Department of Food Production

The Department currently offers MPhil and PhD degrees in the areas of Crop Science, Horticulture, Livestock Science, Food Quality and Safety, Soil Science, and Earth and Environmental Science and Tropical Crop Protection.

CROP SCIENCE

Students admitted to pursue research degrees in the programme can carry out their research in aspects of crop production and utilisation spanning areas from crop propagation and agronomy to post-harvest physiology and commodity utilisation including tropical products development. The department can also provide training in sustainable farming systems and diversity studies in tropical root crops and selected tropical tree crops.

FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY

Students could pursue research degrees on topics of interests related to the supply of safe and wholesome food to consumers globally, food safety and quality management systems which address the farm to fork approach, good governance and national control, legislation and private standards, management of food safety and quality within the supply chain, control of food-related risks using biotechnology tools, food microbiology, research, education, and outreach activities necessary for effectively reducing foodborne illness.

HORTICULTURE

This programme provides advanced training in tropical horticulture that will equip graduates for careers in research, development and higher education. Research areas include germplasm evaluation, propagation and management of horticultural crops, landscape plants and turfgrasses and management of green spaces.

LIVESTOCK SCIENCE

Students admitted to pursue research degrees in Livestock Science have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of research activities in Tropical Livestock Science and production. Current departmental research involves research in ruminant production and improvement; poultry production; rabbit production and captive production of the Neo-tropical animals (e.g. agouti, deer, lappe (paca), and peccary).

SOIL SCIENCE

Students admitted into research programmes in Soil Science may choose to pursue research in one of the following areas:

• Organic waste management and utilisation
• Soil and land use studies
• Soil conservation and erosion management
• Engineering properties of soils
• Soil fertility and plant nutrition

TROPICAL EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 

This programme will train students for careers in research and teaching in Tropical Earth and Environmental Science. A graduate from the MPhil programme could expect to take up a position as a research technician, or apply their skills in consultancy. The PhD graduates of the programme are expected to make a significant contribution to the field These graduates would be suited as research scientists in forestry, agriculture or the oil industry, environmental consultants, university or college lecturers or other positions requiring sophisticated training at the PhD level.

TROPICAL CROP PROTECTION

Students admitted to pursue research degrees in Tropical Crop Protection have the opportunity to specialise further in plant pathology and virology, nematology, weed science and entomology. Students may choose the following courses:

MPhil (8 credits) / PhD (10 credits) in Tropical Crop Protection

Optional Courses:

Other requirements:

GRSM 7001-7004: MPhil only
GRSM 8001-8004: PhD only 

DEPARTMENTAL REQUIREMENTS:

In addition to Faculty requirements, students admitted for advanced research degrees in the department are required to take and pass the following two courses (4 credits each)

All postgraduate research students are required to present at least two seminars on their work at the MPhil level and three seminars at the PhD level. These seminars will be examined and graded on a “pass or “fail” basis.