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Food Scientist/Technologist

Food scientists/technologists research new food and beverage products, and develop ways to produce and improve the quality of these products. They may also develop or improve the processing, packaging, storage and safety of food in accordance with government and industry standards.

Tasks & duties

Food scientists/technologists may do some or all of the following:

improve or develop new food and drinks
develop new food packaging or improve current packaging
make test samples of food products and conduct trials
manage production of food and drinks
develop and supervise food manufacturing processes and equipment
ensure food products meet specifications and standards (quality assurance)
source and select ingredients for food products
improve efficiency of manufacturing processes
investigate the sensory and nutritional properties of foods

Specialisations

Food scientists/technologists often specialise in one area of food technology such as:

packaging
product development
production
quality assurance
policy and standards
technical sales
research and development

Skills & knowledge

Food scientists/technologists need to have:

knowledge of food and drink products
knowledge of food processing and production methods
knowledge of hygiene and quality standards
skill in analysing and interpreting research results
practical skills for performing experiments and operating scientific equipment
problem-solving skills
planning and organisational skills
communication skills
writing skills, for writing reports and for publications
maths and computer skills

Entry requirements

To become a food scientist/technologist, most employers require you to have a Bachelor's degree in food science or food technology that is approved by the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology (NZIFST).

New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology website - courses in food science and technology

Secondary education

To enter a food science/technology tertiary course, you need NCEA Year 13 calculus and chemistry. The entry requirements for food science/technology courses vary, so you may also need statistics, physics, technology or biology.

Tertiary education

In New Zealand, there are 12 degrees on offer for food science or technology.

Training on the job

Food scientists/technologists are often required to complete on-the-job training programmes specific to the products and processes they are working with. They may also need to do further professional development courses to keep up with market trends, or travel overseas to complete specialised courses.