Pakistan-US Science and Technology Cooperation Program                                                            
Phase 1 (2005 Deadline)

Establishment of an Extrusion Center at the Institute of Food Science and

PROGRESS REPORTS  2006 2007 2008 Final

Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad

Mian Nadeem Riaz, Texas Engineering Experiment Station
Faqir Muhammad Anjum, University of Agriculture (UAF) Institute of Food Science and Technology, Faisalabad
Pakistani Funding (HEC): $389,000
US Funding:   $320,000
Project Dates on US Side: January 1, 2006 December 31, 2007, Completed

Extrusion is a cooking process that produces an expanded or puffed crispy product generally based on cereals or legumes.  During the process, proteins and other additives made be incorporated to enhance the quality of the end product.  Extrusion processing for both food and animal feed products has become very popular worldwide, but prior to this project Pakistan lacked access to this important technology.  This project has established a new extrusion center at the National Institute of Food Science and Technology at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad in order to train scientists, students, and food and feed industry personnel in the use of extrusion technology for processing foods, oilseed crops, and feed ingredients.

After consulting with Dr. Riaz on visits during the first year of the project, UAF began offering a a new course in extrusion technology to undergraduate students in the fall 2007 semester.  Dr. Riaz returned to Faisalabad for visits in February and June 2007 to continue work on the project, monitor progress on the new center, present papers at conferences, deliver lectures at UAF, and advise graduate students who have begun working on extrusion-related research projects.  Two food technologists were hired to develop new food and feed projects based on locally-grown ingredients and to work with other Institute researchers and representatives of private industry to promote the use of extrusion technology.  Drs. Riaz and Anjum have also met with at least two Pakistani food companies who are interested in becoming involved in the project, and they are also seeking cooperation with relevant NGOs focused on efforts to combat malnutrition.

Dr. Anjum visited the United States for three weeks in July-August 2007.  In addition to extensive consultations with Dr. Riaz and other faculty members at Texas A&M, he also visited Kansas State University, Michigan State University, and Indiana State University and attended the annual meeting of the Institute of Food Technologists along with Dr. Riaz.  He also visited the manufacturer of the extruder purchased by UAF to discuss installation and operation of the equipment, which arrived at his university in late July 2007. Meanwhile, a Pakistani graduate student was also accepted to Texas A&M and began his PhD program in food science and technology under Dr. Riaz’s supervision in January 2007. In October-November 2007, Dr. Riaz made another visit to UAF on the project, during which he attended the official inauguration of the new extrusion center and participated in the International Symposium on Emerging Trends in Food Science and Technology. 

The US side of the grant was completed at the end of December 2007. However, thanks to a no-cost extension on the Pakistani side of the project provided by HEC, Dr. Anjum and Dr. Riaz organized a practical workshop on food and feed extrusion technology at UAF August 15-17, 2008, with the aim of further promoting the technology, introducing the Institute’s capabilities, and fostering collaboration with industry and researchers from other Pakistani universities.

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