Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology Vol. 1 (10), pp. 110-117, October, 2013. International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Food safety circumstances in northern Ghana, associated constraints and coping strategies

Kashez Asiamah

Food Research Institute, Ashesi University, P.O.Box 3256, Berekuso, Accra, Ghana. Email: [email protected]

Email: [email protected]

Accepted 04 September, 2013

Abstract 

This paper looks at the food security situation in three most deprived and poverty-stricken regions in the Northern parts of Ghana and examines how farmer households cope during food insecure periods. The study concludes that although farmers in these regions cultivate purposely for household consumption and sell the surplus, food was not available throughout the year in the farmer households interviewed. On the average staple foods produced lasted for seven months. Coping mechanisms during months of inadequate household food provision included migration to southern Ghana for wage labor, support from relatives and friends outside the regions, sales from livestock and household valuables as well as reduction of food intake and consumption of less preferred food. Erratic rainfall patterns, high cost of agrochemicals, lack of knowledge on improved farming and post harvest practices as well as lack of production credit and markets for farm produce were some of the constraints militating against increased production and improvement in food security. Measures to remove these constraints will therefore go a long way to improve the household food security situation in Northern Ghana.

Key words: Farming households, food security, constraints, coping strategies, Ghana.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology Vol. 1 (9), pp. 104-109, September, 2013. International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Assessment of technology generating institutions in biotechnology transformation system of South-Eastern Nigeria

Bello Ibrahim and Mohammed Dave

Department of Agricultural Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 23 August, 2013

Abstract 

The study was carried out in Southeastern agro-ecological zones of Nigeria. Questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample of forty-three heads of departments from research institutes and universities involved in biotechnology research. Results of the study revealed that some of the institutions have been involved in biotechnology research for the past two decades but have only significantly invested on bio-processing (58.8%) and cell and tissue culture (88.2%). The mandates of the institutions and donor agencies constituted the major determinants of biotechnology research. The institutions sourced research funds mainly from the government and donor agencies. However, their biotechnology research activities were highly constrained by several factors namely poor funding, unavailability of research equipment, and high cost of maintenance of equipment, among others. The study recommends that government should increase investment in human resource capacity building, infrastructural development and encourage public-private partnership for development and safe application of biotechnology innovations. Awareness campaign among researchers, consumers and farmers on the potentials of biotechnology for food security is expedient.

Key words: Biotechnology, innovation system, research institutions, universities and agricultural development programme.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology Vol. 1 (9), pp. 100-103, September, 2013. International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Mineral study of Phoenix dactylifera L. leaves by inductively fixed plasma optical discharge spectroscopy

Mohamed Alam, Aponk Umrah and Makkah Zakwan

Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, King Faisal University, P.O. Box: 380, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 13 August, 2013

Abstract 

Phoenix dactylifera L. (date palm) is well known for its innumerable health benefits and nutritional values. However, utilization of leaves as a source of element supplement has not been yet explored. Thus, the present study was aimed to employ inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) for the determination of macro and micro nutrients present in the leaves of three varieties (Rothana, Barhee and Sukri) of P. dactylifera. The results revealed that the date palm leaves, depending upon the variety contain significant but quite variable amounts of macro as well as micro elements. Varieties Barhee, Sukri and Rothana had calcium in abundance while var. Sukri and Barhee also had significantly high level of potassium (K). Positive correlation was observed between sodium (Na) and K (r = 0.868), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) (r = 0.945) in var. Barhee, Sukri and Rothana. Thus, it may be concluded that date palm leaves of three varieties of P. dactylifera have the potential to provide significant level of essential nutrients to human beings and thus, can cure various diseases.

Key words: Phoenix dactylifera, mineral analysis, macronutrients, micronutrients.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology Vol. 1 (8), pp. 087-099, August, 2013. International Scholars Journals

Review

Safety Measures employed in live forms associated with molecular farming in genetically modified plants

Arik Halit, Kazim Ozcan and Sergio D. Hasan*

Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 22 July, 2013

Abstract 

The production in genetically modified plants of recombinant proteins for pharmaceutical or industrial use, also referred to as "plant molecular farming", deserves increasing interest due to its potential advantages. However, this type of application of genetic engineering also raises some biosafety concerns, in particular regarding aspects such as transgene spread in the environment or accidental contamination of the food and feed chains. This review presents the current state of the art of this sector, discusses some relevant regulatory issues and outlines important scientific aspects that should be considered during the safety assessment of genetically modified plants grown for this purpose. In particular, it addresses general strategies as well as specific potential containment measures that could be applied to limit the potential environmental and human health impacts linked to plant molecular farming.

Key words: Biopharming, biosafety, confinement, containment, genetically modified organism, plant molecular farming, plant-made industrials, plant-made pharmaceuticals.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology Vol. 1 (8), pp. 079-086, August, 2013. International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Chemical Properties of flour and protein isolate extracted from Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean)

Mohamed Bedor, Mostafa Rifat and Erfan Mattr

Department of Agricultural Development, Science and Research Branch, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

Accepted 01 July, 2013

Abstract

The objective of this research was to study the chemical composition of flour and protein isolate extracted from Bambara groundnuts. Protein, fat, ash, crude fiber and total carbohydrates were 17.70, 6.58, 4.22, 3.50 and 86.0% in flour and 85.97, 0.0, 3.37, 0.02 and 10.64% in protein isolate, respectively. Functional properties of Bambara groundnuts were also studied. Bambara groundnuts flour and protein isolate were high in water absorption, which recorded 281.35 and 221.83% dry sample, respectively. The highest foaming capacity was 210% at pH 9.0. The highest foaming stability was detected at pH 6.0 after 120 min. With protein isolate, foam stability (FS) was 40 min at different pH values (3.0 to 9.0). The highest emulsion stability (ES) was 70% after 48 h at pH 3.0 and 6.0. Data showed that gelation of Bambara flour and protein isolate were best at concentration of 20% (w/v), the gelation formation were 8 and 18%, respectively. The data revealed that bulking density (BD) in flour was higher than in protein isolate. Beside, protein solubility index (PSI) decreased as pH values increased until pH values 4.0 to 5.0 and then increased. Our results indicated that chemical and functional properties of Bambara groundnut may cause improvement in some food products when it is added to the foods.

Key words: Bambara groundnut, chemical properties, functional properties, flour, protein isolate.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology Vol. 1 (7), pp. 075-078, July, 2013. International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Harmful activities of Micro organisms and essential oil composition of Thymus daenensis Celak from Iran

Keyvan Khukhan

Department of Agricultural Development, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, P.O.BOX 79085, Tehran, Iran.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 27 June, 2013

Abstract 

The composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Thymus daenensis Wild, an endemic species from Iran, was studied. The volatile oil obtained by hydrodistillation was characterized by the physico-chemical properties, gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) techniques. Thirty compounds, accounting for 97.5% of the total oil, were identified. The main constituents were thymol (29.8%) and carvacrol (13.6%), p-cymene (11.3), borneol (6.8%) and 1, 8-cineole (5.89%). The antimicrobial activity of essential oil of T. daenensis was tested against two Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and three fungi by disc diffusion method. The results of the bioassays showed the interesting antimicrobial activity, in which the Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, was the most sensitive to the oil, as well the oil exhibited a remarkable antifungal activity against all the tested fungi. These results confirm the possibility of using T. daenensis in food system, medicine and pharmacy.

Key  words:  Antimicrobial  activity,  crop,  essential  oil,  gas  chromatography/mass  spectrometry  (GC/MS), Thymus daenesis.