The discipline of Food technology draws its genesis from a host of other sciences like biology, chemical engineering, and biochemistry with an attempt to develop food processes that can yield improved food products for consumption of all. The discipline deals with all the activities that go into selection, preservation, processing, packaging, distribution, and use of safe food. Food being the primary need of man holds immense significance asin industry and hence for learning disciplines associated with it such as food technology.

Basic attributes / skills:

For any person who is an aspirant of a full time career in food technology, it is essential that he should have an inclination of working upon food stuffs, along with a technical bent of mind. It is desirable that he should have an experimenting attitude and research oriented. Heneeds  to give high attention to the concepts like safety and taste of food. Apart from that, he needs to be receptive to the needs and demands of the consumer, so as to align his practices as per the same. The word “technology” in Food technology does imply that scientific acumen at the end of the profession is desired, but it is more of an art to work upon food stuff to make them delightfully edible, nutritious and stay fresh longer. And a good food technologist should always strive for improvement and enhancement in the mentioned.

Scenario in Punjab:

Punjab has always been identified with agriculture, and more  so for “food” – both production and consumption. Hence the relevance of “Food Technology” for the state is natural and immense. During the last 10-15 years, the culture of consumption of packaged foods has witnessed an ascent. This has led many of the food processing companies to set up their base in Punjab, owing to its advantage of being a source-region for raw food material. Eminent companies like Nestle, Pepsico etc. have set up their units in the province; and many others have big plans to join the bandwagon. The rich dividends that the farmers have reaped through dealing directly withfood processing companies based in Punjab, have given momentum to the popularity of food-industry in state, which in turns augurs well for adoption and application of food technology practices in a more pronounced way.

Scope:

Food Industry had always been a money-minter aboard, and in past two decades it has emerged as a high profit industry in India as well. The industry is witnessing an exponential growth in the country, and this translates into high number of job opportunities for professionals and trained personnel with academic background in food technology. Contrary to popular belief that food technology is meant only to process “ready to eat” snack food, the same finds tremendous application in conserving basic or primary foods such as wheat and rice products, sugar, oil and pulses and the processes for converting them into edible form. The mall culture has also upheld the significance of food technology, as many bakery products, dairy products ,breakfast foods, meat and fish products, fruit and vegetable products etc. are being increasingly applied with the practices of food technology. Trends indicate to a bright future of processed foods in India, which in turn means huge opportunities for professionals from food tech field.

Popular Courses include:

·Diplomain Food Technology

·B.Sc.with Food Technology

·B.Tech. (Food Technology)

·M.Sc.Food Technology

·M.Tech. (Food Technology)

Eligibility:

Diploma in Food Technology is done after 10+2 (Medical / Non Medical). The one and a half year duration course has generally a cut off of50% in 10+2. B. Sc. & B. Tech Courses in Food technology callfor students with 10+2 in Science stream. Most colleges admit students with at least50% marks in 10+2 (Medical/Non Medical). Those having diploma can also takeadmission through lateral entry in 2nd year of B. Tech. (Food Technology). Masters in Food Technology is 2 years duration course aftergraduation.

Duration of courses:

Diploma is of the duration of 1.5-2 years. The duration for Bachelor courses is three years and four years for B.Sc. and B. Tech. program respective and Post Graduate level courses are of 2 years.