Growing up in Kwapong, a farming community in Ghana’s Ahafo region, and attending university in Ghana helped Benjamin Karikari develop an appreciation for agriculture and sustainable food systems. He earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from the University of Cape Coast in 2008 and a master’s degree in agronomy from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in 2014.
He then earned a doctoral degree in crop genetics and breeding at Nanjing Agricultural University in China in 2020, where he focused on soybean improvement.
Karikari began Sept. 25, 2025, as an assistant professor of practice in plant science in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
In his current role, Karikari teaches undergraduate and graduate courses covering genetics, plant nutrition, biotechnology and soil microbial ecology. His teaching emphasizes experiential learning, giving students the opportunity to use the latest research techniques and tools in the classroom.
He also mentors students, helping them conduct research and explore careers in agronomy and horticulture, and leads a research program.
“My research program focuses on improving crop productivity, resilience and nutrient use efficiency, particularly in major crops such as soybean, corn and other legume crops,” Karikari said. “My work integrates plant physiology, functional genomics and breeding to address challenges related to nutrient limitation, drought and climate stress.”
Beyond conducting his own research, Karikari records his findings and reviews other researchers’ publications. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed papers, and is an active reviewer and guest editor for academic journals like “Plant Communications,” “The Plant Genome” and “Theoretical and Applied Genetics.”
His research has been recognized through several honors, including the Young African Phosphorus Fellowship, which supported his work on improving phosphorus use efficiency in soybeans.
Karikari began his career as an agricultural extension officer for the Government of Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture where he worked for more than five years. In this position, he developed and implemented programs to support Ghanaian farmers with improved production practices, pest management and sustainable agriculture.
His past experience in extension programming helps him put farmers’ needs at the forefront of his teaching and research at Nebraska.
Karikari prioritizes farmers’ needs in his research because he wants his work to make a practical difference in farmers’ lives. His farmer-first approach has helped him become a better researcher and educator.
“I believe that effective agricultural research must connect directly with farmers’ needs,” Karikari said. “My background in extension has shaped my approach to research and teaching – ensuring that knowledge is accessible, practical and impactful.”
He served as part of a multidisciplinary team on the USAID-funded Cowpea Out-Scaling Project with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture for two years. He coordinated field operations, engaged with stakeholders, facilitated farmer training, collected and analyzed field data and advanced the scaling of improved cowpea technologies and value chain development.
After he finished his doctoral studies, Karikari held faculty and research positions at the University for Development Studies in Ghana, contributing to teaching, research and academic development.
In 2023, Karikari started a postdoctoral fellowship at Université Laval in Canada, where his research focused on genetic mapping and functional validation of candidate genes associated with soybean root system architecture.
Then, in 2025, Karikari moved to Lincoln.
“I was drawn to Nebraska for its agricultural heritage and commitment to innovation in crop production and sustainability, particularly regarding soybeans,” Karikari said.
Karikari said he values how the university’s focus aligns closely with his philosophy that scientific research should be informed by farmers’ needs – designed to have a real-world impact on agriculture.
“In my work, I aim to bridge advanced plant science with practical solutions for farmers, ensuring that innovations in genetics, nutrition and soil health translate into improved productivity and sustainability,” Karikari said.
