‘Food Technology’ Career Course After 12th.

Food Technology mainly deals with manufacturing and preservations of food products through scientific methods. Modem techniques are applied not only for processing and preservation, but for packaging and storing the basic food products like rice and wheat, oil, cereals, sugar and pulses. Besides, all the edible products which you see in the departmental stores like biscuits, pasta, breads, cakes, pastries, com flakes and other nutritional crunches are processed in a scientific way so as to retain the chemical and microbiological properties of the products.

Due to present day lifestyle of people, especially present day youngsters, food industry is rapidly growing in India, thereby creating many employment opportunities for graduates in India. Since food is essential for life, the scope of food industry is enormous. The degree-holders are easily absorbed in food processing industries which are in abundance in India besides manufacturing industries and distilleries, research laboratories, quality control, food packaging, soft drink factories, and hotels.

Table of Contents

Essential Qualifications:

10+2 in any stream from a recognized board

Undergraduate courses:

B. Sc. (Food Technology)
B. Applied Science
Bachelor of Food Science and Technology (BFST)
B.Tech. (Food Technology)
Diploma and Certificate Courses

Why Pursue a Career in Food Science & Technology

The food industry is one of the largest in the world. People will never stop to eat (essential for survival). Hence, it will be in demand always, and recession-proof.

You can choose any role within the food industry – behind the desk or in the lab. You can choose any function – R&D, Manufacturing, Quality Control, Sales & Marketing, Teaching and Consulting within the Government, Industry or Academia.

Growth of food industry

in India is 10 to 15 percent per annum. Presently, more than 350 colleges are teaching food technology, still the requirement of Food Technologists is not fulfilled. Presently, supply is less than demand. Food Technology is a vast subject. Popular avenues for employment in food industry are:

Biscuits & Bakery

Cereals & pulses products

Fish & meat products

Poultry & egg products

Fruit & vegetable products

Alcoholic beverages

Non-alcoholic beverages

Pickles/papads

Jams, jellies

Sauces & ketchup

Pasta & noodles

Ready meals/instant mixes

Spices & spice mixes

Confectionary & chocolates

Snack foods

Frozen & chilled foods

Dehydrated foods

Irradiated foods

Tea/coffee

Fermented foods

Oils & fats

Dairy products

Indian sweets & namkeen

-In a SSE, a Food Technologist can become Technical Head.

-In a MSE, a Food Technologist can become Divisional head i.e. Production Head, QA Head or R&D head.

-In a LSE, a Food Technologist can become Manager from Executive level of joining.

Degree courses in advanced food technology, legal aspects, management etc, will give opportunity to grow even up to CEO level.

Popular Sectors for Employment

• Food Manufacturing & Processing (Grains, fruits, vegetables, fish, meat etc.)

• FMCG

• Pharma-Biotech

• Agro-Biotech

• Dairy Firms

• Poultry Firms

• Bakeries & Confectionaries

• Breweries

• Retailers

• Healthcare

• Academia & Research Institutes

• Food Packaging

Popular Career Paths & Job Profiles in the Food Industry

• Research & Development (Food Scientist, Food Technologist, Food Chemist, Product Development Specialist)

• Quality Control & Assurance (Food Chemist, Food Inspector, Toxicologist)

• Food Processing (Food Processor, Process Development Specialist, Manufacturing Specialist, Food Production Manager)

• Sales, Marketing & Brand Management (various roles like other industries)

• Others (Dietician, Nutritionist, Animal Nutritionist, Diet & Fitness Counselor)

Top Academic & Research Institutes in India

Maharishi Markandeshwar Mullana University. https://www.mmumullana.org/
Anna University. https://www.annauniv.edu/
School of Life Sciences, B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology. http://www.bsauniv.ac.in/school-of-life-sciences
Dev Bhoomi Group of Institutions
Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) Web : https://www.cftri.res.in/
National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) http://www.niftem.ac.in/site/niftem_home.aspx
Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology (IICPT) http://www.iifpt.edu.in/
National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI) https://nabi.res.in/
Food and Drug Toxicology Research Centre (FDTRC)
Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL) https://www.drdo.gov.in/labs-and-establishments/defence-food-research-laboratory-dfrl
National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) https://www.nin.res.in/
Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (IITR) http://iitrindia.org/En/rti.aspx
Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) https://www.iari.res.in/
Department of Food Science and Technology, Pondicherry University. http://www.pondiuni.edu.in/department/department-food-science-and-technology
International Life Sciences Institute – India (ILSI). http://www.ilsi-india.org/
IISER – Pune. https://www.iiserpune.ac.in/
National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI). http://www.ndri.res.in/ndri/Design/Index.html
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, SNDT Women’s University. https://sndt.ac.in/index.php/fsn
Centre for Food Science & Technology, Sambalpur University. https://www.suniv.ac.in/department-details.php?url=centre-for-food-science-technology
Agricultural & Food Engineering Department, IIT Kharagpur. http://www.iitkgp.ac.in/department/AG
National Research Centre on Meat / Indian Council of Agricultural Research. https://nrcmeat.icar.gov.in/
Faculty of Food Safety and Quality. https://www.igmpiindia.org/ffsq.html

Salary Structures in the Food Industry in India

As a fresher, a Food Technologist can earn INR Rs 2 to 3 lakh per annum (average) in India.

Within 5 years, you can reach INR 500,000 – 640,000 per annum. With an experience of 10 years on your CV, you can expect annual package of INR 900,000 – 1,180,000.

The salary structure for professionals within the Manufacturing function could be 20% (approximately) less than those in the R&D or QC/QA function. If you enjoy lot of frequent traveling, then go for the roles of Food Inspector.

Academic roles will pay as per the University pay scales. Then there will be more extra incentives as well for Sales & Marketing professionals. For nutritionist and dieticians, median annual wage is INR 210,000 for fresher; and Nutrition Managers can earn INR 750,000 per annum (average). As a nutritionist or diet counsellor, you can also do freelancing.

If you end up in the Sales & Marketing (including Brand Management) role, the salary levels will be 20 – 25% higher than the R&D and QC/QA professionals.

Scope of Food Industry in India

The Indian Food Industry is currently valued at USD $39.71 billion, and the value is likely to reach USD $65.4 billion by 2018 (Govt. of India and IBEF).

According to DIPP, the Indian Food Processing sector has received around USD $6.7 billion as FDI between April 2000 and December 2015. The investments are poised to reach the value of USD $33 million in the next 10 years.

Besides the investment factor, the opportunity factor is also there – as per the data from the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, 42% of the Indian Food Processing Industry is still unorganized (D&B) – so opportunities are also there for prospective entrepreneurs. Overall, signs are very promising for the future within the food industry. Here is an infographic from IBEF to give you another overview.