Gazipur Agricultural University (GAU) has developed a technology to produce a concentrated mineral-rich food ingredient from jackfruit seeds, turning an agricultural by-product often discarded as waste into a potential source of nutrition and value-added food products.
The technology was developed by Food Engineering Department Professor Md Amdadul Haque and postgraduate researcher Md Akram Hossain, and has received a patent from the Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (DPDT) under the Ministry of Industries, according to a university statement.
Registered under patent number P/BD/2024/000040, the technology was developed after three years of research and completed in November 2025 with funding from the Ministry of Education’s Grants for Advanced Research and Education (GARE) project.
The process can increase the mineral concentration of dried jackfruit seeds from about 2 per cent to more than 33 per cent, raising the mineral density by around 16 to 17 times, researchers said.
Bangladesh is among the world’s major jackfruit producers, but a large portion of jackfruit seeds, peels and other by-products are discarded as waste. The new technology could convert jackfruit seeds into a high-value food ingredient for use in processed food products.
The mineral concentrate contains essential nutrients, including potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, zinc and manganese, which support bone and teeth formation, blood production, nervous system function, immunity and enzyme activity.
Researchers said the ingredient could help develop more nutritious processed foods while reducing agricultural waste, improving resource efficiency and supporting the growth of jackfruit-based industries.
GAU Vice-Chancellor GKM Mustafizur Rahman said the invention marks a milestone for Bangladesh’s agriculture, food and nutrition research by showing how agricultural waste can be converted into a high-value resource.
“Laboratory innovations need to be transformed into technologies suitable for industry and society,” he said.
Md Amdadul Haque said commercial use of the technology could create opportunities for developing nutrition-focused food products, expanding jackfruit-based industries, increasing farmers’ income and ensuring better utilisation of agricultural resources.
The university said the invention has taken GAU’s total number of developed technologies to 21. It is also the first patented innovation after the institution was renamed Gazipur Agricultural University.
GAU has so far developed 97 improved crop varieties, according to the statement.
