IAST Hosts Industry-Academia Interaction With Fuji Group

A group photograph taken after the interaction. In the front row are : (from left to right) Prof. Samuel Sefa-Dedeh, Dean of the School of Engineering Sciences, Prof. Ebenezer Oduro-Owusu, Provost of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, Mr. Hiroshi Shinano Fuji Oil Group and Prof. Boateng Onwona-Agyeman with some representatives from the UG Research Community.

In order to fulfil it’s mandate as the nexus between industry and academia in the University of Ghana, the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST) has hosted representatives from Fuji Oil Group to interact with members of the University Research Community as part of its Industry-Academia Interaction Series. The representatives from Fuji Oil Group gave insights on the potential of shea butter as an important ingredient in the confectionery market.

The programme, which was chaired by the Acting Director of the IAST, Prof. Boateng Onwona-Agyeman began with a video footage of the production processes of Fuji Oil Group and the various products offered by the company.

Mr. Hiroshi Shinano, spokesperson of Fuji Oil Group

Mr. Hiroshi Shinano, the spokesperson of Fuji Oil Group explained that, their company is dedicated to Research and Development and has about 370 Research and Development staff across the globe. He indicated that, the company utilises shea butter in the manufacture of its confectionery products like chocolates which makes their products different from others. He further stated that, the company customises its products to meet customer demands and that apart from shea butter they also make soy protein products.

According to Mr. Shinano, Shea Kernel grows principally across the West African belt, with Nigeria as the largest shea kernel producer. The company is however located at Techiman in Ghana due to the availability of operational crushing plants. He stated that, the company’s products are currently consumed in Asia, Eastern and Western Europe and the company intends to start exports to Brazil and other countries in the near future. He indicated that, as part of the company’s future plans, it intends to expand its production capacity, build up its supply chain and develop new applications for shea butter and soy protein products.

Mr. Shinano called for further collaboration between the University of Ghana Research Community and his organisation especially as they venture into the area of shea processing.

Fuji Oil Group representatives with staff of the Institute of Applied Science and Technology

Some of the products from Fuji Oil on display at the interaction