Gazipur Agricultural University (GAU) has developed a patented technology to produce a mineral-rich food ingredient from jackfruit seeds, transforming an underutilised agricultural by-product into a value-added nutritional resource with potential applications in the food industry.
The innovation, jointly developed by Professor Dr Md Emdadul Haque of the Department of Food Engineering and postgraduate researcher Md Akram Hossain, has been granted a patent by the Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (DPDT) under the Ministry of Industries. The patent is registered as P/BD/2024/000040.
The invention, completed in November 2025 after three years of research under the guidance of GAU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr GKM Mostafizur Rahman, is the university's first patented technology since it was renamed Gazipur Agricultural University. It also brings the institution's total number of patented technologies to 21.
The research was funded through the Ministry of Education's Grants for Advanced Research and Education (GARE) project.
According to the researchers, the technology increases the mineral concentration of dried jackfruit seeds from about 2% to more than 33%—a 16- to 17-fold increase—creating a concentrated ingredient suitable for use in fortified and processed foods.
Bangladesh is among the world's leading producers of jackfruit, yet large quantities of seeds and other by-products are discarded each year. The researchers said the technology offers a sustainable way to reduce food waste while creating new opportunities for value addition in the country's agro-processing sector.
The mineral concentrate contains essential nutrients, including potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, zinc and manganese, which are vital for bone health, blood formation, immune function, and normal muscle and nerve function.
"The mineral concentrate can be incorporated into processed foods to enhance their nutritional value while reducing agricultural waste and supporting food and nutrition security," said Professor Dr Emdadul Haque.
He added that commercialising the technology could accelerate the development of nutrient-enriched food products, expand jackfruit-based industries, increase farmers' incomes and promote more efficient utilisation of agricultural resources.
GAU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr GKM Mostafizur Rahman described the patent as "a milestone for Bangladesh's agricultural, food and nutrition research," saying it demonstrates how agricultural waste can be transformed into a high-value nutritional resource.