Food Innovation Takes Center Stage in Nkabom Postharvest and Value Addition Training
The Mastercard Nkabom Collaboratives in collaboration with the Department of Food Science and Technology at KNUST, CSIR- Crops Research Institute and CSIR-Food Research Institutehas successfully completed another phase of its Postharvest and Value Addition training, providing participants with practical exposure to food innovation and agro-processing under the guidance of Prof. (Mrs.) Faustina Dufie Wireko-Manu, Dr. Evelyn Serwah Ayeh and MrsFaustina Okyere. They were supported by Miss Jacqueline Amo Mensah and Miss Doreen Takyi.
The program offered participants the opportunity to transform locally sourced agricultural raw materials into innovative food products with commercial potential. Through practical sessions, participants developed a diverse range of products, including dried fruits and vegetables, tomato and garden eggs puree, koose mix, healthy granola, legume cereal mix and pancake mix. The trainees demonstrated the opportunities of adding value to agricultural produce while addressing evolving consumer needs. The neatly and nicely packaged products were sold to the university community and its environs.
The training focused on essential aspects of food processing, product formulation, packaging, quality management, and business development. Participants gained hands-on experience that strengthened their technical skills and enhanced their understanding of the food value chain.
The products developed during the program reflect a growing emphasis on convenience, nutrition, and sustainability in food production. They also illustrate Food Science and Technology Department’s commitment to promoting innovation-driven solutions that contribute to food security, employment creation, and agribusiness growth.
The initiative encourages entrepreneurial thinking among participants by exposing them to the processes involved in developing products that can compete in the marketplace. Such experiences are critical in preparing young professionals to become contributors to Ghana’s expanding food industry.
