Career Opportunities in Food Science and Technology
Food technology and science is a joint combination of food science, biotechnology, engineering, processing to ensure growth and production of foods, safety of food, basic need of consumption as well as the economic growth of country. With the advancement of technology and increasing population, food technology has been spreading its impact, resulting of creating many lucrative job opportunities in the food industry.
Food industry is dynamic and ever-evolving industry that always seek for fresh talents who want to establish their career in food processing industry. There are plenty of career opportunities in food science and technology industry both for freshers as well as for experienced candidates in respect of their skills and knowledge.
India has been emerging as the pivotal hub in the eye of global food processing industry, providing a vast range of career opportunities in food science and technology industry. According to the report, provided by Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), the food industry in India is expected to grow in rocketing speed up to USSD 235.67 billion by 2028 and for this food processing industry needs developed, skilled, technical manpower to achieve this target.
For the career seekers, this has given not only the ample career opportunities in food science and technology but also in the quality controlling, quality assurance, packaging and other ancillary sectors.
What is Food Processing Science and Technology
Food processing is a combination process of science and technology that aims to convert that raw agricultural produce into processed, packaged food through different physical and chemical process like mincing, cooking, canning, liquefaction, pickling, emulsification assuring the  food quality, safety and longevity.
Food processing science and technology includes raw clean, harvested crops, butchered animal products as raw materials and then in specially designed machine in laboratories or research institutions caring with enforcement food safety laws converted into attractive, available, variety, nutritious food products.
Food processing science and technology thus requires skilled man-powers with the understanding of food science and technology for handling positive transformation of foods.
So food processing science and technology is the production process from raw materials to packing maintaining the quality assurance, quality standards, economic friendly food products, providing safe materials for consumption, avoiding foodborne illness as much as possible.
Why is Food Processing Science and Technology Important:
Food processing science and technology has been becoming globally demanding as the consumption of food as increasing day by day with the rise of population.
Moreover, the new age of human civilization has become more attracted with sophisticated, convenient and readily available packaged food for the busy scheduled of life. Here are the major reasons why food processing science and technology is becoming more important and career opportunities in food science and technology growing today:
(1) Providing food security for vast population:
One of the basic needs of our life is to get sufficient, safe and nutritious food so that we may live. With the rising population, the demand of the foods is increasing with equal pace. The aim of food processing science and technology is to meet the demand with safe, secure and economical way.
(2) Providing easily available variety foods:
Thanks to food science and technology that we can get variety of foods easily in the form of frozen foods, canned foods, microwave meals, condensed foods, snacks in our diet. It makes our diet with full of variety, tasty and nutritious.
(3) Helping economic growth:
The food science and technology not only provides a huge employment opportunities for the students and experienced but it also emerges as a helping boon of economic growth of country where agriculture is a basic source of economy.
Career Opportunities in Food Science and Technology:
Career opportunities in food science and technology need preferable skills, knowledge and educational degrees. For this purpose one can possess the knowledge and degree in food science, nutrition, biotechnology, food processing engineering, packaging engineering and marketing experience. Here are some of the career opportunities in food science and technology:
1. Food Engineering:
Highly developed skills are required for the transformation of raw food ingredients into consumer preferable food products. Here food technologists play a crucial role to ensure safety during production. Food engineering involves research on new food processing techniques, ensure regulatory compliance, testing of products as well as enhance manufacturing process.
2. Cold Chain Specialist:
To ensure the food products like dairy, meat, seafood, fruits remain safe and fresh, cold chain specialists play an important role. The work of cold chain specialists involves managing temperature-controlled, designing and managing cold storage to maintain food products fresh.
3. Supply Chain and Logistics Management Specialists:
Supply chain and logistics management specialists ensure efficient movement of food from farm to table by optimizing transportation, warehousing, inventory. They focus on reducing inefficiencies, minimizing food waste and ensuring timely deliveries etc.
4. Research and Development in Food Manufacturing:
Research and development in food industry involves in the new food processing techniques and equipment after analyzing food safety data, production process, quality assurance tests. Here research and development teams bring innovative ideas to meet market demands, healthier options, better taste and longer shelf life.
5. Quality Control Manager:
The job of quality control manager in food industry involves inspecting products, ensuring the food products meet certain standards, ensuring enough they are safe for consumption. Career opportunities in food processing science and technology as quality control manager are always high in demand as food industry is always looking to meet and exceed industry standards.
6. Food Packaging Designer:
As e-commerce expands in the food processing sector, packaging designers specializing in online retail create innovative packaging that protects food during shipping, is easy to handle and meets sustainability standards. They focus on developing user-friendly, tamper-proof, eco-friendly solutions that cater to e-commerce logistics. Their key responsibilities include designing durable packaging that maintains product integrity during transport, utilizing sustainable materials to minimize environmental impact, and collaborating with marketing teams to ensure the packaging aligns with brand identity.
Areas To Study in Food Science and Technology:
1. Food Engineering
Food engineering includes the application of engineering technology to the food processing, packaging, supplying of food products. B. Sc or M. Sc degree in Food Science and Technology, Microbiology or Biotechnology are the educational courses focusing on product development, safety and food processing methods are desirable to make career in food science and technology.
2. Food Storage Specialist:
Food Storage Specialists are responsible to keep the food products fresh, clean, safe for long time during transportation, storage and distribution. A degree in Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering with a focus on refrigeration systems and HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning).
3. Food Packaging Engineer:
Packaging ensures to preserve the food safely for longer period of time and helps to carry food products during transportation and distribution. B. Tech and M. Tech in Packaging Technology are desirable to become specialist in food packaging industry.
4. Food Nutritionist:
Food Nutritionists focus on understanding the nutritional quality of food products and how food products affect human health. After a careful consideration, the food nutritionists develop the food products that meet nutritional needs. B. Sc or M. Sc in Food Science or in Nutrition or Environmental Health provides technical knowledge needed to essential nutrition in food products.
Salary Range in Food Industry:
The salary range for the specialists in food science and technology may vary depending on various factors like specialization, experience, qualification, location of job and organizations etc.
A fresher in this industry can expect around 3 to 6 lakhs per annum in India at the initial level. However, an experienced professional or those who hold higher ranks in the food industry may earn significantly higher salaries exceeding INR 8 to 15 lakh per annum.
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