CSIR-Food Research Institute: annual report 2008

Abstract

The CSIR-Food Research Institute (FRI) is one of the thirteen affiliate institutes of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The CSIR in its changing phases of corporate augmentation has become a centre of excellence in Research and Development (R&D) by generating appropriate technologies that are responsive to demands of the private sector and socio-economic development. The mission of corporate CSIR is to generate and apply innovative technologies, which efficiently and effectively exploit S&T for socioeconomic development in critical areas of agriculture, industry, health and the environment and improve scientific culture of the civil society. Technologies developed will be commercialized for private sector development in Ghana and abroad. CSIR-Food Research Institute's vision is to be recognized, nationally and internationally, as an Institution of S&T that is playing a key role, in the transformation of the food processing industry to be internationally competitive with particular reference to product safety, quality and preservation. CSIR-FRI's mission is primarily, to conduct market oriented applied research and provides technical services and products profitably to the private sector and other stakeholders. The overall goal of the Institute is to assist in poverty alleviation through the creation of opportunities for generating and increasing incomes within the micro-, small-, medium- and large-scale food industries. The Institute further contribute to food security, foreign exchange earnings and the: application of cost effective food processing technologies that are environmentally friendly. CSIR-FRI presently operates under seven Divisions: Food Chemistry, Food Microbiology, Food Processing & Engineering, Nutrition & Socio-economics, Commercialization & Information, Administration, and Accounts. In line with its objectives, the CSIR-FRI Microbiology and Chemistry Divisions continued with their task of providing analytical support to both research and industry. The Food Processing & Engineering Division continued with its functions of conducting applied research into the processing, preservation, packaging and storage of food as well as the development of new products from available raw materials. The Pilot-Scale Production Unit of the division conducted pilot scale studies into products developed by CSIR-FRI. The Commercial and Information Division coordinates all commercial activities of the Institute. The commercialization process of the Institute continued and the following areas were the major sources of income: Consultancies, Collaborative Research, Equipment fabrication & Hire of Facilities, Sale of Research By-Products, Technical and Analytical Services and Training. The total receipts for the year amounted to GH¢ 1,240,950 of which 93% represents government subvention for personnel emolument and administrative expenditure, 1% represents subvention for service activities (research), 6% represents internally generated funds. The Institute now issues out certificate of accredited analytical results to clients as a result of the fifteen accredited laboratory methods of the Institute to ISO 17025, by South Africa National Accreditation Service (SANAS). The accreditation of more laboratory analytical methods is on going especially mycotoxin analytical method that has received boost from the German Government. The year under review saw a high number of participation in local and international conferences by staff as shown in Appendix iv. In line with its mandate, the main programmes of the Institute during the year were centered on R&D activities for the solution of post-harvest and socio-economic problems of food quality and safety in the country. In this regard, the private sector Agro-processing development was a major component