A startup founded by alumni of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST) is showcasing innovative food products at the Africa Food Systems (AFS) Forum.

Mushplus AgriFoods Limited, founded by Joseph Anokye, Abigail Sume, Isaac Assumang and Emmanuella Aryee, is exhibiting two flagship products: Mushplus Instant Noodles, mushroom-fortified instant noodles, and Mushplus Protein Care, a ready-to-eat mushroom-soya blend developed to support protein intake.

The four founders, all KNUST alumni from three colleges of the University, combined expertise in food science, agriculture and business administration to establish the company in 2023. Joseph Anokye, a Food Science and Technology graduate, developed the mushroom-fortified instant noodles from his undergraduate research project, laying the foundation for the startup's flagship innovation.

The startup's journey began while its founders were students at KNUST, where they participated in the Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC) AgriTech Challenge Pro. Their innovative business idea later earned them a place in the KIC 2025 Incubation Cohort, where they received mentorship, business development support and industry connections to refine and scale their products.

Their participation at this year's Africa Food Systems Forum marks another milestone in the company's growth, providing an opportunity to present locally developed, nutrition-focused food innovations to policymakers, investors, development partners and agribusiness leaders from across Africa.

Mushplus AgriFoods is participating in the forum through the Nkabom Collaborative, an initiative jointly implemented by the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) and the Mastercard Foundation to support young entrepreneurs and strengthen Ghana's enterprise ecosystem.

As the Africa Food Systems Forum brings together stakeholders to shape the future of food systems across the continent, Mushplus AgriFoods represents a new generation of KNUST entrepreneurs leveraging innovation to improve nutrition, reduce post-harvest losses, create jobs and contribute to Africa's agricultural transformation.

Story: Emmanuel Kwasi Debrah