Image created by Reve AIA new international partnership between the University of Nottingham’s Food Systems Institute and the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Ghana has been launched to drive innovation and tackle entrenched challenges within the livestock feed value chain in northern Ghana.
Boosting year-round feed availability
The collaboration aims to boost year‑round feed availability, improve animal productivity, and enhance climate resilience for smallholder farmers living in one of West Africa’s most environmentally stressed regions.
Northern Ghana’s livestock keepers face enormous constraints linked to climate variability and feed scarcity. By combining agronomic research, farmer‑led trials, and practical feed processing technologies, we aim to demonstrate solutions that materially improve livestock resilience and household livelihoods.” — Dr Maria Mendiondo
Environmental challenges in Northern Ghana
Northern Ghana sits within a semi‑arid agro‑ecological zone marked by long dry seasons, erratic rainfall patterns, and recurring droughts. These conditions sharply limit the availability and nutritional quality of forage, contributing to low livestock productivity, high mortality rates, and volatile household incomes. Feed scarcity during dry months remains one of the most critical constraints in the country’s livestock sector.
Climate-smart forage innovation
Researchers at the University of Nottingham are addressing these challenges through a Trilateral Innovation Grant focused on climate‑smart forages, working alongside UDS Ghana and forage genetics specialists Papalotla in Brazil. Led by Dr Maria Mendiondo (Principal Investigator) with Dr David Atkinson and Dr Florian Rauch, the programme is developing practical, scalable feed solutions suitable for smallholder crop–livestock systems.
Drought-tolerant forage species
Central to the approach is the identification, testing, and promotion of high‑yielding, drought‑tolerant, and nutritionally superior forage species. Promising varieties are being integrated into local farming systems along with innovations such as forage pellets and total mixed rations designed for use during the dry season. The project’s scope spans forage agronomy, animal nutrition, climate adaptation, and feed enterprise development, ensuring the work addresses both technical and economic barriers.
Collaboration for feed solutions
Dr Mendiondo said the new partnership highlights the importance of collaborative research in overcoming systemic feed shortages. “Northern Ghana’s livestock keepers face enormous constraints linked to climate variability and feed scarcity. By combining agronomic research, farmer‑led trials, and practical feed processing technologies, we aim to demonstrate solutions that materially improve livestock resilience and household livelihoods,” she explained.
We anticipate that the promising approaches around climate‑smart forages, feed processing technologies, and data‑driven livestock nutrition will be valued and applied across research and farming innovation. The gains for livestock keepers could be transformative.” — Professor Terry Ansah
Farmer training and adoption
The initiative also incorporates training programmes and farmer field demonstrations to accelerate the adoption of improved forages and feed technologies. By strengthening links across the feed value chain – from seed supply through to feed processing and market development – the team hopes to stimulate new agricultural enterprises that can supply both local communities and national markets.
Project expansion plans
In December 2025, Professor Terry Ansah from UDS visited the University of Nottingham to advance planning for the next phase of the work. Reflecting on the collaboration, he said: “We anticipate that the promising approaches around climate‑smart forages, feed processing technologies, and data‑driven livestock nutrition will be valued and applied across research and farming innovation. The gains for livestock keepers could be transformative.”
Broader sector impacts
The project’s expected impact spans local, regional, and national levels. Improved access to nutritious forage is forecast to raise animal productivity, stabilise farmer incomes, and strengthen household resilience during climate shocks. At a broader scale, developing Ghana’s forage and feed sectors could reduce reliance on expensive imported feeds while supporting the country’s climate-smart agriculture strategy.
Building a resilient livestock sector
By combining international research expertise with local knowledge and on‑farm validation, the partnership aims to deliver feed solutions that are both practical for smallholders and viable for emerging agribusinesses. Ultimately, the initiative seeks to build a stronger, more resilient livestock sector capable of supporting nutrition, livelihoods, and economic growth across northern Ghana.
