Food Protection Trends - November/December 2023 - 590

BEYOND the BIO
Name: Rose Omari
Employment: Science and Technology Policy Research Institute,
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-STEPRI)
Location: Greater Accra Region, Ghana, West Africa
Food Science, Safety an 'Obvious' Choice for Omari
Growing up in a house full of books - science books, to be exact - Rose Omari's entire life
has been influenced by science and her father's passion for teaching and learning.
" My father loved books so much and has libraries full of fine books, " Omari said. " He is a
scientist and taught high school chemistry. So even at a young age, we knew so much about
science and had every opportunity to learn more. Going into the science field was an obvious
choice for my three brothers and me. "
Rose Omari not only possessed a love for
science but also the academic skills that put her
in advanced classes during high school. She,
along with her four siblings, attended primary,
middle and secondary school in the Volta
region of Ghana, Africa. Once she qualified for
high school, she attended the Kadjebi-Asato
Secondary School where she obtained her
ordinary level school certificate in science -
mathematics physics, chemistry, and biology
and had her first exposure to the specific field
of food science. She later attended the Mawuli
School for her advanced level certificate, where
she majored in physics, chemistry, and biology.
" When I was in high school, I was part of a
mentoring program for young women who were
studying in science-related fields, " Omari said.
" We spent two weeks visiting different places,
including the University of Ghana. I was so
amazed with the technologies and innovations
in the nutrition and food science department,
and from that point on, I knew I wanted to study
food science or medicine. "
Based on her testing, Omari was selected
for the biochemistry program at the University
of Ghana, where she was then able to combine
that discipline with food science. As she began
to take courses in her major, she realized food
chemistry and product development spoke to
her early upbringing, rooted in chemistry.
After completing her bachelor's degree
in biochemistry and food science from the
University of Ghana, she completed her
National Service at the nutrition and food
science department. National service is a
government program that provides newly
qualified graduates with the opportunity to
have practical exposure on the job, both in the
public and private sectors, as part of their civic
responsibility to the State.
Following her year of service, Omari went
on to get her master's degree in food science
at the University of Ghana. She worked one
short year in a fruit processing plant where she
focused on hygiene, exposing her to the world of
food safety practices and protocols. From there,
Omari made the move to working for the Ghana
Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
" When I came to work for the Ministry, I was
responsible for food safety and food processing
policy formulation and programming, " Omari said.
" Soon, I became involved with their larger projects,
including serving on the committee to create a
national food safety action plan. I read a report
about our food safety situation in Ghana and knew
I had to get involved, help with these issues. "
590 Food Protection Trends November/December
Omari's contributions to the national food
safety action plan resulted in the creation of
a national policy. It cemented her passion for
working in a government-led organization that
could implement change through prevention
and proactive policy.
In November 2006, Omari accepted a
position as a research scientist with the Science
and Technology Policy Research Institute
(STEPRI) under the Council for Scientific
and Industrial Research (CSIR), a place where
she could combine her interests in science
and technology with food (safety) issues. One
thing she quickly realized is in her new work
environment, she was one of a few women in
the field. Her boss, the CSIR's deputy director
general, Professor RoseEmma Entsua-Mensah
- also a woman in a male-dominated workplace
- quickly became a mentor to Omari.
" I very much looked up to my supervisor, "
Omari said. " She took me under her wing,
advised me, and guided me forward. She had a
lot of influence on my career. "
With encouragement and a desire to succeed,
Omari began her Ph.D. at Wageningen University
& Research, located in the Netherlands. This
time, her research and work were focused in
the social sciences; she completed her doctoral
degree in rural sociology/food studies, affording
her a " holistic " way to approach research, planning,
and implementation of food safety within
her home country.
Given Ghana's warm and humid environment,
the aflatoxin carcinogens are a primary

Food Protection Trends - November/December 2023

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