Career Opportunities for Food Technology Graduates
Food science and food technology are similar as regards their relationship with food. Never the less there are different expectations from both disciplines, food technologists more often implement ideas from food scientist in a bid to improve food production processes and the perception of the consumer towards a particular product.
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Why a Degree in Food Technology?
A career in food technology would help you understand why it is important for food production to be carried out in a safe environment without compromise on both quality and standard. sometimes as part of your job, you may be required to use both new and previous knowledge in the areas of food science in the rebranding or creation of food and beverage products. Adequate knowledge of the regulatory processes and bodies involved in food production in your country is very important in the course of your job.
Read Also; Food Science Career Opportunities
What is the Difference Between Food Science and Food Technology?
Well, a simple way to look at this is; food science, for example, can identify pasteurization as a key method in the production and preservation of milk, food technology, on the other hand, makes use of this discovery not only in milk preservation but seek to understand how this process can be exploited for the production of new and appealing products to consumers.
Simply put, food science focuses more on nutritional benefits and the hygiene surrounding food production, while food technology, in addition, seeks to understand consumer behavior, product development, and optimized product-client interaction.
What Skills Do I Need To Have?
As a Food Technologist, these skills would aid your work because your job as a technologist would require working with teams of experts from other fields especially the product development team. You should have;
- Interpersonal skills
- Good oral, written and communication skills
- Numeracy and analytical ability
- Presentation and IT skills
- Project and Time management skills
- Adequate theoretical knowledge of basic concepts in both food science and food technology
- Ability to work effectively on a team
- An understanding of the consumer market
- Intrest in developing new products and strategies
The Requirement to Study Food Technology In Ghana
A good science background with a knowledge of chemistry, mathematics,biology,agriculture, further mathematics e.t.c. is important for your success as an undergraduate student. You would also be required to have a good WAEC result and pass university entrance examinations. Some universities offer both food science and food technology as a single undergraduate program while people from related disciplines such as
- Chemistry
- Human Nutrition
- Agricultural Science
- Crop Science
- Biochemistry
are eligible to pursue postgraduate programs in food technology.
What Kind Of Job Can I Get With A Degree in Food Technology?
Some of the areas you can work in as a food technologist include but are not limited to the places specified below :
- Food and Beverage Industries
- Research Institutions (food-related)
- Governmental agencies (regulatory bodies)
- Universities (as an academic)
- Agricultural Organisations
Universities In Ghana Where You Can Study Food Technology
To work in ghana would require that you have a bachelors or masters degree in universities such as:
