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Research Centres

The Nutrition Research and Training Centre:

This Centre is located at Asesewa in the Eastern Region.  It was established primarily with the financial support of United State Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Global Livestock Collaborative Research Support Programme, and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) (Canada). The Centre runs the International Community Nutrition Internship for Dietetic Interns Programme, which brings together interns from Ghana and North America to use the nutritional care process to examine the nutritional problems of children in selected rural communities. It also serves as a base for researchers and post-graduate students who are conducting research in the area. The Centre is contiguous with the Asesewa government hospital and provides dietetic services to the neighbouring communities. It comprises a large conference room, offices, library, demonstration kitchen, and a 3-bedroom self-contained bungalow.

Micronutrient Research Laboratory at the University of Ghana.

This is a Centre of Excellence for iodine analysis in the West African sub-region.  Over the years it has been working in close collaboration with UNICEF in their routine monitoring of iodine status in the Sub-region and it also serves and supports other research projects quantifying iodine in foods and physiological samples.  The laboratory is under routine surveillance by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Since 2015 the lab has been rated among the best globally by the CDC. 

The Food Safety and Nutrition Centre:

The Centre, located at the University of Ghana, was established in 2008 as the ICD-UGL FSNTC, through a collaborative project between the Department and the Industry Council for Development (IAD).  It was to replicate a Food Safety and Nutrition Education programme that had been successfully implemented in South-East Asia. This programme had been developed with the support and approval of both the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). In 2013 the Centre was transferred to the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) when ICD was absorbed into ILSI. It is now known as ILSI-UG FSNTC.  ILSI-UG FSNTC is one of the extension wings of the Department and contributes to the improvement of human health and economic development in Ghana.  Between 2008 and 2018 over 800 individuals of varying professional backgrounds (from academics to entrepreneurs) have been trained in Food Safety Ambassadors through the Centre’s education programmes. With the goal to promote food safety education in the Sub-Saharan African region, the Centre, in collaboration with the Food Science Department of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Nigeria has established a sub-training centre at FUNAAB. The Centre celebrated its 10th Anniversary in November 2018. The vision is to become a Centre of Excellence for Food Safety education in the sub-region.

Sensory Evaluation Laboratory (Dairy Technology Centre):

The Laboratory was established with funds from the Skill Development Fund through the Dairy Technology Centre Project. The laboratory supports teaching and research and provides sensory testing service to various food companies in Ghana. With this aim, the laboratory has trained sensory panellists to use as expert food tasters as well as sensory analysts and scientists.  The laboratory carries out academic research into sensory methods development and food products evaluation. It also provides hands-on sensory experience for students in various food related departments at the University of Ghana through student projects and internships.

Food Microbiology Research Laboratory (Dairy Technology Centre):

The Laboratory was established as part of the project to set up a Dairy Technology Centre at the University of Ghana.  It was funded by the Skill Development Fund.  The Microbiology Research Laboratory conducts quality state of the art academic research and provides support to the local food industry through laboratory testing, consulting and contract research. Some of the technical services include Quantitative microbiological tests, Qualitative tests, Molecular tools for identification and quantification of microbial pathogens in foods, Antimicrobial resistance tests, Research and troubleshooting of microbial food contamination problems in food and food processing environments.