EP 72: Empowering Research and the Senegal Bonbon Bouye

BAKED in Science

As food science and technology continue to advance, so do opportunities to elevate nutrition and quality of life for communities. One impactful example of this is indigenizing food science, the process of integrating traditional food knowledge and nutrition into modern food systems, helping preserve cultural heritage and promote economic development. When put into practice, this can help indigenous farmers limit food waste by incorporating technology to preserve or process raw materials. That’s just the type of project a team from Montana State University, led by Dr. Wan-Yuan Kuo and graduate researchers Edwin Allan and Chidimma Ifeh, launched in partnership with farmers in Senegal, West Africa. The goal: to turn underutilized natural resources into a nutritious baked good that farmers could produce and sell, helping improve the local economy and environment. In this BAKED in Science episode, host Mark Floerke talks with this team and Aliou Ndiaye, who played an influential role in convincing farmers to change their practices and work on value-added products instead of just selling raw materials and facing 40% losses. The group goes over: - Indigenizing food science - The need for food technology and science - Natural resources in Senegal and their potential - Food waste and solutions - Formulation challenges for this project - Creating a community in the process Learn more about the project: https://www.montana.edu/foodprodevlab/ Brought to you by: Did you know that you can use KPM Vision Inspection Technology to improve product quality and consistency at full line speed? Virtually any food product can be measured using 2D/3D/color imaging technology, either directly during the production process or using a Benchtop Inspection System for at-line quality checks. To learn more, go to https://www.kpmanalytics.com/ Grain Millers is a leading manufacturer of organic and conventional whole grain ingredients focused on supplying safe and healthy ingredients that add value. Check out their gluten-free oats, fibers, wheat, barley, and rye ingredients at https://www.grainmillers.com/!