Loss & Waste Reduction in the Cassava, Tomato, & Maize Value Chains

Members of the Consortium from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) hosted a Consortium webinar series event focused on sustainable food system interventions. Topics discussed included:

Cassava Mechanisation in Africa: the role of the TEK Mechanical Cassava Harvester

Techno-economic Assessment of Low-Cost Drying Systems for Reduction of Post-Harvest Losses in maize grain in Ghana

Value Addition and Product Development from Edible Waste of Tomato, Maize and Cassava

Presenting Experts

PROFESSOR EMMANUEL Y. H. BOBOBEE (PhD): Professor Emmanuel Bobobee is an Associate Professor of Agricultural Machinery Engineering in the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana. Prof. Bobobee has vast experience in Agricultural Equipment Development and Mechanization. He has invented the innovative mechanical cassava harvester that is ideal for harvesting all tropical root and tuber crops.

FAUSTINA DUFIE WIREKO-MANU (PhD): Faustina Dufie Wireko-Manu (PhD) is a Faculty member at the Department of Food Science and Technology in KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana. She teaches food science/technology and nutrition related courses and has keen interest in postharvest related research, specifically food compositional studies, food product development and quality studies (sensory and safety) on locally available food crops with the ultimate aim of adding value to promote sustainable utilization for better nutrition/health, job and wealth creation.

JOSEPH OPPONG AKOWUAH: Joseph Oppong Akowuah is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, KNUST, Kumasi. His research broadly focuses on postharvest management and handling of agricultural products mainly cereals and legumes. Specifically, his research focuses on investigating and developing simple low cost drying and storage systems to mitigate postharvest loss and food waste.