Research themes: #

This study introduces a rapid and cost-effective method for monitoring honey quality by detecting 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), a key indicator of honey’s age, heat exposure, and adulteration. Using a 445 nm Laser-Induced Fluorescence (LIF) technique, the research achieves accurate HMF detection up to 40 mg/kg, aligning with international honey quality standards. The method is safer, faster, and more affordable than traditional techniques such as High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). This breakthrough offers significant benefits for beekeepers, food safety regulators, retailers, and optical engineers involved in quality monitoring and device development.…

Research themes: #

Illegal artisanal mining, or ‘Galamsey’, in Ghana poses serious public health risks by contaminating water bodies with toxic heavy metals. This study assessed the sub-chronic toxicological effects of mining-polluted rivers in four Ghanaian regions using rats as an experimental model. A 90-day sub-chronic toxicity test was conducted using water samples from four regions associated with mining-polluted rivers: Bonsa, Birim, Nyam, and Subiri. Heavy metal analysis was conducted on the sampled water from these selected illegal mining-prone rivers. Rats were divided into six groups: two controls (distilled water and pristine river) and four treatment groups (contaminated water from the four rivers). Rats were given 2 mL of water from each water source for 90 days. Blood samples were analyzed for hormonal, hematological, and several biochemical markers. Fasting blood sugar, urine, and semen analyses were also performed. Rats were euthanized, and organs were harvested for histopathological analysis. Lead was significantly elevated in all mining-polluted rivers when compared to the controls. Exposed groups showed significant weight loss, elevated serum creatinine kinase (CK-Nac), and the presence of WBC, RBC, crystals, and casts during urinalysis. Haematological profiles indicated erythrocytosis and immune variations. Serum biochemical parameters, such as AST, ALP, and ALT, were significantly elevated (p < 0.05), and sperm counts were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in the exposed groups. Histopathology revealed non-caseating granulomas, necrosis, and leucocytosis in the liver and lungs, as well as pronounced hemosiderosis in the spleen. Histopathology of renal and testicular organs revealed necrotic tissue and degenerative cellular changes.…

Research themes: #

Wobil Technologies has developed a Multi-Stage Rice Thresher, a climate-smart, farmer-centered innovation designed to significantly reduce post-harvest losses among smallholder rice farmers in Ghana. Field research conducted in 2021 in the Adansi South District revealed that farmers lose up to 46.05% of their harvested rice due to delayed and inefficient manual threshing, often exacerbated by exposure to adverse weather conditions such as rainfall, excessive heat, and humidity. The innovation addresses this critical challenge by enabling rapid, efficient threshing within the optimal three-day post-harvest window, while maintaining grain integrity with less than 0.3% breakage. The machine integrates hybrid-powered systems, including solar energy, and advanced winnowing mechanisms to improve productivity, reduce labor intensity, and enhance grain quality. Through flexible business models such as pay-per-use services, cooperative leasing, and direct sales, the solution ensures accessibility and affordability for smallholder farmers. To date, the technology has served over 898 farmers and processed more than 993 metric tonnes of rice, demonstrating strong field validation, market acceptance, and measurable impact on farmer incomes and food system resilience. Overall, this research highlights a scalable, climate-smart mechanization approach that strengthens Ghana’s rice value chain by reducing losses, improving quality, and supporting inclusive agricultural growth.…

Research themes: #

Enigyie Aba Organic Pesticide is an edible, organic, and eco-friendly pesticide developed using locally sourced plant extracts. It provides a safe and effective alternative to synthetic pesticides, targeting common pests affecting vegetable crops without harming the environment or human health. The product is formulated to be fast-acting, biodegradable, and safe for consumption, making it ideal for organic farming and sustainable agriculture in Ghana and beyond.…

Research themes: #

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 seeks to end all forms of hunger and malnutrition by the year 2030. Malnutrition, according to SDG 2, is in three forms: overnutrition, undernutrition and hidden hunger. The most prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in children under 5 years, adolescent girls and pregnant women are undernutrition and hidden hunger. This form of malnutrition has an irreversible and detrimental effect on the vulnerable. An effective and sustainable method to reduce this menace is food fortification as a food-based nutritional approach in endemic communities. Cassava is a tropical crop widely consumed as an energy source in most households in various forms. Gari, a shelf-stable derivative of cassava, is a widely consumed West African staple food. Though widely consumed, it is less dense in essential nutrients to promote human growth. Due to its wide consumption, gari, if fortified with micronutrients and blended with soybean (protein), can be an excellent medium for food-based nutritional intervention in meeting SDG 2. Through scientific research, proGARI was developed. proGARI is a developed micronutrient-fortified soybean gari blend formulated to have the same cooking, sensory and eating qualities as conventional gari. Subsequent extensive research has found proGARI to have commercialisation potential and can be used as an excellent food-based nutritional policy in gari-consuming communities.…

Research themes: #

This research explores the conversion of municipal food waste into biochar, a nutrient-rich organic soil amendment using pyrolysis at varying temperatures (300°C, 450°C, and 600°C). The study demonstrates that biochar produced at moderate temperatures enhances soil quality, supports plant growth, and reduces reliance on chemical fertilizers. The findings show that biochar retains essential nutrients such as nitrogen, calcium, and potassium, making it an eco-friendly organic fertilizer. Additionally, this approach provides an effective waste management solution, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and landfill waste.…

Research themes: #

The study examined the utilization of sprouted finger millet-maize composite flour in breakfast cereal production, with a focus on its physicochemical, functional, and sensory attributes. The study followed a one factor design in which maize flour (MF) was substituted with sprouted finger millet (SFMF) at varying proportions (0%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, and 90%) to investigate the physicochemical and functional characteristics. The tristimulus colour (L* value), pH, amount of water and oil absorption capacity, proximate composition, emulsion capacity and stability, swelling power and solubility index of composite flour samples were analyzed. Breakfast cereal samples made from composite flour were analyzed for sensory characteristics and tristimulus colour (L* value). Notably, the moisture and ash content of the composite flour samples displayed significant increases (p ≤ 0.05) as the proportion of Sprouted Finger Millet Flour (SFMF) incorporation rose, while carbohydrate and protein contents decreased significantly (p ≤ 0.05). Functional properties demonstrated significant increases (p ≤ 0.05) in the composite flour samples, except for bulk density, which decreased significantly (p ≤ 0.05) with increasing SFMF content. The L* values for the composite flours significantly (p ≤ 0.05) decreased. In sensory evaluations of the breakfast cereal samples, those with 40% and 50% SFMF received the highest overall acceptability, colour, and taste scores (p ≤ 0.05). The findings of this study suggest that nutritious breakfast cereal can be produced using finger millet-maize composite flour, characterized by elevated levels of ash and crude fiber, alongside low carbohydrate and moisture content.…

Research themes: #

This study assessed poultry farmers’ willingness in Ghana’s Western Region to use egg and snail shells as affordable calcium sources in poultry feed. Calcium is essential for strong eggshells and bird health, but traditional sources like oyster shells and limestone are costly. Using a multistage sampling method, data were collected from 284 poultry farmers through structured interviews. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis revealed that 80.28% of farmers were willing to use eggshells, while 65.49% favored snail shells. Education, farm size, access to loans, and extension services significantly influenced adoption. The findings demonstrate the potential of these alternatives to reduce feed costs by up to 20%, offering a sustainable and cost-effective solution.…

Research themes: #

Hibiscus-based drinks like Bissap are popular in Ghana, but they spoil quickly during processing and storage, limiting their commercial use. This study explores the biochemical changes in bissap-carrot blends during storage and their impact on sensory properties, with the aim of enhancing the commercial viability of bissap-based beverages. Four different formulations were tested: 100% Bissap extract; Bissap + Carrot juice extract; Bissap + Carrot + preservative, Bissap + Blanched Carrot + preservative. These blends were stored in plastic bottles at room temperature for 21 days, and their chemical and sensory properties were measured throughout the storage period. Key metrics such as pH, antioxidant activity, colour stability, and anthocyanin content were monitored, along with sensory attributes like flavour, aroma, and appearance. Results indicated that the addition of carrot juice reduced the natural sourness of bissap and improved pH stability and preserved antioxidant properties, while fresh carrots helped retain the colour pigments of the bissap over time. These findings provide insights for beverage manufacturers looking to extend the shelf life of bissap-based products while maintaining quality and sensory appeal.…

Research themes: #

This study focuses on automating the diagnosis of glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible vision loss, through machine learning classifiers (MLCs). Using data from 605 patients in Ghana, the research integrated Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Visual Field Test (VFT) parameters to predict glaucoma status. Ten machine learning algorithms were tested, with Naïve Bayes achieving the highest diagnostic accuracy (AUROC 0.92). The findings suggest that machine learning can significantly improve diagnostic efficiency and accuracy, particularly in resource-constrained settings.…

Research themes: #

This study investigates how a chemical used in water treatment, hexamethylenediaminetetra(methylenephosphonic acid) (HDTMP), can be broken down using ultraviolet (UV) light, manganese (Mn²⁺), and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). The research finds that adding hydrogen peroxide significantly speeds up the breakdown of HDTMP, while manganese also helps but to a lesser extent. The study provides insights into how these methods can be used to treat wastewater containing persistent chemicals like HDTMP.…

Research themes: #

This review discusses how Near Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy can be used to quickly and accurately measure the quality of cocoa beans and cocoa products. NIR spectroscopy is a non-invasive technique that helps in evaluating cocoa beans for factors like chemical composition, origin, and quality, which are crucial for ensuring the best products. The study highlights how this technology can be applied to the entire cocoa production process, from the beans to the final products, offering a faster, more reliable way to assess cocoa quality compared to traditional methods.…

Research themes: #

This study investigates how different storage temperatures affect the nutrients, enzymes, and fermentation of tiger nuts and their milk. Refrigerating tiger nuts increases certain enzyme activities but lowers sugar content, while storing them at warmer temperatures increases sugars but decreases fats. When tiger nuts are stored at warmer temperatures, their milk ferments faster and develops a sweeter and sourer taste, offering potential for quicker and more flavorful production of tiger nut milk.…

Research themes: #

This study explores three methods to enhance the quality of Ghanaian garlic before drying: basic ultrasound [sonication (US)], ultrasound with a soaking solution [osmosonication (US + OD)], and vacuum with ultrasound and soaking [vacuum-assisted osmosonication (V + US + OD)]. We looked at how these methods affect garlic’s antioxidants, phenolic and flavonoid content, enzyme activity, rehydration, drying time, energy use, and chemical makeup. The vacuum with ultrasound and soaking method was the best, improving most quality measures, shortening drying time, and saving energy. This method also preserved the garlic’s chemical integrity and had the highest allicin content. Overall, the results ranked the methods as V + US + OD > US + OD > US.…

Research themes: #

This study compared how well three different types of waste (sludge) produce methane gas at three very high temperatures (60°C, 65°C, and 70°C). We also looked at their performance at lower temperatures (37°C and 55°C). Using German guidelines, we measured the daily amount of methane produced. We found that cow manure at 65°C was the best, giving the most methane and breaking down waste the most effectively. On the other hand, the performance was the worst at 70°C for a different type of sludge. For large-scale waste processing systems, cow manure at 65°C is recommended.…

Research themes: #

Quick, accurate and reliable technique for discrimination of cocoa beans according to geographical origin is essential for quality control and traceability management. This current study presents the application of Near Infrared Spectroscopy technique and multivariate classification for the differentiation of Ghana cocoa beans. A total of 194 cocoa bean samples from seven cocoa growing regions were used. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to extract relevant information from the spectral data and this gave visible cluster trends. The performance of four multivariate classification methods: Linear discriminant analysis (LDA), K-nearest neighbors (KNN), Back propagation artificial neural network (BPANN) and Support vector machine (SVM) were compared. The performances of the models were optimized by cross validation. The results revealed that; SVM model was superior to all the mathematical methods with a discrimination rate of 100% in both the training and prediction set after preprocessing with Mean centering (MC). BPANN had a discrimination rate of 99.23% for the training set and 96.88% for prediction set. While LDA model had 96.15% and 90.63% for the training and prediction sets respectively. KNN model had 75.01% for the training set and 72.31% for prediction set. The non-linear classification methods used were superior to the linear ones. Generally, the results revealed that NIR Spectroscopy coupled with SVM model could be used successfully to discriminate cocoa beans according to their geographical origins for effective quality assurance.…

Research themes: #

Tiger nut milk (TNM) faces challenges with its stability (i.e. uneven distribution of suspended particles such as proteins, fats, and other solids), affecting consumer satisfaction, especially in regions where tiger nuts are grown. This study aimed to improve TNM stability and assess its impact on physical properties and consumer preferences. By adding 3 g/100 g sodium caseinate (“milk protein”) and 0.1 g/100 g xanthan gum (“thickening agent” or “food thickener”) to TNM, its ability to be stable (and not separate), nutritional quality, and the satisfaction of customers was increased significantly.…

Research themes: #

This study explores how farming practices that adapt to climate change impact food security in Ghana’s Central Region. It finds that most farmers are using low to moderately sustainable practices, which affects their food security. While many households experience hunger, those who adopt more sustainable farming practices tend to have better food security. The study suggests that improving the sustainability of farming can help protect against the effects of climate change and improve food availability for farm households.…