CSIR-Food Research Institute: annual report 2011

Abstract

Food Research Institute (FRI), one of the Institutes of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is mandated to generate technologies that are intended to meet the demands of the private sector and other stakeholders for the socio-economic development of the country. Its vision is to be the leading research institute in the area of food processing technology. It is tasked to provide technical, analytical services, contract research and consultancy services to governmental agencies, micro-medium and multinational agro- food processing industries and international development agencies. It has persistently positioned itself to primarily conduct market-oriented applied research and provide technical services and products' market viability to the private sector and other stakeholders. The goal of the Institute over the years is to assist in poverty alleviation through the creation of opportunities for generating and increasing incomes within the micro, small, medium and large-scale agro-food industries; contribute to food security, foreign exchange earnings and the application of cost-effective food processing technologies that are environmentally friendly. CSIR-FRI continued with its development of cassava, plantain, cocoyam, yam, kokonte, cowpea, and soybean, fermented flours, among others to ensure food Security and reduce post-harvest losses. The Institute also continued providing services including the design and fabrication of food processing equipment, analytical services, training programmes such as; product development (nutrition, sensory analysis, recipe development and shelflife studies), as well as mushroom cultivation and spawn production, microbiological and chemical safety and quality control of foods; consultation and out-sourcing services, such as the establishment of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system for food industries, post-harvest management, etc. The Institute maintained its accreditation status to ISO 17025 test methods under the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS). In accordance with accreditation activities, comprehensive chemical and microbiological analytical services were offered to the local beverage, food, feed and brewing industries. As per ISO/lEC 17025 standards, two internal audits were conducted in the laboratories and other units that support the implementation of ISO/lEC 17025 standards by the laboratories. During the year under review Forty-Seven (47) Scientific Reports and Publications were produced. These include Sixteen (16) Research Reports, Twenty (20) Journal Papers published in thirteen (13) refereed journals, Five (5) Conference Papers and Posters etc. The research activities conducted include; Research on Biodiversity, Ecology and Uses of larger fungi (Macromycetes, Basidiomycota, Fungi) in West Africa, Evaluation: of disinfectant for microbial decontamination of the microbiology laboratory floor by an in-use test, Standardization of pineapple flour and syrup for the confectionary industries CSIR-FRI ITNO Project, Accra, Ghana. pp. 27, Technical assessment of Rice production and Post-harvest practices: baseline and needs assessment in Upper West Region, Relationship of sensory and instrumental aroma measurements of dark chocolate as influenced by fermentation method, roasting and conching conditions, among several other Research Reports. In the Area of Project Implementation, The Cassava: Adding Value in Africa (C:AVA) project which was expected to end in March 2011 was given a two (2) year low cost extension, thus it is estimated to end in the year 2013. The new directive still focuses on improving cassava value chains but is narrowed down to processing, market development and credit management excluding production activities. A 30-minute documentary titled 'High Quality Cassava Flour-The Hidden Treasure in Cassava' was produced as part of an intensive mass media campaign. Gradually, the concept of using HQCF/Grits as poultry and pig feed substitute is gaining ground as farmers are beginning to understand the concept. Significant gains have also been achieved under The West African Agricultural Productivity Project (WAAPP). There has been an increased production of major Roots and Tubers; 86% for cassava, 35% for yam and marginal increase for sweet potato and cocoyam. A West Africa Root and Tuber Crops Conference was held focusing on how to increase contribution of the WAAPP to national development by spearheading the purposeful implementation of conference recommendations, contribute to the achievement of the MDGs-the eradication of extreme poverty- in root and tuber producing communities as well as increasing the contribution of root and tubers to the National Agricultural GDP. Substantial progress were also made under the other projects including African Food Tradition Revisited by Research (AFTER) Project, CIDA-funded AfricaRice Project on Rice post-harvest handling, marketing and the development of new rice-based products. The most important partners of the different projects being implemented by the Institute included the United Nations-Food and Agricultural Organization (UN-FAO), the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), The Natural Resources Institute (NRI) of University of Greenwich, UK, The World Bank, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University of Ghana, as well as other Agriculture and Industry related CSIR Institutes. As part ofthe Institute's income generation effort, the Institute generated a total income of GH¢474,659 which represented 13% increase over that of 201O