Careers and enterprise in food technology

The food industry covers processing, research and development (R&D), food safety, quality control, costing and regulation. People specialise in areas like beverages, dairy, meat, sea food, fats and oils, grains and additives.

Courses after Class 12:

• Certificate, craft and diploma courses (for example at CFTRI, Mysore): good for self-employment and small units.
• Bachelor's, Master's and research degrees (for example at NIFTEM, Sonepat): good for large industry, research and entrepreneurship.

Where food technologists work: food industries, quality control labs, hotels, hospitals, packaging, soft drinks, dairy, confectionery, fish and meat, fruit and vegetable, and grain processing. Their jobs include production, quality assurance, R&D, sensory evaluation, marketing, project financing, teaching and consultancy.

Self-employment is possible at every scale: from high-technology units to low-investment ones, like salted peanuts, dried products or pickles. Governments and banks give finance, training, space and marketing support, and women are encouraged.

The industry is large and growing, with more and more exports and jobs. Big factory or home kitchen: food technology offers both.