Girish Ganjyal

Professor, Food Processing Specialist


Dr. Girish Ganjyal is a Professor and Extension Food Processing Specialist at Washington State University (WSU). He has contributed significantly to the food industry for over 20 years through his technical expertise and broad vision for the world food supply system. He has unique experiences with impactful careers in both the food industry and academia. 

Dr. Ganjyal established the Food Processing Extension and Research program at WSU in 2013. He interacts with numerous stakeholders across the state, the nation, and internationally. The stakeholders include farmers (all types and sizes), value-added food processors (of all types and sizes), and organizations that work with the farmers and processors (including farmer/processors groups, non-profit organizations, and regulatory bodies). His extension activities include assisting with technical issues, providing training, and serving as a liaison between the stakeholders and regulatory bodies as a technical expert. 

Before joining WSU, from 2009 to 2013, Dr. Ganjyal worked as a Principal Engineer in the Advanced Research Team at PepsiCo, where he made significant contributions to extrusion processing and the frying process. He also worked as a Principal Scientist at MGP Ingredients, Inc., from 2004 to 2009, making considerable contributions to extrusion processing and protein ingredients. Numerous products that Dr. Ganjyal worked on over the last 23 years have been commercialized. Dr. Ganjyal provides extension services in food safety, food processing, and food quality for all types and sizes of food businesses.

His research program is focused on addressing the practical issues in the food ingredients and food processing of various crops. The agricultural crops he has worked on include pulses, quinoa, buckwheat, wheat, corn, barley, millets, and others. He has expertise in processing technologies, including extrusion, baking, frying, and direct steam injection. Thus far, he has mentored 23 graduate students as their major advisor. He has provided over 42 undergraduate students with opportunities to work in his program and gain valuable experiences in extrusion processing and ingredient functionality. He has published over 95 peer-reviewed articles and has 5 U.S. patents. He and his team at WSU have provided training and project assistance in food processing and food safety to over 7,200 industry professionals through the extension program.