Prof. Afam I.O. Jideani

Prof. Afam I.O. Jideani Afam is a professor of Food Science and Technology (FST) at the University of Venda (Univen), South Africa where he is also the Partnerships & Internationalisation Champion: School (Faculty) of Agriculture. He obtained his PhD from the University of Leeds, UK in 1994 and postdoctoral fellowship in Kagoshima, Japan in 1995. He became full professor in 1999 before taking up Director of Research and Development at the National Food Technology Research Centre Botswana (2006). As a National Research Foundation (South Africa) rated scientist, he has supervised and mentored several postgraduate students three of whom are now full professors in FST. His research in FST has focused on plant foods. With over 130 publications in scientific journals, book, book chapters and conference proceedings; he is the leader of the Plant Food Processing for Bio-economy research group at Univen. The group’s research focuses on processing and technology of plant foods in the following but not exhaustive areas: survey of plant-based indigenous foods and knowledge systems, value addition to indigenous plant-based foods for food security, functional food ingredients in food systems and food biotechnology. He is a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology. He is also a professional member of the following scientific bodies:

  • South African (SA) Association of Food Technologists,
  • American Association of Cereal Chemists International,
  • Institute of Food Technologists
  • ISEKI Food Association (IFA), as well as the South Africa (SA) country representative of IFA.