Post-Harvest · Nutrition · Quality

Advancing food security & nutrition through science

Conducting research in post‑harvest food technologies, value addition to indigenous crops, and analytical services for industry & public health.

Our Mission

The Food Science Research Centre at NISIR Headquarters (Kenneth Kaunda International Airport Road, Lusaka) was established to conduct scientific research and provide technical support in Post‑Harvest Food Technologies and Nutrition programmes.

Conduct research in food science, nutrition & value addition to indigenous crops.
Improve quality of life through food processing, preservation & product development.
Provide technical expertise via consultancy in food processing, safety & nutrition.
Offer food analysis for quality control — raw foods, products, ready‑to‑eat meals, water & swabs.

Key Impact Areas

Nutrition Clinical Lab Food Chemistry Food Microbiology Pilot Processing Plants IAEA Collaborations

Using isotopic techniques (golden standard) for body composition analysis — fat‑free mass & fat mass to determine nutrition status accurately.

Our area of expertise

Nutrition Clinical Laboratory

Established with IAEA support. Uses FTIR to measure breast milk intake and body composition via isotopic technique — the golden standard for nutrition status assessment.

Instruments: Weight Scale, Stadiameter, Calipers, Bioelectric Impedance Analysis (BIA).

Food Chemistry Laboratory

Bench‑level determination of food composition:

Proximate: Moisture, Carbohydrate, Fat, Ash, Fibre, Energy, Protein
Minerals: Iron, Calcium, Phosphorus, Zinc, Arsenic, Copper
Vitamins (C), Sugars, Free Fatty Acid, Peroxide value

Food Microbiology Laboratory

Microbiological safety & quality control:

Total Viable Count (TVC)
Yeast & Mould · Coliforms · E. coli
Salmonella · Staphylococcus · Bacillus cereus

Pilot Processing Plants

Food Vegetable Pilot Plant

Equipped with steam boiler, steam jacketed pots, condensers, crushing machines, pulper, filter press, fruit washing machine, juice press and oil press.

Supports R&D in fruit & vegetable processing.

Legumes, Roots, Tubers & Cereals Plant

Equipment: Ovens, stoves, baking tins, mixers, mills, fermentation tank, grater, deep fryer.

Products: Composite flours (cassava, bambara, cowpeas, fermented maize, millet, sorghum) for bread, biscuits, crackers, and instant porridges.

Research & Development Projects

Low‑cost Avocado Purée/Paste
Processing method for nutritious & safe avocado purée.

Nutraceutical Food Products
Improving child nutrition & cholera management.

Dehydrated Tomato Powder
Low‑cost production methodology.

Breast Milk Intake
Isotopic measurement of human milk intake.

Nutritious Blends
Cowpeas & Bambara protein‑rich complementary foods.

Maize Meal Fortification
Vitamin A, Iron & Zinc at hammer mill level.

Fuel‑Grade Ethanol (99.9%)
From sweet sorghum & Mpundu fruit.

HIV & ARVs Metabolic Composition
Assessing food supplements impact.

Cassava Commercialization
Variety characterisation & product development.

Analytical Services

Proximate composition (moisture, protein, fat, fibre, ash, carbs, energy)
Mineral profiling (Fe, Ca, P, Zn, As, Cu)
Vitamin C, sugars, free fatty acids, peroxide value
Microbiological safety: TVC, coliforms, E. coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus, yeast & mould
Water & swab analysis for food premises

Consultancy & Technical Support

We offer expert technical assistance in food processing, safety, nutrition programmes, quality assurance and product development for SMEs, food industries, and public institutions.

📍 Location: NISIR Headquarters, Kenneth Kaunda International Airport Road, Lusaka, Zambia

Strategic Alignment: 8NDP & Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 2 · Zero Hunger

SDG 3 · Good Health & Well‑being

SDG 9 · Industry & Innovation

SDG 12 · Responsible Consumption

Supporting Zambia’s Vision 2030 — food and nutrition security through science & technology