By John Odyek
A Ugandan chemist has developed a process and technology that will increase value addition of shea butter.
Shea butter has a $25b (about sh93 trillion) global market that Uganda can tap into.
Shea butter fat is an important ingredient in foods, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products. But the current form of it is being produced using cold press technology without using heat which gives it limited applications.
This gives it little or no economic gain, yet it is an alternative fat in chocolate production, salad dressing and skin care.
The research
Dr Francis Omujal, a senior research officer at the Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Institute, Kampala, undertook research on shea butter to open the door for shea butter diverse use using fractionation as the alternative.
Fractionation is a technique or science for separating fats from liquid (olein) and solid (stearin) components. Omujal has developed a fractionation technology for producing shea olein and shea stearin as ingredients for food and cosmetic industrial use.
Omujal has been doing research on shea since 2008.
Expanded functionality
He explained that when fats are separated, shea butter’s functionality expands.
Traditionally, shea has been used wholly, either for food or cosmetics.
He cited the liquid part from shea butter which has medicinal use. The medicinal ingredients make it good for softening skin, removing eczema, and wrinkles.
It can smoothen the skin, can be sprayed to make hair shine, soft and to grow faster. The liquid part can be used as salad like olive oil.
He indicated that when it is consumed as food, it can lower cholesterol, which blocks blood veins. The solid part of shea butter can be used as an ingredient for baking bread.
In relation to the pharmaceutical industry, it can be used to make capsules. One can swallow it because some people do not like the smell, like fish oil in the pharmacy. Produce the oil and give it to the pharmaceutical industry to make capsules.
The research team had a core team of five people namely; Prof. John Bosco Lamoris Okullo, Moses Solomon Agwaye, Sheila Natukunda and Irene Kirabo.
It included five university students, graduates and private sector representatives.
Funding
Omujal applied for a sh109m grant under the Science Granting Council Innovation Grant from the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology to undertake the research.
The grant targeted the agro-processing thematic area supporting research and innovation projects, addressing challenges in manufacturing value chains in various industrial products anchoring on university and industry collaboration.
Commercialisation
In May 2021, Omujal began the research on shea butter fractionation and completed it last year.
The research team has fabricated a machine for fractionation and it is getting improved from time to time. The findings of the research have resulted in the formation of a company called nilo.
The company commercialises the product by making soap, lotions and creams. They include different fragrances and formulations. They are undertaking certification with the Uganda National Bureau of Standards.
Plans
Dr Francis Omujal’s vision is to make shea butter a household item either as food, therapeutic or cosmetic.
He noted that the shea product treats wounds, cuts, insect bites, skin disorder and it has antidotes.
He said like olive oil, there are many products from it such as cooking oil, sprays, food and lotions.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION: Omujal displays some shea products at Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Institute in Kampala. Photo by John Odyek
