training young people to succeed independently in agribusiness not only improves food production but also raises overall quality of life.

“It’s a very rewarding job to grow food that feeds your neighbours and your country,” he said. “Farmers everywhere can identify with that calling.”

Outlook for Deeper Partnerships

Both the Ghanaian hosts and the visiting US agribusiness leaders expressed optimism that the engagement would translate into deeper collaboration, joint ventures and technology partnerships.

With agriculture positioned as a driver of jobs, exports and long-term growth, the visit reinforced the view that Ghana’s evolving agribusiness landscape holds strong potential for scalable, internationally competitive solutions.