Research into “underutilized” prairie fruits and berries to help identify healthy components and to increase farm production
Some researchers hide in their laboratories and behind the printed words of academic papers.
Chamali Kodikara isn’t suited for that sort of introverted life.
“I really like to do the other stuff as well,” said Kodikara in an interview after she learned she had been elected vice-president of competitions for the Institution of the Chicago-based Food Technologists Student Association.
“If you just focus on research and don’t know anyone, and you don’t have any connections, (you won’t be as effective.) Just doing research isn’t going to employ knowledge.”
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Kodikara is about to begin her PhD at the University of Manitoba and is working with the Canadian Grain Commission on wheat alkaloid research. She is president of the University of Manitoba food science department’s graduate students association and has been working with Agriculture Canada as a research scientist.
Her path follows the international and multi-disciplinary route that characterizes the global food science field. She did her undergraduate work in Sri Lanka, her Master’s in Sweden, and has been conducting research in Winnipeg in university and government. Her involvement with the IFT has given her exposure to the vast and complex international food industry.
It’s an exciting field. Plant-based protein enthusiasm is driving enormous investment and product development, artificial intelligence allows for speedier development of good ideas, and breakthroughs in chemistry provide food enhancements like never before.
However, Kodikara’s research has mostly had a more local focus: the development of “underutilized” prairie fruits and berries.
She worked with other researchers to identify various health-promoting components in native fruits like chokecherry and saskatoon berry, with hopes of increasing farm production.
Her PhD study begins in a few months, her new research position with CGC is beginning, and her role on the executive of IFTSA has begun.
Kodikara is going to be a busy person but that doesn’t seem to be a problem.
“I feel happy,” she said. “It will improve myself and contribute to society.”
