CSIR-Food Research Institute: annual report 1995

Abstract

The Food Research Institute (FRI), one of the 18 affiliate institutes of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), is mandated to conduct applied research into problems of food processing and preservation, storage, marketing, distribution and utilization, in support of the food industry and also to advise government on its food policy. During 1995, research work continued on most of the commodity groups: Root and Tuber Crops, Grain Legumes, Cereals, Horticultural crops, and Fish. Work was conducted on edible and medicinal mushrooms, rice and sorghum for malting and brewing purposes. Work on Fermentation also progressed. Research resulted in selection two strains of American Oyster mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus (OT-3 and OT-6) for cultivation, during all seasons in Ghana. A study showed that irradiation was more effective than the conventional steam sterilization of compost bags for indoor mushroom cultivation, and also gave higher fruit body yields for two mushroom strains. Ten cultivars of locally produced rice were screened for their agronomic characteristics and evaluated for their proximate and food quality attributes. A national survey on peanut production in Ghana was completed during the year. 406 food and pharmaceutical products were analysed for microbiological safety whilst chemical analyses were carried on 195 samples. Income generating activities included microbiological and chemical analyses, food economics and utilization services, processing, library, engineering, mushroom training, cassava processing and a commercial unit. The institute organized eight training workshops and seminars for various groups; the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industries, in mango and cashes processing for women farmers, in Quality Assurance Systems, Fish processing and Mushroom Cultivation. Participants came from Ghana and other African countries. The Institute also hosted the first International meeting of the Aflatoxin working group in Accra