Ghanaian enterprises receive support for nature-positive and agricultural innovation

Savanna Agri Chains, a Ghanaian exporter of shea butter and baobab, has been selected for the inaugural cohort of the Nature-First Innovation Lab (NFIL). The 12-month accelerator, managed by FSD Africa, Systemiq, and the African Natural Capital Alliance, aims to prepare five African enterprises to raise approximately US$10 million in investment. Led by Julius Awaregya, Savanna Agri Chains works with over 1,000 women harvesters in Northern Ghana and utilizes regenerative practices to restore land.

In a separate development, the German Development Cooperation has partnered with Swiss-Ghanaian company KOA to process cashew apples in Ghana. The initiative aims to reduce post-harvest waste by converting cashew apples—which constitute up to 90 per cent of the fruit's mass—into juice, concentrate, and dried products. This project focuses on creating income opportunities for farmers and women's cooperatives through mobile processing units designed to connect local production to European and domestic markets.