Undergraduate courses
Bachelor of Food and Nutritional sciences
The program is designed to be a full time program which will take four academic years. Its main aim is to build a critical mass of graduates who will be able to develop businesses in food processing and value addition and tap into niche regional and international market opportunities.
This course enable you to pursue your interests within the food sector, whether you are keen to study it from a technological, nutritional or business angle.
This program involves academic studies and research activity in relation to food technology, food quality and safety, human nutrition and dietetics.
Entry requirements
UACE or its equivalent with at least 2 principal passes in any of the science or technical related courses,likeBiology,Chemistry,Agriculture,Economics,Entrepreurship,Physics,Technical drawing ,Food and Nutrition, a relevant Diploma program (not pass) from a recognized institution of higher learning.
Intake: September
Program structure
Since there are numerous directions to take in the fields of food and nutritional sciences, our program is structured into course units that help you to follow those paths through the following ways;
How you will learn
You will learn in a supportive environment through lectures, group work and hands-on practical work in the laboratory and pilot plant all combined to build your skills and knowledge for an exciting career in food and nutritional sciences.
Practical sessions
The Department has fully and well equipped food science and microbiology Lab for investigating the chemical, physical and biological properties of food. The tests performed to mention but a few include;
Our Research
Our research is based on, enhancing health, ensuring safety and improving the processing of raw materials and products to benefit food quality with mission to improve the quality of food and nutrition.
Post graduate courses
Masters of Science in Human Nutrition and Dietetics
NB; This program has been introduced this year. For more information on this, please contact the head of Department Food and Nutritional Sciences.
Faculty of Agriculture research projects and publication
We are a center of excellence in Vegetable Research, especially African indigenous vegetables. We realize that a number of these plants are increasing playing an important role in meeting the nutritional and health needs of many households globally. Current research activity in the rich source of diversity present within the African continent, does not match the potential value of these plants. There has been very little consolidated effort awards proper conservation, management, improvement and promotion of valuable germplasm. It is on this note that the department has set itself up in the following major focus areas:
Indigenous knowledge
Different local communities all over Africa use plants of Solanaceae family for various purposes. A comprehensive database on the uses, production, processing and informal markets for the various crops will not only enhance their value, but also promote their use across different platforms. Our main approach in our work is participatory.
Capacity Building
Due to limited research, there is a knowledge gap on the basic biology of these species. There is need to undertake more comprehensive studies on the cytogentic, biochemical; and molecular components, as well as develop molecular tools and proper ontology for future characterization of African Solanaceae plants. There is general lack of expertise in Africa for advanced research that would enhance knowledge of African indigenous vegetables. The faculty trains Master and PhD level scientists who will contribute to enhancing and utilization of these crops and promote their contribution to poverty alleviation and food security. We also do value chain analyses to build the capacity of small holder farmers through supporting formation and coordination of self-help groups to effectively transition from subsistence levels to commercial farming for improved incomes and livelihoods.
Nutrition and health:
The increasing concerns on narrowing food diversity and the recognition of the potential role of vegetables in combating micro-nutrient deficiencies, call for renewed research interest in underutilized nutritious vegetables such as those of the African Indigenous Vegetables. Effort to document the micro-nutrient and bioactive components of these plants, as well as establish systems for human intervention have begun for some species.
Seed systems
Seed systems remain an important aspects of improving crop production and is an invaluable component of enhancing the utilization of African solanaceous crops. There is need to identify relevant stakeholders, if any, in seed production, seed markets, quality management and regulation, as well as determine optimum seed management conditions for the benefit of the producers and consumers. So far, under Dutch funding from NWO/WOTRO, we are conducting research on a gender responsive commercial seed system for African indigenous vegetables. This is in partnership with Hanze University of Applied Sciences and CHAIN Uganda. Further, the crop improvement programs at the department of Agriculture continue to conduct research and develop seed systems for lesser known indigenous known indigenous vegetables such as Solanum scabrum and Solanum villosum, Vigna spp. Amranthus spp and Hibiscuss spp.
Crop improvement
UCU currently hosts the Afri-Sol network (ww.Afri-Sol.org) which is a network of scientists and other stakeholders with interest in Solanaceae species in Africa. Afri-Sol is affiliated to the Sol Genomics Network (ww.solgenomics.net). We have published denovo genome of Solanum aethiopicum in conjunction with the African Orphan Crops Consortium. The data will be added in the global genomics and later used in molecular breeding programs. S. aethiopicum is an important vegetable widely cultivated and utilized in most African countries. We also assembling the transcriptome of S. aethiopicum in order to understand different functional pathways utilized by the plant during various processes. Other research interests include improving S. aethiopicum production efficiency for small holder farmers targeting drought stress and disease resistance. The latter work is in collaboration with the World Vegetable Center, National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB) and World Agroforestry Center and funded by BBSRC/GCRE, UK. Beyond that, we are developing S. aethiopicum varieties so far we have submitted some lines for variety registration and release in Uganda. Other areas of research interest include drought tolerance and post-harvest loss management.
Faculty of Agriculture partnerships
National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO)
The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS)
CSIR-Crops Research Institute, Kumasi, Ghana
Regional Universities Forum for capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM)
University of California, Davis
Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA), BecA-ILRI Hub, Nairobi
University of Ghana, Legon
Afrisol Network (www.afri-sol.org)