4) Reducing food losses, improving the
efficiency of food quality management
and ensuring food quality and safety
through genetic engineering, enzyme
engineering and fermentation.
5) Improving the resource utilization rate,
and reducing the environmental pollution
by treating food processing wastes
through fermentation and enzymatic
engineering.
Therefore, two aspects should be paid
attention:
1) Using biologically- produced food
additives to replace chemically-
synthesized ones;
2) Developing the functional food
additives with immune regulation,
anti-aging, anti-fatigue, anti-hypoxia,
antiradiation, blood lipid regulation and
gastrointestinal functional components
adjustment, etc.
In light of these Biotechnological
advantages it is important that African
countries encourage the localization of
these innovative technologies,. One way of
doing this is the creation, integration and
expansion of cottage Industry clusters that
will leverage the comparative advantages
available in the communities to store,
process and market farm produces.
Example of this type of clusters can be
fruit processing clusters. It has been seen
that seasonal over production of fruits in
Nigeria leads to a significant loss of Farm
produce.
Fruit processing clusters can be equipped
with modern equipment and
Biotechnological innovations such as
Pectinase enzymes used for clarification of
fruit Juices and concentrates, these
advancements will enable the clusters to
transform into finished and semi-finished
goods factories. They can now sell directly
to consumers or fruit juice plants that will
transform the concentrates into finished
goods.
The wastes can also be worked on using
Biotech techniques to convert them into
bio fertilizers. These clusters will not only
provide a means of utilizing farm
produces that would have ordinarily be
discarded or left to rot but will also
provide an all year round source of income
for the Farmers. This cluster models can be
extended to various other Agricultural
products such as Palm fruits, melon,
Groundnut etc, and even Leather
production.
Africa will do well to inculcate
biotechnological processes and
innovations into its Agricultural value
chain as these products have proven to
give the western world a marked
advantage in the production, storage,
processing and preservation of food and
agricultural produce. If Africa is to feed its
fast growing population, Biotechnology
will play a key role.
Charles Opara, Managing Director Archimedes
Technology Company Limited, Lagos Nigeria
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