“I am glad to be nominated by the DUT Technology Transfer and Innovation Directorate, under the leadership of Professor Keo Motaung, who played a big role in packaging our submissions for the Innovation Award. Reaching the final attests to our contribution to societal problems through innovation,” said the jubilant Prof Amonsou.
Professor Eric Oscar Amonsou, a C2 rated NRF research Scientist and Food Science Professor in the Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, has made the institution proud by being nominated in the category for the Innovation Award: Corporate Organisation in the 2021/2022 National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) South32 Awards, recently.
NSTF, founded in 1995, is a non-profit stakeholder body for all science, engineering, technology (SET) and innovation organisations in South Africa.
Prof Amonsou’s INOFID is one of the first two spin-off companies approved by the Durban University of Technology (DUT).
“Food Nutrition and nutrition security remains great challenges in our societies. The most affected are the vulnerable poor population groups. Worldwide, we rely on a few crops (e.g. wheat, maize, soybean) for human food consumption. Consequently, many relevant bodies have predicted food shortage. In fact, our food production will have to double to cater for the growing population,” he said.
Prof Amonsou indicated that therefore, it become imperative to look for alternative food crops to our base and address its nutrition and health challenges.
He expressed that traditional food crops can be leveraged to create economic opportunity through value added research.
“Through our innovative research, we have created a breakfast porridge from traditionally grown amadumbe crop by subsistence farmers. Instant amadumbe porridge displays similar textural properties compared to those from cereals with added health benefits from its high soluble fibre content and slowly digestible starch.
Our research focus on characterisation and application of functional food biopolymers. Our focus is primarily on components derived from traditional South African food crops,” he added.
Prof Amonsou acknowledged the support of his Executive Dean Prof Suren Singh, his HOD Prof Feroz Swalaha, Prof Kugenthiren Permaul for frequent advice and mentorship and his colleagues from the Food Science and Biotechnology programmes, respectively.
“I also acknowledge the contribution of our food product development team and our senior technician Mrs Samantha Govender. Thanks to everyone whose names could not be mentioned here,” he relayed.
Prof Amonsou commented that if he wins, it will be a great achievement toward the realisation of DUT ENVISION2030.
“The United Nation Sustainable Development Goals are embedded in DUT ENVISION2030 and our research and innovation approach aligns well with SDG2, which is to end hunger, achieve food security and promote sustainable agriculture.,” he added.
Prof Amonsou said that the production and ccommercialisation of instant amadumbe breakfast porridge and other products will encourage the cultivation of traditional crops by subsistence and small-holder farmers, which will contribute to socio-economic development and food security.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement, Professor Sibusiso Moyo, said that she was glad to see the University’s investment in the Food Nutrition and Security research focus area over the past 5-10 years, begin to yield high impact results including the ability for us as a University to commercialise our products.
“We are building a strong Technology Transfer space and putting our spin-off policy into action. Congratulations to Prof Amonsou, his students and research team for their contributions and for making it to the final list,” added Prof Moyo.
Giving his congratulatory message was Professor Suren Singh, Executive Dean: Faculty of Applied Sciences.
“Prof Amonsou boasts an outstanding research track record of having graduated many postgraduates and published extensively in high ranking journals since joining DUT in 2013, which are truly exceptional. His has multiple, international collaborations with institutions in Canada, France, USA, China and Ghana with whom he has also created mobility for both staff and students to expand their research journeys which is exemplary. On the national front he has linkages with UP, ARC, UFS, UKZN. The Faculty of Applied Sciences has its vision deeply embedded in ‘Educate Engage Innovate’ and to this end, I must state that Prof Amonsou is at the forefront as the Innovator in FAS with a soon to launch spinoff company through DUT. He led the KZN Technology Transfer Fund Project in 2016/17 which has resulted in the successful, development of a product prototype and Trademark registration in the name of DUT in 2021. His NTSF nomination is indeed an honour to the Faculty, DUT and an outstanding achievement in his career. The Faculty salutes you!”
Pictured: Professor Eric Oscar Amonsou
Waheeda Peters
