Ghana’s Council for  Scientific and Industrial Research, Institute for Scientific and Technological Information (CSIR-INSTI) has unveiled a suite of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven tools targeting agriculture and healthcare, signaling a deliberate push to position technology as a driver of national economic growth.

The innovations were showcased at the institute’s 2026 Open Day held under the theme “Transforming Innovation Through AI, Precision Technologies, and Open  Scientific Knowledge,” bringing together policymakers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and students to examine how  science can be commercialised to support national development.

Director of CSIR-INSTI, Dr. Paul Asante Danquah, said the tools were built to strengthen practical decision-making, accelerate disease detection, and reduce costly human error across key sectors. “These tools are designed to collectively improve efficiency, reduce human error and enhance productivity across sectors,” he said.

Among the flagship innovations presented was the Ghana Agric Data Hub, a digital platform that aggregates weather data, crop calendars, and agricultural datasets to guide farming decisions. The platform is designed to improve yields and reduce post-harvest losses by giving farmers and agribusinesses access to timely, data-driven insights.

The institute also showcased the Farm Academy e-learning platform, which provides farmers and agribusiness operators with access to training modules and practical agricultural knowledge, narrowing the gap between scientific research and commercial application.
In healthcare, an AI-powered malaria diagnostic application drew particular attention. The tool integrates a smartphone camera with a microscope to analyse blood samples placed on slides and identify the presence of malaria parasites. The application is intended to support diagnosis in areas with limited access to advanced medical facilities, reduce treatment delays, and lower healthcare costs, especially in rural and underserved communities.

Additional innovations included the Maize Leaf Disease Detection App and Tomato Leaf Disease Detection App, which allow users to identify crop diseases by capturing images of plant leaves for early diagnosis and rapid response. The institute also introduced a real-time soil testing device and the Digital Agricultural Innovation Hub, which hosts more than 400 technologies designed to improve farm efficiency and food security.

Connecting farmers to buyers, the KwaFu Marketplace emerged as an e-commerce tool for agricultural trade, with the potential to improve price discovery and reduce post-harvest losses. Complementary systems, including an Extension Portal and Early Warning System are being developed to enable real-time communication and faster response to pest and disease outbreaks.

Director-General of CSIR, Professor Paul Bosu, described the event as a turning point in Ghana’s research-to-commercialisation efforts, stressing that innovation must translate into tangible economic value. Council Chairman Mark Anthony Taylor echoed this position, calling for stronger alignment between scientific research and Ghana’s broader industrialisation and digitalisation agenda.

Despite the progress, Dr. Danquah acknowledged that funding constraints and ageing infrastructure continue to limit the commercial deployment of many innovations developed within the institute. To address the financing gap, CSIR has partnered with AI Africa to build internal capacity in artificial intelligence and is operationalising an endowment fund to support ongoing research.

Analysts say sustained investment in AI and precision technologies could unlock new growth areas, strengthen food systems, and sharpen Ghana’s competitiveness as an innovation hub across Africa.