The CNC Laboratory

The Food Science and Technology Unit

The Food Science and Technology Unit is equipped with science laboratories that include a semi-commercial processing hall containing a range of small-scale equipment, suitably instrumented for the systematic study of operations involved in the food industry; a food microbiology laboratory, a quality assurance laboratory, a food research laboratory with specialised analytical equipment, and a sensory evaluation facility.  Areas of current research include food analysis, food safety and risk assessment, food preference and sensory studies, food fermentations, milk, meat, fish and seafood, fruit and vegetable microbiology and technology, food dehydration, and root crop processing.

The Unit maintains links with the food processing industry and other relevant stakeholders, particularly in the area of food product development/developmental research including microbial, sensorial and physico-chemical analyses.  Staff are also involved in scientific and technical societies, in particular, the Institute of Food Technologists (USA), the Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology and the Institute of Food Science & Technology (UK). Staff members also have numerous contacts with overseas institutions which they visit, and in which they participate. Many linkages exist with national and international development agencies. Industry internships are NORMALLY offered to students who have been successful in ALL courses. 

Graduates of this programme have found employment in the food industry, mainly in research and development, quality control and production management.  Some individuals are engaged in research and innovation in government and in industry-sponsored research organisations.

Other graduates are academic staff within universities.  Many opportunities also arise within the catering and pharmaceutical industries, in teaching, in libraries and information centres, and within overseas institutions and development agencies.

The Food Science and Technology Unit is headed by Dr. Gail Baccus-Taylor.

Programme Scope

The programme is offered both on a part-time and full-time basis.  Part-time students – must submit their Project Reports twelve (12) months after completion of the written examinations.

Full-time students – must submit their Project Reports nine (9) months after completion of the written examinations.  Candidates who fail to submit his/her Reports within the required period shall be removed from the Register of Postgraduate students.