The current fast paced life has ushered in the era of convenience food and more popularly the fast food culture in India. This has brought among more nutrition and quality consciousness among the people and it has also led to the improved demand for processed and packaged food, all these factors pose a very encouraging picture on the future of food science technology industry in the nation. The FPI includes basic foods like rice and wheat products and the processes for converting them into edible form in addition to processed food like vegetable and fruit products, meat and fish product, dairy products, confectionery product and bakery products, which are processed and packed with a view to prolong and enhance the edible life.

Personality traits to be possess for finding jobs in food science technology industry:

To become food technologists, candidates must possess the following skills:

•    Ability to work well on own and also as part of a team
•    Sense of responsibility
•    Powers of concentration particularly on research and development
•    Interest in nutrition and health
•    Interest in technological and scientific developments
•    Powers of observation
•    Scientific bent of mind
•    Average intelligence
•    Ability to communicate effective with people at different
•    Discerning approach to food items

Training required to enter food science technology industry:

There a wide range of courses at varied levels that train the students for jobs in food technology jobs in small scale and large scale industries. After completing their higher secondary examination successfully, candidates can pursue short-term diploma, craft courses and certificate courses at different polytechnic colleges offering these courses in India. Completion of these courses enables the candidates to get a comprehensive professional grounding for jobs in the industry of food science technology, more specifically in the large scale units.

Placement and prospects:

The work of professionals in the field of food science technology would be mainly in rice mills, soft drink companies, distilleries, industries, packaging firms, hospitals, quality control, food industries and hotels. They are also into manufacturing firms by using their expertise in monitoring the experimenting, temperatures, hygiene, processing and storage activities. The food science technology industry also has attractive openings at the managerial levels for professionals from different fields. For instance, industrial production manager are needed for controlling the operations of manufacturing plants. Sales and marketing professional are needed for marketing and sales promotion. Food Science technologists work in research labs or on production lines for development of new products, testing current products and control the overall quality of food. Moreover, professionals in this field can get a bright prospects in salaried jobs in private and public sector organizations.

Government jobs in food science technology:

When it comes to government jobs in this field, the ministry of food processing industries established in the year 1998 gives an impetus to the development of food science technology and therefore government job positions can be found by professionals in this field. Recently, the National Institute of Food Entrepreneurship and Management invited applications from eligible candidates for the position of associate professor in Food Science & Technology for filling up its teaching vacancy.