Jaci Barnett pictured here next to the Micronizing Unit. The Micronizing Unit in its new home at the CSIR's Food Pi Pilot Plant.

The Food Pi Pilot Plant, part of CSIR Biosciences, is the new home of a unique pilot-scale Micronizing Unit. This infra-red cooker was placed on the plant by The Micronizing Company of the United Kingdom.

According to Programme Manager and SERA Food Science and Technology task team leader, Jaci Barnett, the CSIR was approached by The Micronizing Company last year and discussions resulted in the two entering into an agreement wherein the micronizing unit is housed, maintained and insured at the CSIR, but CSIR personnel can use the unit for their own research, as well as do work for clients on the unit.

Before work can begin on the unit, the CSIR team is awaiting training which is due to be conducted by a food scientist from The Micronizing Company in August this year. Building further on the strong relationship with the University of Pretoria (UP), this training will be given to two or three representatives each from the CSIR and UP. "We have always worked very closely with the university and intend to continue to do so", says Barnett.

Under the supervision of Prof Amanda Minnaar - co-leader of the Food Science task team, the university already has one PhD student who is currently conducting studies on infrared cooking, looking specifically at applications for reducing cooking times using micronization. Prof Minnaar is now in the process of recruiting another student to conduct more studies on the micronizing unit itself.

With possible applications including pre-cooking and drying for the development of instant foods, the micronizing unit will initially be mostly used for private sector work. However Barnett contends that, "Most of the results will come from the students because, unlike the private sector work, the results of their studies will be publishable. Also, the more students we have working on the unit, the better our understanding of the technology will be."

For more information on the Micronizing Unit, contact Jaci Barnett on +27 12 841 2428.