What is Food Technology?
Food Technology refers to the science and technology of food production, including the research, development, packaging, dissemination, preservation, and quality control of various food products.
Food technology is a burgeoning field of science and comprises various specializations such as dairy technology, bacteriology, farm management, toxicology, waste management, and packaging hygiene.
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Undergraduate Food Technology Degrees Offered
Candidates aspiring towards a career in food technology can opt for the following undergraduate degrees-
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Specializations in Food Technology
Specializations offered in food technology include the following-
- Agriculture and Food Engineering
- Bacteriology
- Biotechnology
- Dairy Science and Technology
- Farm Management
- Food and Nutrition | Food Science and Nutrition Management | Food, Nutrition, and Dietetics
- Food Entrepreneurship
- Food Engineering
- Food Fermentation
- Food Preservation
- Food Process Engineering
- Food Processing and Quality Control
- Food Production and Bakery
- Food Science and Technology, Biochemistry, Microbiology
- Food Technology and Biochemical Engineering
- Gastronomy Science
- Product Design
- Ingredient Functionality
- Sustainable Food Processing
- Toxicology
- Waste Management
Eligibility and Requirements for Food Technology
Students can enroll in food technology colleges and courses after appearing for entrance exams across the country. The eligibility criteria are as follows-
- Candidates enrolling in food technology programs and entrances must have passed their 10+2 (or equivalent) examinations from a recognized Indian board with a minimum aggregate of 50-55% marks.
- Candidates must have chosen the science stream in their 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects.
Admission Procedure for Food Technology
The admission procedure for food technology colleges and courses in India is as follows-
- Candidates applying for food technology courses must qualify for the minimum eligibility to appear for the respective entrance exams. Candidates can apply for the entrance examinations by registering in the online portal and submitting the required documents.
- After appearing for the entrance exams, candidates will be shortlisted based on scores, ranks, and merit lists in the counseling session for the respective colleges/entrances.
- In the case of merit-based admissions, candidates will be shortlisted based on their 10+2 examination scores.
- Shortlisted candidates may finalize their admission at the concerned college by paying the fees and submitting the required documents for verification.
Entrance Tests for Food Technology Courses
Some of the important entrance tests offering admission into undergraduate food technology courses include the following-
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Aptitude for Food Technology
Students with an interest in food science will find food technology the ideal study goal for them. Students may gauge their aptitude for food technology with the following criteria:
- Knowledge of/Interest in health and nutrition
- Attention to detail
- Market trends awareness
- Organization skills
- Analytical and critical thinking
- Technical know-how
- Attention to food safety standards
- Communication skills
Food Technology Subjects
Food Technology courses comprise subjects and topics such as:
- Food Biochemistry
- Food Microbiology
- Fundamentals of Food Processing and Preservation
- Business Management and Ethics
- Hygiene and sanitation
- Food Chemistry
- Dairy Science and Technology
- Fermentation Technology
- Food Processing
- Crop Processing Technology
- Farm Management
- Harvest physiology of crops
- Bakery and Confectionary Technology
- Agrochemicals and Food Residue
- Food Toxicology
- Plantation Products Management
- Packaging Technology
Top Food Technology Specialisations for the Future
The most coveted and lucrative food technology specializations for the future include-
- Toxicology
- Sustainable Farming
- Food Waste Management
- Organic Food Technology
- Food Microbiology
- Nutrition Research
- Quality Assurance
- Food Processing Development
- Food Preservation Technology
- Food Residues Control (Pesticides and Insecticides)
Post-graduate Study/Research Opportunities in Food Technology
After completing their undergraduate degrees, candidates can further their food technology study goals through postgraduate and research degrees.
The eligibility criteria for pursuing postgraduate courses is completing an undergraduate food technology degree in the specialization/course of choice from a recognized university with a minimum aggregate of 55% marks.
Popular postgraduate degrees in food technology include-
- Master of Technology (M Tech)- 2 years
- Master of Engineering (ME)- 2 years
- Master of Science (MSc)- 2 years
- Post-graduate Diploma- 9 months to 2 years
- Master of Philosophy (M Phil)- 2 years
- Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Important entrance exams for admission into postgraduate food technology programs include-
- Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)- conducted by the Indian Institutes of Science (IISc) and Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs)
- Indian Council Of Agricultural Research All India Entrance Examination For Admission (ICAR AIEEA)- conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Indian Institutes of Technology Joint Admission test for Masters (IIT-JAM)- conducted by IIT Guwahati
- Common Universities Entrance Test (CUET-PG)- conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Delhi University Entrance Test (DUET-PG)- conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Jawaharlal Nehru University Entrance Examination (JNUEE)- conducted by JNU
- Banaras Hindu University Postgraduate Entrance Test (BHU PET)- conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test (TANCET)- conducted by Anna University
Career Prospects/Placements in Food Technology
Food technology is a promising study goal and a burgeoning stream in food science and engineering. Food technology offers several career avenues and job prospects in both, the public and private sectors. Food technology graduates receive placement offers from reputed companies visiting their college during campus placement programmes organised by the training and placement cell.
Popular and lucrative career prospects in food technology include the following-
- Food Technologist
- Food Microbiologist
- Home Economist
- Quality Assurance/Quality Control Manager
- Nutritional Therapist
- Lab Technician
- Regulatory Affairs Officer
- Food Product Development Technician/Scientist
- Food Production Manager
- Food and Nutrition Research Scientist
- Dairy Technologist
- Farm Manager
- Food Toxicologist
- Food Bacteriologist
Starting Salaries in Food Technology
Starting salaries in food technology range between INR 2 to 4 LPA, and can go as high as 40 LPA for experienced senior technicians.
Subjects Similar to Food Technology
Students interested in food technology might be interested in similar subjects like-
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