CSIR -Food Research Institute Annual Report 2023

Abstract

As an affiliate institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR-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 marketoriented 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. The HealthyFoodAfrica Project conducted training programs for some Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) on food product development. The participants included various agro processing SMEs such as LynMay Farm to Fork, Success Axis Foods, Yokheved Enterprise, Delle's Coast Enterprise, Selasie Foods, Okyeade Foods, Afra Koya Enterprise, Ndudu Foods & Beverages, Kafel Farms and Daa Fisheries Training Centre. Participants were trained in appropriate food processing techniques, packaging, storage and marketing. Some of the products that were developed under the training included fish sausage, okro and ademe, cereal mix, fish chips, koobi in oil among others. The ACPcoffee project in partnership with CSIR-FRI organized a workshop with key partners and stakeholders in the coffee value chain, validated and operationalized the drafted coffee handbook resulting from the enterprise assessment. The workshop included stakeholders such as Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), International Trade Centre (ITC), Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), Ghana Export Promotion Authority, Robusta Coffee Agency of Africa and Madagascar (ACRAM) Focal Person, and some scientists from the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG). The Institute generated a total amount of $ 289,916.84 as IGF; it also received $ 81,466.00 in research grants under various projects. Within the year, the Institute had a staff strength of thirty-five percent (35%) Senior members, forty-one percent (41%) Senior staff and twenty-four percent (24%) Junior staf