PLEASE CITE AS Koranteng-Acquah J., Acheampong, P., Asante M.D., Baafi E. & Leonelli, S.* (2024) Data Management at the Crops Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Ghana: A Scoping Report. PHIL_OS Report, June 2024. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.11479135.

This report evidences the crucial significance of data management practices and infrastructures for research conducted at the CSIR-Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI). It reports and discusses results from a survey carried out with CCIR-CRI staff in the fall of 2023 by researchers from the PHIL_OS project (www.opensciencestudies.eu), Joyce Koranteng-Acquah and Sabina Leonelli from the University of Exeter, in collaboration with Patricia Acheampong, Maxwell Asante and Ernerst Baafi from CSIR-CRI. The results of the survey will be used to inform the data management policies of CSIR-CRI, currently under development.

In a context where scientific endeavours are embedded in the pursuit of sustainable agricultural practices, meticulous data management makes it possible for research findings to endure over time and thereby laying the groundwork for future innovation. As Ghana aspires to achieve food self-sufficiency and contribute to global food security, the role of data-driven insights becomes increasingly pivotal. The adaptability of agriculture to emerging challenges hinges on a robust data ecosystem that preserves and propagates valuable insights. The transition to digital platforms and cloud storage aligns with the global trend toward collaborative and open science.

This survey found that while researchers agree on the significance and implications of data management strategies for their research and its impact, the ways in which data are backed-up, stored, shared and accessed at CSIR-CRI are varied and inconsistent. There are considerable generational differences in how researchers rely on digital, machine-readable data management strategies, as well as their perception and use of data storage facilities, institutional repositories and international databases. For instance, we noted a tendency for senior researchers to use Excel spreadsheets and paper, and to ensure that the data are stored in common repositories, while early career researchers are more likely to resort to machine-readable storage, but less likely to do this in places other than their personal laptop. Most researchers encountered obstacles in accessing and re-using data produced by others, particularly legacy data derived from past experiments, which is detrimental to research on novel crop varieties, methods for technology transfers, and the effects of climate change. The majority of respondents demanded institutional support and centralised training to ensure more consistent and effective data management strategies, yet they also exhibited anxiety around the use of centralised data storage facilities, due to security and privacy concerns as well as uncertainty around how such platforms may be implemented to respond to the specific needs of their research.

We conclude that CSIR-CRI’s commitment to excellence in crop research is tied to its ability to embrace and champion cutting-edge data management strategies, which includes utilising both analogue and digital tools, increasing investment in centralised storage and training facilities, and ensuring the secure storage and sharing of sensitive data. However, the Institute’s efforts to prioritise safe data storage and sharing are impeded by limited funding, prompting CSIR-CRI to actively seek support from partners and donors. The Institute believes that collaborative research efforts, underpinned by robust and responsible data practices, can catalyse the development and adoption of innovative farming techniques, ensuring sustainable livelihoods for local communities and fostering economic growth; and is committed to continue making strides towards improving its data management policies, tools and training resources.