Food for All Africa secures $150,000 global prize to scale circular food economy

 

Ghana’s push to tackle food waste and hunger has gained international recognition and fresh funding as Food for All Africa wins a $150,000 award under the 2026 Barry & Marie Lipman Family Prize, positioning the organisation to expand its operations and deepen its impact across the country.

Selected from more than 300 organisations worldwide, Food for All Africa was honoured for its innovative approach to addressing food insecurity through a circular economy model—rescuing surplus edible food and redistributing it to vulnerable communities, while converting inedible waste into animal feed and organic fertiliser.

The recognition places the Ghana-based organisation among a small group of global changemakers, alongside Kheyti, which took the $250,000 grand prize for climate-smart farming solutions, and Barefoot College International, another $150,000 recipient.

Expanding a growing food recovery model

For Ghana, where post-harvest losses and food insecurity remain persistent challenges, the award signals growing global confidence in scalable, locally driven solutions.

Food for All Africa, regarded as West Africa’s first and largest circular food bank, has built a model that connects food producers, retailers and distributors with underserved communities, reducing waste while improving access to nutrition.

Board Chairman Enoch Aryee-Atta said the funding will be channelled into expanding the organisation’s footprint.

“The award affirms our commitment to building resilient food systems in Ghana,” he noted, adding that resources will support the scale-up of food recovery operations, logistics infrastructure, and its LunchBox School Feeding Central Kitchen Project.

Business and environmental implications

Beyond its social impact, the organisation’s model highlights the economic potential of waste-to-value solutions—an area gaining traction globally as countries seek to balance sustainability with growth.

By converting organic waste into products such as black soldier fly larvae for animal feed, Food for All Africa is tapping into emerging value chains within agriculture and agribusiness, while reducing environmental pressure from food waste.

Lipman Prize Director Euria Min said the organisation exemplifies high-impact innovation.

“Their work demonstrates how addressing food waste can simultaneously tackle hunger, environmental sustainability, and economic opportunity,” she stated.

Global networks to drive scale

In addition to the financial support, the award provides access to executive education and strategic backing from Wharton School and the University of Pennsylvania, including leadership development and research support.

The exposure is expected to strengthen the organisation’s capacity to scale its model, attract partnerships, and integrate more deeply into global conversations on food systems and sustainability.

A catalyst for Ghana’s food economy

The recognition comes at a time when Ghana is seeking to strengthen its agricultural value chains and reduce inefficiencies that contribute to both food loss and rising costs.

Analysts say scaling circular food systems like Food for All Africa’s could play a critical role in improving food security, supporting livelihoods, and creating new business opportunities within waste management and agritech.

With fresh funding and international backing, the organisation is now positioned to expand its reach—turning surplus into sustenance, and waste into economic value.