Ghana calls for inclusive plant-based diplomacy to advance sustainable food systems globally

Mr Issifu Seidu, Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, has urged a balanced and culturally grounded approach to promoting plant-based food systems worldwide.

Speaking at the Ministerial Debate on Plant-Based Diplomacy in the North and the South in Belém, Brazil, organised by the Danish Plant-Based Diplomacy, Mr Seidu highlighted Denmark’s leadership in sustainability, citing its world-first Action Plan for Plant-Based Foods and €170 million Plant-Based Food Grant as exemplary models for high-income countries investing in sustainable food production.

Addressing ministers and experts from across regions, he stressed that for countries in the Global South, especially Africa, plant-based diplomacy presents a platform for cooperation on climate action, food security, and sustainable development. Drawing from Ghana‘s experience, he emphasised the centrality of cultural heritage in food transitions.

“Our meals, jollof, banku, and fufu, are not just food; they are identity. Plant-based foods must complement and not replace our traditions,” he said, noting Ghana’s integration of sacred groves, seasonal rituals, and crop diversity into modern agricultural practices as examples of locally grounded sustainability.

Mr Seidu called for policies that protect smallholder livelihoods while developing local plant-protein value chains, including bambara nut and millet. He also advocated for stronger North–South and South–South partnerships to scale financing, research, and policy innovation for plant-based foods.

He proposed three key actions: expanding financing for African plant-protein value chains, encouraging joint research between Northern and Southern institutions, and amplifying the voice of climate-vulnerable economies in global food governance.

Reaffirming Ghana’s commitment, Mr Seidu noted that the country is advancing protein diversification, climate-resilient agriculture, and public-private partnerships as part of its food security agenda. “Ghana stands ready to show leadership in Africa and collaborate with Denmark and other partners to make plant-based diplomacy a reality that feeds people, protects the planet, and strengthens resilience,” he stressed.

The session concluded with calls for deeper international cooperation to ensure that the global shift toward plant-based foods promotes both sustainability and equity across regions.

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