At the Ministerial Debate on Plant-Based Diplomacy in the North and the South organised by the Danish Plant Based Diplomacy on November 11, 2025, in Belém, Brazil, Ghana's Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, Issifu Seidu, called for a balanced and inclusive approach to advancing plant-based food systems globally.

Speaking to ministers and experts from across regions, the minister commended Denmark's pioneering leadership in developing the world's first Action Plan for Plant-Based Foods and its €170 million Plant-Based Food Grant.

He described these as models of how high-income countries can invest in sustainable food production while maintaining strong agricultural traditions.

He noted that for countries in the Global South, especially in Africa, plant-based diplomacy offers a shared platform for cooperation on climate action, food security and sustainable development.

Drawing from Ghana's experience, the Minister emphasized that cultural heritage must remain central to food transitions.

"Our meals jollof, banku and fufu are not just food, they are identity. Plant-based foods must complement, not replace, our traditions," he said.

Highlighting the role of indigenous knowledge, he cited Ghana's integration of traditional practices such as sacred groves, seasonal rituals and crop diversity into modern agriculture as examples of locally grounded sustainability.

He also underscored the need for policies that protect smallholder livelihoods while promoting new value chains for local plant proteins such as bambara nut and millet.

The minister called 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 plant-protein value chains in Africa, encouraging joint research consortia between Northern and Southern institutions, and amplifying the voice of climate-vulnerable economies in global food governance.

He reaffirmed Ghana's commitment to advancing protein diversification, climate-resilient agriculture and public-private partnerships as part of its food security agenda.

Ghana, he said, "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."

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

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