Jacob Kwaku Agbenorhevi

Prof. Jacob Kwaku Agbenorhevi is a Professor in the Department of Food Science and Technology, KNUST-Kumasi.Prof. Agbenorhevi holds a B.Sc. (Hons) degree in Biochemistry from KNUST (2006), an M.Sc. degree in Nutrition and Food Sciences (2008), and a PhD in Food Science (2012) from the University of Huddersfield, UK. He was awarded the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship for his Master's degree (2007-2008) and the PhD Scholarship Award (2009-2011) at the University of Huddersfield. Upon completing his Master's and Doctorate degrees at the University of Huddersfield, UK, he returned to join the Department in August 2012. It has been a wonderful experience in the alma mater where he previously served as a Teaching and Research Assistant (under the National Service Scheme in the Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology and Department of Food Science & Technology for a year, August 2006-August 2007). He served as the Coordinator for the third-year students’ Industrial Internship/Placement (2013-2016), Coordinator for the Postgraduate Programmes (2013-2018), Departmental and College Web Content Manager (2015-2022),  Departmental Exams Officer (2018-2023), Professorial Representative of the Faculty of Biosciences on the College Board - College of Science, KNUST (2022-2024) and the Chairman of the College of Science Media and Web Committee (2019-2025). He is Cognate Representative of the College of Science on the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) Board (Oct. 2024-Date). Prof. Agbenorhevi is currently the Head of the Department of Food Science and Technology.    Prof. Agbenorhevi served as a Member of the Council of Convocation at KNUST (2018-2021) and as the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) Champion/Representative for KNUST (2019). He is a Fellow and Council Member/Chairman of the Independence Hall at KNUST. He has served on several committees within the University and internationally. He served as the Head Coordinator and President of the Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows Alumni, Ghana (CoSFAG) (2015-2020). He has been a member of Professional bodies, namely, the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST, UK), the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT, USA), the Ghana Nutrition Association, and the Ghana Biomedical Convention. He served as the President of the Ghana Science Association (GSA) Kumasi Branch (2019-2023), the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission Alumni Advisory Panel (2021-2023), and is currently the Honorary General Secretary of the Ghana Association of Food Scientists and Technologists (GhAFoST) (2022-present). He is also a Member of the Ghana Young Academy, the Ghana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and CoSFAG. Prof. Agbenorhevi serves as an External Examiner/Assessor for UDS, UCC, UG, UEW, AAMUSTED, HTU,  CSIR/CCST, KsTU, ATU, CHW-BK, GAEC and NAB/GTEC. He is also a Reviewer for several journals in the field of Food Science and Technology, including Food Hydrocolloids, International Journal of Food Science and Technology, Journal of Food Science, Journal of Food Engineering, Journal of Food Science and Technology, International Food Research Journal, African Journal of Food Science, International Journal of Food Properties, International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences, Scientific African, Food Science  & Nutrition, Cogent Food & Agriculture, CyTA -Journal of Food, British Food Journal, Applied Food Research, Agricultural and Food Science Journal of Ghana, Food Chemistry, Food Chemistry Advances, LWT-Food Science and Technology, Foods, Food Frontiers, Heliyon, Plos One, e.t.c.Prof. Agbenorhevi served as Editor for Scientific African and the Editor of Everyday Science for Schools (ESS) Magazine of the Ghana Science Association (2017-2023). He is currently a Subject Area Editor for the Journal of Ghana Science Association and an Associate Editor for Food Biophysics, Springer Nature.Prof. Agbenorhevi's research areas include Food Chemistry (composition and analysis), Food Biopolymers (polysaccharide/protein systems), Rheology, Food Product Development and Sensory Evaluation, Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health. His research interests are focused on polysaccharide characterization, the physical chemistry of food systems, and the nutritional improvement of foods. Developed considerable expertise in the physicochemical characterization of food materials and hydrocolloid systems. Served as a collaborating scientist and coordinator on several projects/research teams.  Coordinator for Short Course in Food Hygiene and Short Course in Applied Rheology.Currently working on the evaluation of some underutilized crops for potential food applications. Isolation and characterization of polysaccharides as functional ingredients in food and/ or pharmaceutical systems. These include the physical, chemical, and technological properties of starch, pectin, and gums found in underutilized sources for their beneficial applications in improving livelihood and global food and nutrition security. The research on okra pectin as an emulsifier in chocolate production is promising and holds the potential to be a major breakthrough for the chocolate industry, the pharmaceutical industry, and the okra value chain upon completion and implementation of further ongoing studies. This has led to the African Agri-food Knowledge Transfer Partnership (AAKTP) Grant Award (AAKTP-13910 / IUK Project No. 10097922). Thus, the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) exists between The University of Huddersfield (UoH), UK & KNUST, as well as the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Ho, and Cocoa Processing Company (CPC) Limited. The project aims to develop novel, sustainable plant pectins from locally sourced, low-market-value species for use in chocolate-based products.Prof. Agbenorhevi has successfully supervised 9 PhD,  10 MPhil, 50 MSc, and 83 BSc Students/Theses. He has over 80 publications in peer-reviewed journals, 108 conference papers, 2 books, 2 book chapters, and 15 other articles, including handbooks/training manuals/magazines.RESEARCH AREAS/EXPERIENCESWEBSITE/RESEARCH PROFILE LINKS