Food Science & Technology: A bright Future

Now, more than ever, people are mindful about the food they eat, its source, quality, nutrition, convenience, and cost. The most important of all Is it safe for consumption?. The food processing industry has to fulfil the nutritional needs and queries of the consumers. This is where Food technologists come in, food processing industry is very vast and versatile, and it provides promising career opportunities to the young generation. But to work in a food processing industry, one has to learn and acquire the detailed knowledge of the subject and earn a degree in the field.

What is Food Technology

Food technology involves various aspects of science to develop and design innovative processing technologies, improve food quality and nutritive value, enhance the safety, wholesomeness & availability of our food supply. It involves study of characteristics of food, its nutritional composition, reactions and changes that take place at various levels of processing and storage, microbiological aspect of food to prevent spoilage and enhance shelf life. Professionals work to improve manufacturing methods through new processing, preservation and packaging technologies. Food scientists study new ingredients with better nutrition and health benefits, develop new products or technologies to improve the shelf life of the product. A food technologist is not only involved in the food processing, but also in designing of the food plant and various equipment used in processing. He/she is also involved in the safety and regulatory aspects of the developed product, inspection and accreditation of the food plant etc.

Jobs & Career in Food Science & Technology

Food industry is a growing industry that contributes to around 14% of manufacturing GDP and 13 % of India's total food exports. There is a high demand of trained food professional in both Government and Private sector. One can enter these areas after graduation or post-graduation in Food technology.

Some of the Job profiles include:

• Food technologist: Production/Operation/ QA/QC
• R&D : New Product & Process Development
• Marketing & Sales, Business development & Marketing analysis
• Procurement & Supply chain management

Types of companies with career opportunities:

• Corporate Food manufacturing companies
• Food research laboratories
• Food quality & Certification organizations
• Food Packaging companies
• Food machinery & Instruments manufacturing companies
• Flavour houses
• Agricultural commodities export ventures
• Food wholesalers

Job Opportunities in Government Sector in India

• The Food Corporation of India (FCI)
• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
• Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
• Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Ministry of Food Processing Industries
• APEDA, MPEDA, NABARD, NAFED, MAFED, BARC
• State & Central Food Laboratories
• State Govt: Food Safety Officer/Food Inspector
• CFTRI, IICPT, DFRL, NIFTEM Scientist/Asst. Professor
• ICAR (ARS) Scientist

Some Top Recruiting Food industries:

As the scope of food technology in India is growing, Industries are hiring professionals from all around the country. Some of the top recruiters are as follows:

• MTR Foods Limited
• AMUL
• Dabur India Ltd
• PepsiCo India Holdings
• Britannia Industries Ltd
• Nestle India Pvt. Ltd
• ITC Limited
• Agro Tech Foods
• Parle Products PVT Ltd
• ITC Limited
• Cadbury India
• Hindustan Liver Limited
• Milk Food
• MTR
• Nestle India
• Godrej Industrial Limited

Five reasons why one should choose Food Science & Technology

1) Job Security: Nobody can survive without eating food. Therefore, food industries will always keep processing food and hiring professionals.

2) Diverse Environment: As food industry is diverse, with literally thousands of different opportunities for a food scientist/ food technologist. You can work with a milk processing industry, a winery, bakery industry, meat processing, flavour development, etc. As you study multidisciplinary subjects, it opens up a myriad of opportunities.

3) Salary possibilities: A degree in food science offers many opportunities to earn top- salaries with a good growth rate.

4) The Food: If you are a food lover, then, working in this industry would be like a dream come true. Creating and testing products will expose you to good food. You will also get an opportunity to explore new dishes and flavours.

5) Travel opportunities: Most of the food industries are global. Depending on your position, you often get opportunities to travel to different countries for work, training, business expansion etc.