IKON
Indian-origin food scientist Harjinder Singh is the first recipient from outside North America of the prestigious “International Dairy Foods Association Award” , given at a ceremony organised in Orlando, Florida. Harjinder based in New Zealand has been honoured for his contribution in improving the quality, safety and processing efficiency of dairy food. He was also was conferred the “International Dairy Foods Association Award” in dairy food processing by the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA), technology news website voxy.co.nz reported.
He is co-recipient of the Prime Minister’s Science Prize (2012), the most prestigious science honour in New Zealand.
Singh was elected fellow of Royal Society of New Zealand in 2002 in recognition of distinction in research and the advancement of science. He was also elected fellow of the International academy of Food Science and Technology in 2006. This fellowship recognises outstanding contributions to the field of food science and advancement of knowledge.
What is the Job all about?
Food science and technology is a vast field which includes fresh, as well as packaged food.
In today’s busy world – people, especially working women, do not have enough time to spend in the kitchen. Also, food habits have changed due to the knowledge that certain foods, cooked with certain ingredients or oil, are not good for our system.
Food Technologists, also known as Food Scientist, study the physical, chemical and biological composition of food. They develop methods for processing, preserving and packaging food, and search ways to improve its flavour and nutritional value. They conduct tests to ensure that “Food technology uses sciences from chemistry, engineering, microbiology; nutrition etc. to produce foods that last longer, with better retention of nutrients, is safer and also produces many specialty products. Thus it makes seasonal foods available throughout the year, destroys pathogens and deactivates toxic components to make foods safer and deals with ready convenient foods,” products – from fresh produce to packaged meals – meet industry and customer needs.
Can I go for it?
There are several types of openings available in the Food Technology area. If you have a good nose for what the Customer is looking for, and can get the Team to Research the item and try its variants, till the product comes to its logical conclusion, (i.e. ready for manufacturing) then you are in business. So, Market Research (Surveys / Statistics / Marketing) is one good area.
If you have a good science background at the Graduate level and want to go for further studies, this is again one good area to go for. And you can choose either Basic Research or Applied Research. Each area has its own requirement of abilities. In Basic Research you would be thorough in analysis. In Applied Research, you would need to be an innovator. For example: How to meet the needs of children in terms of breakfast – how should the cereal be produced, what it should taste like, how it should be presented? These are applications to food requirements of various sections of the public and family compositions.
So, if you are either inclined towards Business or like to work in a Food Processing Company, that produces such foods for the busy housewife or a bachelor who enjoys doing his own quick cooking; then this is a Career meant for you.
Sausages, Dried Fish, Pickles, Rechiar Masala, Mol, etc. continue to be the favorites at meal times, especially during Monsoons. Also vegetarians have convenience foods in forms like ready-mixes: Idli, Vada, Dosa, Chakli, Jamun, Pakoda, etc.
Similarly, the busy house wife, who also likes a non-vegetarian variety, has convenience-foods in readymade curries with fish / mutton / chicken, etc.
Depending on one’s qualification and interest, there are many options available to choose from. “A person can choose to work in food manufacturing industries as it is a sector which needs persons for work from the basic level to the higher level. Positions like new product developer, production supervisor, production executive and quality controller are easily available,” states Sheetal Khadye, R&D manager, Puratos Food Ingredients India Pvt Ltd. There are also marketing and technical service positions available with ingredient suppliers. With the introduction of new food laws, regulatory positions are now also available.
According to Vijay Bhaskar Reddy, head of the R & D foods division, Dabur India Limited, “Today there are plenty of good opportunities in research foundation, analytical testing, quality control, dairies, production and marketing.” Other options include working in hospitals, bakeries, confectioneries, poultry farm, nut processing industry, frozen food units, the food processing division in catering units, distilleries and packaging industry. For those who wish to share their food knowledge, teaching is another available option.
Is there a future in this Career?
With domestic help virtually disappearing and more families, due space constraints are now adopting the nuclear family route – the future for Processed Food has tremendous scope both in India and abroad.
The branches of Food Technology are numerous and include cereal grains (corn flakes, etc.), meat and poultry (soups, canned meat, etc.), fats and oils (cooking oils – Dalda, coconut, olive, etc.), sea foods (prawns and other canned fish viz. sardines, mackerels), animal foods (for pet dogs and cats), beverages like Cokes and Soft Drinks), dairy products like butter, cheese, etc. and the list goes on and on.
Food Technologists in Basic Research study the structure and composition of food and observe the changes that take place during storage and processing. The knowledge they gain enable them to develop new sources of proteins, determine the effects of processing on micro-organisms or isolate factors that affect the flavour, appearance or texture of foods.
Food Technologists engaged in Applied Research and Development have a practical task of creating new food products and developing new processing methods. They also work with existing foods to make them more nutritious and improve their colour and texture, etc.
Where to study?
In Goa:
After Standard X, the Goa Polytechnic Institute in Panaji, has an intake capacity of 15 students. It is the first and the only such course in Goa. The program (of 3½ years) is spread over 7 terms and has a sandwich pattern, consisting of 2 phases of Industrial Training spread over 7 months. The Department is housed in a separate block behind the main Institute building. http://gpp.nic.in/Academics.html.
The program deals with Preservation, Processing and Packaging of different foods. It imparts expertise in scientific handling of food. The goal is to ensure wholesome and nutritious food to all mankind.
Students completing this course are well equipped to work at Supervisory / Middle Management levels in the Production and Quality Control Departments of Food Processing Industries.
As Food Inspectors, Supervisors, etc. in different Organizations viz. Food Industries as Quality Inspectors, or in Research or even in Sales & Marketing. Government Departments have vacancies as Food Inspectors or in their Research Dept checking the durability of the product etc.
Outside Goa:
Harcourt Butler Technological Institute, Kanpur UP
Laxminarayan Institute of Technology, Nagpur
North Maharashtra University UTDC, Jalgaon
Dept of Food Engineering & Technology, Sant Longowal Institute – Punjab http://www.sliet.ac.in/Institute/Admin/Index.php.
Sardar Patel College of Technology, Anand, Gujarat
Diploma in Food Technology, Malvan
MSc in Food Technology, Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore
BSc with food and nutrition, Dr.Babasabeb Ambedkar Marathawada University
Diploma in Food Technology, SNDT Mumbai
BTech, Jalgaon and Aurangabad
BTech from Institute of Chemical Technology
University of Mumbai: (MSc Tech is available in food technology and in fermentation technology)
At senior levels:
CFTRI is linked to the United Nations, and is one of the leading learning Centers in the country for training of personnel at Middle and Management levels.
You can do your – M.Sc. Food Technology (www.cftri.com) at the following Institutions:IIT Kharagpur, West Bengal – (M.Tech and Ph.D) (www.iitkhaarag.org)
Osmania University – M.Sc. Food Tech. (www.osmania.tech.ac.in)
Employment Avenues:
Market Research, Food Technologist, Applications Engineer.
Monies:
Early stages would fetch you around Rs. 10,000 – Rs. 15,000/- p.m., but with a few years of experience you could easily be in the Rs. 50,000/- to Rs.1 Lakh bracket. There is also tremendous potential for starting your own business.
Please do not be satisfied with just acquiring a Degree/Diploma – try and enhance your CV by doing online learning programs (with a certificate) of programs relevant to your choice of career. Your chances of employment will be much better than just a plain degree/diploma.
Please check this website under other details for places you can learn online. Also try and develop your confidence by doing a public speaking training program with people like Toast Masters International.
For government jobs: please check : http://www.employment-newspaper.com/