Dr Kwaku Onwona-Hwesofour Asante: Soil Science |  Best Researcher Award

Research Scientist at  Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI), Ghana

Kwaku Onwona-Hwesofour Asante, a Ghanaian researcher and development professional, holds a Ph.D. in Social Forestry and Environmental Governance. With a diverse educational background in agriculture, sustainable development, and governance, he has accumulated nearly 18 years of professional experience since completing his BSc in Agriculture in 2005. As a Research Scientist and Head of Section for Cassava and Related Value Chains at CSIR-Crop Research Institute, Kwaku specializes in Agroecology, Social Forestry, and Environmental Governance. His expertise extends to areas such as forest science, climate science, agroecology, non-timber forest products, and environmental policy.

Publication Profile:🌟👨‍🎓

• Orcid profile

👩‍🎓 EDUCATION:

1. Ph.D. in Social Forestry and Environmental Governance
   • 🏫 University of Energy and Natural Resources
   • 📚 Fields: R&D in Environmental Management and Resource Governance
   • 📆 Aug 2017 – Dec 2022
   • 🎓 Certificate Awarded: PhD in Social Forestry and Environmental Governance
   • 📘 Thesis Title: Promoting Ecosystem Services: The Role of Extractive Resource Governance and Agroecological Land-Use Management
2. Master of Philosophy in Agronomy
   • 🏫 University of Education’s College of Agriculture
   • 📚 Fields: Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development
   • 📆 Aug 2015 – Oct 2019
   • 🎓 Certificate Awarded: Master of Philosophy in Agronomy
   • 📘 Thesis Title: Influence of different rates of inorganic fertilizer and biochar on the growth, yield, and nutritional qualities of carrots in the Forest-Savanna Transitional Zone of Ghana
3. Master of Arts in Governance and Sustainable Development
   • 🏫 University of Cape Coast (UCC)
   • 📚 Fields: Environment and Sustainable Development
   • 📆 Jun 2012 – Aug 2013
   • 🎓 Certificate Awarded: Master of Arts in Governance and Sustainable Development
   • 📘 Project Topic: Food Systems Transformation for Health and Sustainable Development
4. BSc. Agriculture
   • 🏫 Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)
   • 📚 Fields: Agriculture and Rural Development
   • 📆 Aug 2001 – May 2005
   • 🎓 Diploma Awarded: BSc. Agriculture
   • 📘 Project Title: Effect of Neemazal in the Control of Root Knot Nematodes of Tomatoes
5. Certificates in Languages
   • 🏫 Ghana Institute of Languages
   • 📚 Fields: Languages – French, Spanish, and German
   • 📆 Jan 2003 – Apr 2004
   • 🎓 Certificate Awarded: Certificates in French, Spanish, and German
6. Senior Secondary School Certificate of Education
   • 🏫 Tamale Secondary School
   • 📚 Fields: General Agriculture, Horticulture, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Integrated Science
   • 📆 Sep 1997 – Dec 2000
   • 🎓 Certificate Awarded: Senior Secondary School Certificate of Education

Kudos to Kwaku for this remarkable academic journey! 🌟📖

📚 PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Current Position:

• 🎓 Research Scientist (Agroecology, Social Forestry, and Environmental Governance)
• 🚀 Head of Section, Cassava and Related Value Chains

Key Qualifications:

• 📜 PhD in Social Forestry and Environmental Governance
• 🌾 MPhil Agronomy
• 🌍 MA Governance and Sustainable Development
• 🌾 BSc. Agriculture with emphasis on degraded ecosystem restoration and ecosystem management

Years of Professional Experience:

• 📅 Approximately 18 years (Since the completion of BSc Agriculture in May 2005)

Kwaku’s journey is a testament to his dedication and expertise in cultivating sustainable solutions for agroecology and environmental governance. 🌿🌍

🔬 AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS:

1. FAO Best Practice Award:
   • 🏛️ Recipient Institution: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI)
   • 🏅 Awarding Institution: FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean
   • 🏆 Award Description: Won the overall best practice for the proposal “Soil Carbon Initiatives Towards Enhancing Nutrient and Water Cycling for Ecosystem Services (SCIENCES)” in the competitive Call: Good Practices Towards Sustainable Management of Soil and Water.
   • 📅 Date: 5th December 2023
2. Best Teacher Award:
   • 🏛️ Recipient Institution: Ghana Education Service
   • 🏅 Awarding Institution: Ministry of Education, Ghana
   • 🏆 Award Description: Best Teacher Award for the National Service Category
   • 📅 Date: 5th December 2023
   • 🌟 Endorsements: Endorsed by the President and Minister of Education

Kwaku’s recognition in both scientific and educational realms showcases his versatility and excellence! 🌐🏅

Research Focus 🌱🔬:

Kwaku’s research spans diverse domains, from the impact of circular economy-based innovations on cassava yield and nutrition in mining-degraded landscapes to the intricate dance between different rates of fertilizer and biochar on carrot growth in the Forest-Savannah Transitional Zone. His exploration extends to the nutritional quality response of carrots to inorganic fertilizer and biochar. Additionally, he delves into the crucial realm of extractive resource governance, offering insights into enhancing practices amidst fragmented policy landscapes. Kwaku’s holistic approach includes studying the effects of gypsum amendment on soil quality, fruit characteristics, and toxicological responses of cucumbers in mining areas, contributing significantly to sustainable agriculture and environmental governance. 🌍🌿

Publications Top Notes:

• Cassava (Manihot esculenta) Yield, Nutrition, and Heavy Metal Bioaccumulation Responses to Circular Economy-Based Innovations in a Mining-Degraded Landscape
• Enhancing Extractive Resource Governance in Ghana and Nigeria under Fragmented Policy Landscape and Limited Resource Scenarios: Insight from the Barrow Framework
• Gypsum amendment and seasonal variability: effect on soil quality, fruit characteristics and toxicological responses of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus l.) in the Ahafo-Kenyasi Mining Area of Ghana
• Influence of Different Rates of Fertilizer and Biochar on Growth and Yield of Carrot (Daucus carota) in the Forest-Savannah Transitional Zone of Ghana
• Nutritional Quality Response of Carrot (Daucus carota) to Different Rates of Inorganic Fertilizer and Biochar