Introduction – What is M. Tech Food Technology All About?

This is a full-time 2 year post-graduate course. Students with a relevant bachelor’s degree can opt for this field. This advanced course is a branch of science that imparts knowledge on the techniques of manufacturing, processing, preservation, packaging, labeling, quality management and distribution of food products. This innovative technology uses various techniques, processes and research that result in transforming raw materials into edible and nutritious food items.

The other important topics covered in this course are the study of the chemical and physical composition of food items, their nutrition value, and the various processes that are involved in food product processing in the food industry and factories. The hygiene and quality analysis of food products is also taught. This course from the Nutrition and Hospitality industry is popular and in high demand. It also offers specializations like food chemistry and dairy technology etc.

Food is crucial for the survival of mankind. This course combines various concepts and sciences to derive the optimum and the safest ways of ensuring that the processed food products are hygienic, tasty, safe for consumption and nutritious. This covers the entire cycle – food production, processing, preserving, packaging and distribution.

This blog enumerates all the essential aspects and imparts relevant information about this course. It highlights the following key factors about the MTech Food Technology course:

• Qualifications and eligibility criteria.
• The career opportunities.
• Career advancement opportunities.
• An evaluation of this course leading to a few reasons for choosing it.
• The guidelines and criteria for choosing the best colleges for this course.
• The curriculum and syllabus.
• The admission process.
• The fee structure.
• The jobs and responsibilities of a M. Tech Food Technology Engineer.
• The indicative salaries for these jobs.
• Its’ Scope
• Concluding remarks and recommendations based on the above information.

What is the required qualification for M. Tech Food Technology?

If you want to pursue a course in M. Tech Food Technology, you must possess the following:

• A graduation degree and having passed the designated qualifying exam.
• The Bachelor’s degree completed by the candidate must be from a UGC or University Grants Commission recognized college.
• The applicants for this post graduate course must have completed the relevant degrees like B. Tech, BSC, BE in Food Science, dairy Engineering, Agriculture, Food Technology, Food Engineering, Chemistry, Biology.
• The candidate must have obtained a minimum of 55% in the last qualifying exam. Some institutes accept a 50% aggregate too.

Career Advancement Opportunities After M. Tech Food Technology

• The food processing industry is a growing and rapidly advancing industry. India is an agricultural country and food is an important necessity for survival, therefore the opportunities for career advancement and growth are promising.
• The M. Tech graduates are in huge demand. Jobs abound in the small-scale industries, local production, SHG &MSME.  The various specializations available such as Industrial Microbiology, Food Science, Food and Nutrition, Analytical chemistry, Dairy Technology, Agricultural Technology, Fisheries and Management offer great avenues for career advancement. 
• You can either opt for regular jobs and professions, or be a scientist, or foray into the world of teaching or entrepreneurship.
• For those interested in pursuing research, IICPT (Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology) CFTRI (Central Food Technological Research Institute) are job havens. They can also take up the role of a project assistant in Central Food Technological Research institute.
• Academic and teaching avenues also open up. The well qualified candidates can take up Assistant Professor jobs in prestigious colleges or universities.
• The option of entrepreneurship also exists after they gain enough experience. They can be the founders of startups or take up the role of food consultants.
• Those desirous of taking up government jobs can prepare for competitive exams and chart out their career accordingly. The opportunities for career advancement occur with ample jobs in the food supply chain.

Since this course is very dynamic, the career opportunities are immense. The professionals can switch and shift from this field to Ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution, Restaurants, Hospitals, Food Manufacturing plant etc. Those individuals who are creative and also possess good technical skills can earn very well.

Why you should choose M. Tech Food Technology?

This field offers a lucrative career for those with the requisite skills and inclination. It also offers:

• The Opportunity to experiment and learn – This is the ideal career for those with a desire to experiment with food and keenness to learn the techniques and science of preparing and preserving them to retain their taste and nutrition.

If you are a “foodie” or are a connoisseur of good taste you will get the opportunity to create and experiment with good flavors, tastes, new dishes etc.

• Immense job security – The food industry is an absolute necessity since food is crucial for survival. This industry will always exist and continue to process food and hire professionals.
• Diverse employment opportunities in diverse environments- By virtue of this being a course with multidisciplinary subjects, a lot of different job options in different avenues open up. Food technologists /food scientists can be employed in wineries, bakeries, milk processing industries, flavour development, meat processing and others.
• High salaries and growth possibilities – An M. Tech in Food Technology offers jobs with high salaries and growth opportunities. The potential of career advancement is also inherent in this degree.
• Opportunities of travel within India and globally- This industry offers a great travel potential for learning, for exhibitions/displays, for interacting with people, meetings, shows, conferences etc. both nationally and internationally.

How to find top M. Tech Food Technology Course & College in India

Some of the crucial factors in deciding the top college and course in India can be based on the general parameters of its curriculum and subjects taught, faculty expertise and experience, location, accreditation, infrastructure, fee structure, placement review ratings and placement record with pay packages of the selected candidates.

The latest college rankings available on reputed public portals can be referred to.

Interaction with alumni on formal platforms can also be undertaken to check through personal experiences and recommendations.

M.Tech Food Technology curriculum & syllabus

This 2-year postgraduate course is divided into 8 semesters and the syllabus according to the semesters is:

 Admission process for M. Tech Food Technology

The admission process for M.Tech Food Technology covers the following:

• It is offered in most institutes in India for students who hold a BE. /B, Tech degree through GATE scorecards.
• It is offered to candidates who have secured a minimum of 55% in their B. Tech or BSC degree. Some institutes accept a 50% too.
• Non-Gate candidates are considered on the basis of results obtained in the Common Entrance Tests of various institutes that offer this course
• Other than GATE the other accepted exams are – ICAR, TANCET, AIEEA, JEE Main, JEE Advanced, AP PGECET, MHT CET, LPU NEST, AMU Entrance Exam, GPAT etc.
• The process of admission is very basic and includes – Registration, filling up of application form and paying the fees.
• The Required documents must be uploaded in the proper file size, format etc.
•  The candidates must apply at an institute of their choice with a valid entrance scorecard. Based on this, the candidates will be shortlisted. and invited for the completion of further admission formalities.
• GDP / PI rounds will follow depending on the institute’s criteria.
• After clearing the interview, the candidate will be offered counselling which will then zero down to the institute they can seek admission in.

Fee structure for M. Tech Food Technology

 Pursuing a course in M. Tech Food Technology in India is economical as the fees is not very exorbitantly high. The average annual fees for this course ranges from INR 50,000 – 3 lacs.

What does M. Tech Food Technology Engineer do?

Food Engineers are trained in applying engineering, science and mathematics principles to the processing, production, handling, conservation, storage, control, packaging and distribution of food materials and bio-products.

They are in charge of looking after the wide range, stocks and availability of boxed, canned and bagged foodstuffs on shelves and replenishing them when needed. The nutrition, taste and safety of the food and drinks is their responsibility.

The contribution of food engineers to the food supply chain is very crucial. They also undertake the following –

• Looking after the food storage equipment and systems
• Being responsible for designing the processing, packaging and handling of food.
• They are in charge of scaling up the prototype machinery, equipment and food processes.
• Conducting research and development of the product/process.
• They are responsible for the protection and regulation of public health.
• They are also responsible for technical sales and engineering.

Apart from the above, there are several other duties that they undertake.

Job Opportunities for Food technology engineers-

 Food technology engineers can find employment in both the government and the private sector. The Food Corporation of India has vacancies for this stream. Even laboratories and government organizations etc. The initial recruitment is as trainees. After that they are promoted to higher grades based on their experience and capabilities.

Private companies like the reputed Cadbury, Britannia, Nestle, Amul etc. have vacancies for Food Technology engineers. Catering services owned by entrepreneurs also provides job opportunities.

What is Scope in M.Tech Food Technology?

This course is an industry-oriented course that teaches and prepares students to handle jobs in food processing, food manufacturing, research laboratories and in industries that are similar.

The postgraduate students on successful completion of this course can take up jobs in diverse fields such as food processing companies, restaurants, hospitals, soft drink manufacturing companies, food processing firms, quality control organizations, packaging industries, food research laboratories, spice, rice and cereal mills, catering establishments etc. The scope of jobs for food technology students is immense and will always exist, since food is a crucial part of our existence. The various specializations can increase the scope of their employment.

There is a lot of diversifications in the food market overseas. The focus is more on ready-to-eat and functional foods. The various categories namely – diet food, fast food, baby food, health food, baby foods, confectionery, convenience foods, pet foods etc. A lot of research is being carried out and a lot of money being spent to develop and include new and healthier foods with the promise of less cooking and good nutrition. If a candidate wants to work overseas as a food technologist, then knowledge of R & D and a willingness to accept an R&D technologist’s role is very important.

What are the Career Opportunities After M. Tech Food Technology Degree?

The various job roles available after successful completion of this degree are –

• Research Associate in firms
• Research Scientist
• Technical Services Manager
• Quality Control Executive
• Food Quality Assurance Technologist
• Food Safety officer in the government sector
• Natural Therapist
• Quality Manager
• Food Safety Officer
• Technical Brewer

The responsibilities and duties of a few job roles are mentioned below:

• Nutritional Therapist:  They are also referred to as nutritionists. They work closely with hospitals and general physicians. Their role is to look after the food and food habits of patients. so that illness and diseases are prevented.
• Quality Manager:  They are responsible for maintaining the quality with due cognizance to the legalities. They look after the satisfaction and expectations of the customer and also manage the internal and external requirements of food.
• Product/Process Development Scientist: Various food companies hire these professionals to display an understanding and control the different stages and processes that make up the final output of the product.
• Technical Brewer:  This interesting job includes taking up the responsibility of packaging, marketing and brewing beer for a beer factory or a restaurant.
• Food Blogger/Vlogger: This is a relatively new but high-profile job. They travel to various destinations and inform people about a variety of dishes available globally. A blogger writes about the food and the vlogger shoots the preparation of the food and presents it in an interesting manner which is visually appealing.
• Chefs:  They cook delicacies, use healthy ingredients, innovate, and cook nutritious and healthy meals.
• Regulatory Affairs Officer: They are responsible for the legal compliances, licensing and marketing of the medical and pharmaceutical products of food and related agencies.

The sectors and agencies where they can find employment are – Food & Beverage departments, Storage units, food safety manufacturing units, research units, laboratories, Quality Assurance units, Food processing and production organizations, Food Marketing, Process and distributing units and Food Business Management

Why Choose MIT ADT University for M. Tech Food Technology?

Have you always dreamt of making money while pursuing a passion?  Have you dreamt of doing what you love and turning it into a profession?

The culinary field and an M. Tech in Food Technology unravel a world that will appeal to your senses – the sense of touch, sight, smell and taste.

With a plethora of institutes that have mushroomed all over, promising post-graduation in Food Technology, MIT School of Food Technology (MIT SFT) under the aegis of MIT ADT University, has emerged as a beacon of light, guiding the students of Food Technology on their career landscape. It has unique advantages and key differentiators that ensure that it ranks very high in the clutter of educational institutes.

MIT ADT University has a modern and innovative infrastructure, comfortable and well-equipped classrooms, modern laboratories. It has pilot processing plants that are franchise-based, expert faculty members, an eco-friendly environment and many more. These are the factors that will help the student to take a well-informed decision.

If you want to imbibe the flavor, taste, sight and smell of excellence in education, fill in the form at  http://bit.ly/ApplyNow_MIT-ADTU for a glorious career in M. TECH in Food Technology!