CSIR -Food Research Institute Annual Report 2022

Abstract

Food Research Institute has since its inception provided technical and scientific assistance to satisfy the needs of the private sector and other stakeholders for the socioeconomic development of Ghana. Over the years, the Institute has developed into the premier organization for food research and post-harvest management technologies that are targeted at supporting the food sector by carrying out its mandate of conducting applied market-oriented research. The CSIR-FRI’s operations are deliberately focused on developing skills, building capacity, and conducting studies and interventions related to nutrition. These are key areas targeted at curbing food insecurity related issues in the country. Through programs, workshops, and other activities aimed at increasing capacity, particularly in rural communities, on various processing technologies, numerous initiatives under FRI’s R&D program had an impact on society. These included giving community organizations access to drying platforms and enhancing small fish drying through training in the quality and safety of small fish processing. Some communities were also trained on fruit juice processing in order to reduce post-harvest losses in fruits and the use of orange-fleshed sweet potatoes (OFSP) to add quality and diversity to product lines, such as fortifying gari and creating baked products. Under the auspices of the SmallFish project, CSIR-FRI constructed wooden raised platforms and forty (40) drying racks were also modified for the NingoAhwiam community. This modification was based on feedback received from processors during the monitoring and evaluation visits. The MAG project organized an Investor’s Forum on parboiled plantain chunks technology in a bid to create a common platform for investors, entrepreneurs, processors, farmers, research scientist and financial institutions to expose them to frozen plantain chunks technology and products for uptake and commercialization to reduce postharvest losses of plantain. The Institute generated a total amount of $ 196,093.75 as IGF; it also received $ 140,468.65in research grants under various projects. Within the year, the Institute had a staff strength of one hundred and sixtyseven (167) comprising forty-four (55) Senior members, seventy-six (76) Senior staff and thirty-five (35) Junior staff. The Institute churned out sixty-five (65) publications comprising of thirty-six (36) Journals papers, thirteen (13) Technical reports, seven (7) Consultancy Reports, one (1) Manual, one (1) Flyer, three (3)