Ghanaian Ho Technical University's Prof. Dr. Kenneth Fafa Egbadzor Visits Hochschule Rhein-Waal, Plots Future Collaboration
Prof. Dr Kenneth Fafa Egbadzor together with Prof. Dr habil. Jens Gebauer in the tropical house next to a baobab tree.
Prof. Dr. Kenneth Fafa Egbadzor of Ho Technical University, Ghana, shared his experiences and insights after a two-week academic exchange at the Faculty of Life Sciences. His mission: to explore cutting-edge agricultural technology and sustainable practices that could transform farming back home in Ghana.
The associate professor couldn’t hide his admiration for the sophisticated farming techniques employed by German farmers. “The level of agriculture here is incredibly high,” he noted. “From city to city, I saw expansive, technologically advanced farms practicing sustainable and organic agriculture. It's very impressive.” Prof. Egbadzor, who specializes in plant breeding and agricultural sciences, was particularly struck by the commitment and efficiency of German farmers. His observations highlighted a stark contrast to traditional methods seen in many parts of Africa. A focal point of Prof. Egbadzor’s research is the baobab tree, a plant known for its extensive fruiting time. Typically, these trees take up to 20 years to bear fruit. However, through innovative methods developed by his team, they have managed to reduce this period to under three years. “We started this research in 2019, and now we have fruiting trees on the field,” he shared. Using an acid method for seed germination, his team has managed to significantly speed up the process, germinating seeds in just one week.
Building Bridges with Horizon Europe
The visit also solidified ongoing collaborative efforts. Prof. Egbadzor has been working closely with Prof. Dr. Matthias Kleinke and Prof. Dr. Florian Wichern on a Horizon Europe proposal, aimed at fostering stronger ties between Ho Technical University and Hochschule Rhein-Waal. Future projects on the horizon include a summer school program involving institutions from Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Hochschule Rhein-Waal, as well as expanded staff and student exchanges. Prof. Egbadzor found striking similarities between students in Germany and Ghana. He noted that the student-lecturer dynamic was quite similar, with students sometimes showing reluctance but also bringing valuable differing opinions to the table. Beyond academia, Prof. Egbadzor was pleasantly surprised by the warmth and hospitality he experienced in Kleve. “In Ghana, we pride ourselves on our hospitality, but I found Germans to be incredibly friendly and welcoming as well,” he said.
As these initiatives take root, it underscores the critical importance of global partnerships in tackling agricultural challenges and promoting sustainable practices. Prof. Egbadzor is optimistic about the future of these collaborations. He sees a high possibility of returning to Germany, or sending his colleagues, to continue their work on the baobab project. “We have so much to do together,” he emphasized.