As climate change tightens its grip on West Africa’s food systems, Ghanaian scientist Dr Pearl Abu is helping to redefine what resilience looks like on the farm. On 13 January 2026, Dr Abu received a UNESCO fellowship in recognition of her work on climate-smart maize varieties designed to withstand rising temperatures and prolonged droughts, threats that are already reshaping agricultural production across the region.
Based at the University of Ghana’s West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), Abu’s research responds to a growing sustainability challenge: how to safeguard staple crops that millions rely on for daily nutrition. Maize remains central to food security in West Africa, yet conventional varieties are increasingly vulnerable to erratic rainfall, heat stress and soil degradation linked to climate change.
Abu’s work focuses on breeding maize that can deliver stable yields under harsh conditions, reducing the risk of crop failure for smallholder farmers. Equally significant is her emphasis on biofortification. By enhancing the micronutrient content of maize through selective breeding, her research addresses not only climate adaptation but also malnutrition, particularly among children in rural communities.
“Scientific research must translate into real benefits for smallholder farmers,” Abu said at the fellowship award ceremony. “Resilient, nutritious seeds are a practical way to help farming communities adapt to climate change while improving public health outcomes.”
The UNESCO fellowship also shines a spotlight on the role of African scientists, especially women, in advancing sustainable development goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Abu’s work extends beyond the laboratory, linking innovation to impact through partnerships with local farming cooperatives. These collaborations help ensure that improved seed varieties reach farmers who need them most, particularly women, who form the backbone of Ghana’s agricultural workforce.
By embedding climate resilience, nutrition and equity into crop development, Abu’s research illustrates how science can support a more sustainable and self-reliant food system. As climate pressures intensify, such locally driven solutions are likely to play an increasingly critical role in securing West Africa’s agricultural future.
