Major meat companies help get food science into the classroom

Major meat companies help get food science into the classroom

Supported by ABP, Butcher’s Pet Care, Dairy Crest, Faccenda Group, Jordan’s & Ryvita, and Noble Foods, a short course for schools in Food Technology Engineering was recently run by Harper Adams University.

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The course was designed by the university’s food department. Ralph Early, professor of Food Industry, head of department of Food Science and Agri-Food Supply Chain Management, a seminar speaker at the forthcoming Meatup show said: “The food industry as a source of good careers is poorly understood by schools and the belief mistakenly persists that food science and technology are about cooking. There is little understanding in schools that food scientists, technologists and engineers design, build and run the food factories that keep retailers stocked and British citizens fed.”

The recruitment of students was undertaken by the Smallpeice Trust; an independent charity which promotes engineering careers to young people aged 13 to 18, by means of residential courses covering science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM subjects). Harper Adams University works in partnership with the Smallpeice Trust to provide a venue for its courses and this year the Food Technology Engineering course was run for the first time.

During the three days of the course the students experienced something of what it is to be a university student. They participated in lectures, covering topics ranging from the global food system, food processing, food preservation, food engineering, and hygiene and food safety.

They also received an entertaining and insightful presentation from the Faccenda Group’s head of engineering and one of the company’s graduate engineers. This brought a distinct sense of authenticity to the course, which was essential if the students were to gain a realistic understanding of the work of the food industry. Central to the course was the food technology practical, where the students rolled up their sleeves and made some food products (which they ate).

Click here to register for Meatup and The Food Science and Technology Show .

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