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Participants and speakers who attended the workshop

Department of Agricultural Engineering Holds Workshop on Rice Integrity

13 Sep, 2019 By louis Mensah

The Department of Agricultural Engineering, UCC in collaboration with the Institute for Global Food Security, Queens University Belfast through the support from Agilent Foundation and MARS technologies has organised an international workshop on the topic: “Improving Rice Integrity and Managing Food,” as part of efforts geared towards sensitizing the public and monitoring food fraud and authenticity.


In his opening remark, the Dean, School of Agriculture, Prof. Elvis Asare-Bediako, acknowledged the importance of the workshop and indicated that the authenticity of food today has become a huge burden on the consumer because some suppliers (producers), on basis of greed and voracity to earn money, have decided to produce plastic (fake) rice and low-quality food to be sold on the market. “We are all at risk of eating fake and low-quality rice from the market every day since there has not been any on-site mechanism to monitor the authenticity of the food we consume,” he said. The Dean, who chaired of the programme, was hopeful that the workshop would set the tone to inform and educate participants, stakeholders and the general public on the need to be vigilant on whatever food to take in.

Fake Rice

The Local Chair, co-Principal Investigator (PI) and a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Agricultural Engineering, Dr. Ernest Teye, said that rice was consumed by more than 3.5 billion people (almost half of the world’s population) and African countries alone imported more than 7.6 million tons of rice amounting to about $ 4 billion. According to him, “in 2016, there was a widespread rumour of fake plastic rice in the world, which Ghana was not left out, and this rumour was ranked 9th of 13 emerging food risks in the world.” 

Detection Technique
 
Dr. Teye indicated that the matter worsened because the well-known detection techniques were inappropriate for on-site application and lacked skilled individuals. Dr. Teye noted that detection technique was also difficult to use because it involved high cost, and was much labour intensive.  He also added that the technique was often limited to a few sample selections with its own challenges such as high cost, difficult to use, and long duration among others. The Local Chair noted, “This notwithstanding, the use of rapid detection techniques for the authentication of the many rice brands in the market is also not available and this means rice will be consumed before the test results are released, furthermore the market surveillance of suspicious rice is normally destructive and limited to only a few samples.” 

Global Research on Fingerprinting Rice

In view of the aforementioned, Dr Teye said the Department of Agricultural Engineering, UCC, in collaboration with the Institute for Global Food Security, Queens University, Belfast, through the support from Agilent Foundation and MARS Technologies, South Africa, conducted a global research on fingerprinting rice to implement a system to monitor and manage food fraud (a two-tier approach). Dr. Teye said, “This led to the development of rapid handheld spectroscopic technique coupled with a mobile phone for quick on-site non-destructive detection of rice authenticity and quality.” He stated that the workshop, which was first of its kind, was therefore organized to provide participants in the rice value chain with comprehensive training in the use of ‘handheld spectroscopic methods technology’ for rapid detection of authentic, fraud and contaminated rice.  


He said, “The workshop is therefore timely as the technique provided regulators as well as other players a novel, rapid and inexpensive detection technique for rice authenticity on-site (taking the lab to the sample). This is particularly vital in the face of global rice fraud with its huge socio-economic and health consequences.” 

Participants

The participants of the workshop numbered over 170, which included the actors in the rice value chain such as Processors, Breeders, Wholesaler, Retailers, Market women and Farmers. Others were Police officers, Scientists, Media, Investors, Lecturers, Researchers, Students, Medical officers, Agric Officers, Bankers, and Opinion leaders. Also present were Food safety and quality regulators (Food and Drugs Authority - FDA/Ghana Standard Authority - GSA) and Consumers. 
The College Registrar, College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences (CANS), Mrs. Mildred Asmah, Director Institute for Global Food Security, former Pro Vice-Chancellor of Queens University, Belfast and Principal Investigator, Prof. Chris Elliott, Deputy UK Government Chemist, Mrs. Selvarani Elahi, Rice Breeder, Crop Research Institute (CRI), Dr. Maxwell Darko Asante, and Prof. Sarah Darkwah (VOTECH). The others were Prof. J. P. Tetteh (Crop Science), Prof. Peter Boamah (Bolga Polytechnic), Prof. John Owusu (Koforidua Technical University), Dr. Jane Mbolle Chah (Nigeria), Mr. Washington K. T. Willie (Liberia), Mr. Joseph Niwagaba (Uganda), Dr. Enock Duodu (UEW), Dr. Francisca A. Ansah (University of Energy & Natural Resources), Dr. Newlove Afoakwah (University for Development Studies) and Prof. Isaac Dukuh (Bolga Polytechnic) were present at the workshop.  
 

Members of Management of the University after the four-day retreat

Management Committee Strategises for 2019/2020 Academic Year

13 Sep, 2019 By louis Mensah

Management Committee of the University has held a four-day retreat to strategise for the 2019/2020 academic year at Senkyi Hotel, in the Eastern Region.      The essence of the retreat was to provide an avenue for members, especially the newly appointed provosts to understand fully the duties and responsibilities of their positions and the associated challenges as well as the solutions they can offer, to enable the teamwork together for effective management of the University. 

Assessment of Management Activities

As part of efforts to manage the academic, research and community engagement responsibilities and ensure that Management adheres to the aims and objectives of the University, there will be constant assessment of Management’s activities and that of the University. Management also resolved to work towards positioning the University as an institution with worldwide acclaim for innovation in teaching, research, outreach, and professional development.

Key Areas for Discussion

The four-day retreat focused on seven areas and these were Finance, Academic Issues, Research, Administration, Fundraising, Visibility and Teamwork. These fields were identified as key to the successful management of the University. 

The retreat offered members the opportunity to brainstorm, make inputs and plan ahead to strengthen management and administrative activities in the University. Presentations at the retreat were made by facilitators within and outside the University.

The retreat was attended by members of the University Management Committee of the University made up of the Vice-Chancellor, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, Director of Finance, and the Provosts of the five Colleges with the Senior Registrar, Office of the Vice-Chancellor as the Secretary. In attendance was the Assistant Registrar, at the Pro Vice-Chancellor’s Office, Mr. Nasir Yaqub Entsie.       

Staff Reward and Recognition Nomination Form

Members of the University Community are to download the Staff Reward and Recognition Forms to nominate deserving staff in the various categories for the 4th Staff Reward and Recognition ceremony scheduled for December 2019.
Category: 
Guideline Forms

Research Project

This will be a research project in any area of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences of relevance to the Department. Projects will be undertaken by all students in the Final Year. While students are encouraged to select their own research topics of interest, the Department may offer some research topics as well. Students will be expected to identify problems in their field of study, write and defend a   project proposal aimed at finding solution(s) to the problem. Students will collect data, conduct analysis and prepare a report to be submitted at the end of their study. 

Course Code: 
FAS 499
No. of Credits: 
3
Level: 
Level 400
Course Semester: 
Second Semester
Select Programme(s): 
Fisheries and Aquatic Science

Introduction to issues in climate change

The course introduces students to the concept and principles of underlining climate change. Causes and trends in the indicators of climate change are described at both global and local levels. Human-induced causes of climate change are elaborated with examples such as emission of greenhouse gases and deforestation. Trends in temperature, precipitation, and frequency and intensity of storms are highlighted as indicators of climate change. Emphasis is placed on the possible impacts of climate change including coastal flooding, erosion, ecosystem services, fish catches, etc. Mitigation and adaptation strategies to limit the effect of these impacts are discussed. The course then introduces students to effective communication strategies on climate change issues.

Course Code: 
FAS 422
No. of Credits: 
3
Level: 
Level 400
Course Semester: 
Second Semester
Select Programme(s): 
Fisheries and Aquatic Science

Petroleum Ecology

This course will introduce students to general marine environment, physiography, coastal morphometry, marine resources and productivity.  Aspects Marine law and its application in the protection of marine environment, the rational exploitation of marine resources will be examined. Students will also be introduced to the science of oil and gas exploration, development and production. Oil pollution: behaviour, characteristics and impact on biota and coastal resources will be discussed. Students will also be exposed to the management of oil spills in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, impact assessment and clean-up. Ballast water ecology with focus on introduction of invasive species, the ecological significance of invasive species transfer, survival strategies of invasive species and implications on biodiversity conservation will be discussed. 

Course Code: 
FAS 421
No. of Credits: 
3
Level: 
Level 400
Course Semester: 
Second Semester
Select Programme(s): 
Fisheries and Aquatic Science

Introduction to Ecological Modelling

This course will introduce students to the basic principles in ecological modelling, the types and functions and how they are used for scientific investigations. Students will also be exposed to relevant terminologies such as state variables, system state and simulation. The course will also present the basic steps for ecological modelling (i.e. model conceptualization, formulation, calibration and verification) which will be demonstrated using known ecological relations and data from field and laboratory observations.

Course Code: 
FAS 420
No. of Credits: 
3
Level: 
Level 400
Course Semester: 
First Semester
Select Programme(s): 
Fisheries and Aquatic Science

Aquatic Pollution

The course introduces students to the phenomenon of pollution in aquatic ecosystems. A survey of pollutants, their sources and effects on aquatic abiotic parameters and biotic communities are presented. Organic pollution and biological oxygen demand, pollution indicators, effects of pollution on biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems and strategies for prevention and handling pollution are discussed. Students are also introduced to the procedures of environmental impact assessment.

Course Code: 
FAS 419
No. of Credits: 
3
Level: 
Level 400
Course Semester: 
Second Semester
Select Programme(s): 
Fisheries and Aquatic Science

Integrated Coastal Zone Management II

​​​​​​The course exposes students to issues of the coastal zone, tools for ICZM and institutional and policy aspects of the coastal zone.  The issues address biodiversity loss including dwindling fisheries; pollution; erosion; sanitation and health; effects of climate change; poverty and conflict of interests.  The ICZM tools enable the students to acquire skills in information technology, data collection and analysis, survey methods, environmental quality monitoring (soil, water and air), EIA,SIA, valuation methods of resources, physical planning and management skills (communication, presentation, time management, negotiation conflict resolution).  The institutional and policy aspects examine district, national and inter-sectoral involvement.  The roles of traditional, institutional, social and cultural issues are discussed.  Inter-governmental and regional co-operation are examined as well as financial and legal issues.  Non-governmental and community initiatives are also discussed.

Course Code: 
FAS 416
No. of Credits: 
3
Level: 
Level 400
Course Semester: 
Second Semester
Select Programme(s): 
Fisheries and Aquatic Science

Fisheries Science

​​​​​​The course examines feeding and reproductive biology of fish of commercial importance, their age and growth parameters.  The interaction of reproduction, growth and mortality in fish production, and the use of these concepts in fisheries management are discussed.  Students are introduced to methods for the prediction of fisheries yields, stock assessment, and determination of indices of over fishing.  Also discussed are fishing methods, the effects of impoundments on fisheries and the characteristics of the Ghanaian fishing industry. Students will also be introduced to various types of fisheries practiced locally and internationally, exploitation methods of fisheries, International Law of the Sea, regional treaties, regulations and bodies responsible for fisheries management (such as ICCAT, CECAF, etc.). Role of the Ministry of Fisheries and community involvement in fisheries management will be discussed.

Course Code: 
FAS 414
No. of Credits: 
3
Level: 
Level 400
Course Semester: 
First Semester
Select Programme(s): 
Fisheries and Aquatic Science

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