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Two Innovate UK awards for project to combat child malnutrition in Ghana

Two Innovate UK awards for project to combat child malnutrition in Ghana

Posted on 29 November 2024

An international knowledge transfer project to develop a new fortified cereal to combat child malnutrition in Ghana has won two prestigious awards.

The product is currently available in schools, health clinics and retail shops.

Researchers at the University of York collaborated with Savannah and Sahel Commodities (SSCL) Limited, and the University for Development Studies, both in Ghana, on the C-REAL product.

The partnership developed a recipe and manufacturing process for a new fortified blended meal using locally-grown soya, rice, and maize to fight malnutrition in Northern Ghana. The new product is currently available in schools, health clinics and retail shops in deprived areas.

UN Sustainable Development goals

The project surpassed all its original objectives and contributed towards UN Sustainable Development goals by improving the health and wellbeing of vulnerable people, creating sustainable jobs for local farmers, and providing education on nutrition.

The project has now been awarded the Best African Agriculture KTP Award and the Changing the World awards at an Innovate UK ceremony in November.

Dr Karolos Papadas, a member of the research team who worked on the project, said "We are thrilled to have won both the 'Best African Agri-food Knowledge Transfer Partnership' and 'Changing the World' awards at the Innovate UK KTP Awards Ceremony.

“This achievement reflects our hard work across three institutions over the last three years to create a purpose-driven brand for the public good. These two awards will always remind us of our responsibility for our common future and the positive social impact of such partnerships between academic institutions and industry."

Available in schools

Dean of the School for Business and Society, Professor Bob Doherty, added: “The KTP developed the product 'C-Real' which is a highly-nutritious product made from local grain, and is now available in schools all over Northern Ghana.

“It has already contributed to tackling malnutrition, providing a healthy, nutritious and safe meal in deprived areas. A huge congratulations to Karolos and the teams from Ghana.”

Richard Lamb is KTP Programme Manager at Innovate UK. He said: “Since 1975, Innovate UK’s KTPs have played a critical role in helping businesses connect with academics, all with the fundamental goal of making real-world change.

“This year’s awards were a fantastic example of why these relationships are so crucial, highlighting some incredible projects from right across the country.”

Local solutions

The Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation in Ghana, Hon. Ophelia Mensah-Hayford, said: “The translation of scientific knowledge into C-Real is evidence that the development of local solutions to critical development issues like nutrition is within reach if we build the right Industry-University-Research (I-U-R) Collaboration.

“The Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation is proud to be associated with African Agrifood Knowledge Transfer Partnership (AAKTP) and will continue to work with the British Government under the UK-GH STI Strategy to cocreate solutions for socioeconomic impacts in our societies.”

Economic growth

The British High Commissioner in Accra, Ghana, Harriet Thompson said: "I extend heartfelt congratulations to the C-Real team for winning two prestigious awards at the Knowledge Transfer Partnership Awards, including the Overall Best KTP.

“When the team launched this product in March this year, we knew it was special. But the level of recognition it has achieved is remarkable, and well-deserved.

“The team's success is further proof of the power of science, technology and innovation to generate solutions to the global challenges we face. It is testament to what can be achieved when academia and industry come together. It is a reminder that to invest in science, technology, research and innovation is to drive poverty reduction and economic growth.

“This collaboration and mutual learning are key pillars of the UK-Ghana Science, Technology, and Innovation (ST&I) Strategy. Congratulations again to the C-Real team for their remarkable achievement."