Food Technology should be given a separate status
The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has declared the food
processing sector in the state as a Thrust Area. Since the agriculture
and the minor produce of the forests is the backbone of our state’s
economy, the food processing sector is now growing fast in the state of
Jammu and Kashmir. Though there has been an extensive research and
developmental work in agriculture science in the country, more attention
should be given for food security, preservation, hygiene, safety and
its standards in the field of post-harvest/post agriculture technology.
The fact remains that traditional knowledge adopted by the agriculture
sector could not meet the standards.
In the light of present scenario of global trend for food safety and standards, seven years ago the Islamic University of Science and Technology in the state of Jammu and Kashmir initiated a move in this regard and established the Department for pursuing four year B. Tech Degree course in Food Technology in its early inception. It was first of its kind in the state, especially in the valley. This initiative brought in the attitude of professionalism and the desire of independence among the youth of the valley. The broader and modern concept of technical expertise in the field of Food Technology provided by the university encouraged the aspirant students of (B. Tech) degree courses for professionalism. Many graduate students are now pursuing M. Tech and Ph.D. in different institutions outside the state of J&K. Skilled manpower generated in the field of this particular and pivotal, prospective entrepreneurial and developmental sector has narrowed the gap of scarcity in the Technical, Educational and Industrial sector of the state of J&K.
Food engineering & Technology is a multidisciplinary field of applied physical sciences which combines science, microbiology, and engineering education for food and related industries. It also provides engineering service assistance to other departments and industries through pilot plant, workshop and design sections. It is the application of agricultural engineering, mechanical engineering and chemical engineering principles to food materials. The process engineering research incorporates traditional engineering methodology as it relates to complex food systems. The overall goal is to understand and develop new processes that directly improve the state-of-the-art in food structuring. Food engineers and Technologists provide the technological knowledge transfer essential to the cost-effective production and commercialization of food products and services.
Food engineering & Technology encompasses a very wide field of activities. In support of this engineering approach, materials science, a sub-group can be established to characterize material and flow properties of food components. Both traditional measurements and several innovative techniques are employed for investigating the structure on multiple length and time scales. The main focus of this research involves the investigation of idealized systems with interesting rheological or micro structuring behavior that are models for complex food systems. Prospective major employers for food engineers and technologists include companies involved in food processing, food machinery, packaging, ingredient manufacturing, instrumentation, and control. Firms that design and build food processing plants, consulting firms, government agencies, pharmaceutical companies, and health-care firms also hire food engineers & technologists.
Facts must reach the common masses in our state as well as the intellectuals and literate people that FT (B. Tech in FT) is a branch of engineering just like civil, mechanical, electrical etc., as it satisfies the AICTE (All India Council For Technical Education) norms and should be treated as such and not mingled with agriculture sciences or home sciences. M. Tech (Food Engineering and Technology/M.Tech Food Technology) is a separate entity and as per the norms of the UGC and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and has no relevance with M.Sc. courses offered for food technology, and as such is exempted for ambit of NET/SET.
Food Technology should be given the separate status, i.e., it should not be mingled with the Agriculture Science and Home Science, because when we look at the basics, Food Technology commences from the point where Agriculture Science ends and Home Science commence from the point where food technology ends. The only similarity is that all of these deals with the “FOOD” but the entire mode of operation, technology, and concept is altogether different.
As per AICTE norms M.Sc. Food technology and B. Tech Food Technology are given the equal credits and under UGC norms M. Tech Food Technology is NET exempted. These eligibility issues must be considered while recruiting, screening or posting the candidates and even while admitting candidates for PhD programs. In case of M. Tech Food Technology, candidates after qualifying B. Tech can opt for M. Tech. A distinguishing criterion should be set up for the betterment of system.
PROSPECTS:
In order to streamline the system of public distribution and to improve the safety of food supply and maintain the standards of food consumption in the broader interest of public health, Food Research Laboratories (FRL) should be established in the state for analysis of the food products of different sectors of the government institutions, industries, traders and public in general. These laboratories should exclusively be controlled under the proper guidance of the food technology experts only. The concept of the Food Research Lab (FRL) does not even exist in the valley. There is not a single FRL where food analysis can be done. And keeping in view the agriculture strength of the valley, it can also result in the economic upliftment of the state. Even it can become the centre for research and new product development as well as processing and the preservation of the existing produce. Moreover every year students from the Kashmir University, IUST and SKUAST go outside the valley for analysis in different FRLs and pay huge amount there. Even the valley based Food Entrepreneurs and others send most of their critical sample tests outside the state and have to pay accordingly for that. With the introduction of FRL, all these means of revenue will be preserved within the valley and the means of employment can be generated.
Suggestions:
The eligibility criteria fixed for the post of Designated Officers, Food Safety Officers, Food Inspectors and the other relevant posts should be filled under the norms of “Food Safety and Standards Act 2006” and carried under the guideline of Food Safety and Standard Authority of India already in vogue. The eligibility is so irrational that the deserved become the victim of it. Students from the field of chemistry, material sciences, petroleum science, medical sciences etc. are eligible for the posts and what adds to the misery is the limited number of seats and the time period between the advertisements of the posts. Now when we look at the portfolio of the food inspector it deals with food laws and regulations, food tests, adulteration, fortification, nutrition, health, hygiene, sanitation etc., which is wholly and solely the subject of Food Technology and all these parameters can be addressed much competently by food technologists.
The Government should implement the “Food Safety and Standard Act 2006” in the state of J&K in its letter and spirit so that the menace of adulteration, supply of spurious drugs and the sub-standard food is controlled for future. The Government should constitute a “Scientific Expert Committee” of the eminent persons and the experts from the concerned agencies for implementation of the policies of the government in its true spirit. In this context the service of the “Lead Auditors” certified for “Food Safety and Management Systems” under ISO 22000 may be considered for expert opinions. Within the pursuit of our Forum and with the aid of the government, our forum can produce people who can deal with maintaining safety and security of the agricultural produce. Moreover, there is a need to constitute Food Safety and Security Agency that will scrutinize the laws and regulations for the upliftment of hygiene and sanitations of the food market. We have a good number of ISO-2200 trained personnel within our forum who are trained for this cause.
The concept of Food Technology must be introduced into the Polytechnics, Industrial Training Institutes (I.T.I) as the name suggests these are the centres to facilitate the technical knowledge and experiences. Though some of the Polytechnics and I.T.Is have these concepts but they are hardly handled by Food Technologists. The techniques and processes related to the food technology must be taught and exercised by the Food Engineers and Technologists.
There must be the autonomous body of Food Engineers and Technologists which will address all these concerns and issues. Moreover, it should not be diluted with the Agriculture and Home science. Food Technology can be economically uplifting for the state if addressed and handled properly.
In the light of present scenario of global trend for food safety and standards, seven years ago the Islamic University of Science and Technology in the state of Jammu and Kashmir initiated a move in this regard and established the Department for pursuing four year B. Tech Degree course in Food Technology in its early inception. It was first of its kind in the state, especially in the valley. This initiative brought in the attitude of professionalism and the desire of independence among the youth of the valley. The broader and modern concept of technical expertise in the field of Food Technology provided by the university encouraged the aspirant students of (B. Tech) degree courses for professionalism. Many graduate students are now pursuing M. Tech and Ph.D. in different institutions outside the state of J&K. Skilled manpower generated in the field of this particular and pivotal, prospective entrepreneurial and developmental sector has narrowed the gap of scarcity in the Technical, Educational and Industrial sector of the state of J&K.
Food engineering & Technology is a multidisciplinary field of applied physical sciences which combines science, microbiology, and engineering education for food and related industries. It also provides engineering service assistance to other departments and industries through pilot plant, workshop and design sections. It is the application of agricultural engineering, mechanical engineering and chemical engineering principles to food materials. The process engineering research incorporates traditional engineering methodology as it relates to complex food systems. The overall goal is to understand and develop new processes that directly improve the state-of-the-art in food structuring. Food engineers and Technologists provide the technological knowledge transfer essential to the cost-effective production and commercialization of food products and services.
Food engineering & Technology encompasses a very wide field of activities. In support of this engineering approach, materials science, a sub-group can be established to characterize material and flow properties of food components. Both traditional measurements and several innovative techniques are employed for investigating the structure on multiple length and time scales. The main focus of this research involves the investigation of idealized systems with interesting rheological or micro structuring behavior that are models for complex food systems. Prospective major employers for food engineers and technologists include companies involved in food processing, food machinery, packaging, ingredient manufacturing, instrumentation, and control. Firms that design and build food processing plants, consulting firms, government agencies, pharmaceutical companies, and health-care firms also hire food engineers & technologists.
Facts must reach the common masses in our state as well as the intellectuals and literate people that FT (B. Tech in FT) is a branch of engineering just like civil, mechanical, electrical etc., as it satisfies the AICTE (All India Council For Technical Education) norms and should be treated as such and not mingled with agriculture sciences or home sciences. M. Tech (Food Engineering and Technology/M.Tech Food Technology) is a separate entity and as per the norms of the UGC and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and has no relevance with M.Sc. courses offered for food technology, and as such is exempted for ambit of NET/SET.
Food Technology should be given the separate status, i.e., it should not be mingled with the Agriculture Science and Home Science, because when we look at the basics, Food Technology commences from the point where Agriculture Science ends and Home Science commence from the point where food technology ends. The only similarity is that all of these deals with the “FOOD” but the entire mode of operation, technology, and concept is altogether different.
As per AICTE norms M.Sc. Food technology and B. Tech Food Technology are given the equal credits and under UGC norms M. Tech Food Technology is NET exempted. These eligibility issues must be considered while recruiting, screening or posting the candidates and even while admitting candidates for PhD programs. In case of M. Tech Food Technology, candidates after qualifying B. Tech can opt for M. Tech. A distinguishing criterion should be set up for the betterment of system.
PROSPECTS:
In order to streamline the system of public distribution and to improve the safety of food supply and maintain the standards of food consumption in the broader interest of public health, Food Research Laboratories (FRL) should be established in the state for analysis of the food products of different sectors of the government institutions, industries, traders and public in general. These laboratories should exclusively be controlled under the proper guidance of the food technology experts only. The concept of the Food Research Lab (FRL) does not even exist in the valley. There is not a single FRL where food analysis can be done. And keeping in view the agriculture strength of the valley, it can also result in the economic upliftment of the state. Even it can become the centre for research and new product development as well as processing and the preservation of the existing produce. Moreover every year students from the Kashmir University, IUST and SKUAST go outside the valley for analysis in different FRLs and pay huge amount there. Even the valley based Food Entrepreneurs and others send most of their critical sample tests outside the state and have to pay accordingly for that. With the introduction of FRL, all these means of revenue will be preserved within the valley and the means of employment can be generated.
Suggestions:
The eligibility criteria fixed for the post of Designated Officers, Food Safety Officers, Food Inspectors and the other relevant posts should be filled under the norms of “Food Safety and Standards Act 2006” and carried under the guideline of Food Safety and Standard Authority of India already in vogue. The eligibility is so irrational that the deserved become the victim of it. Students from the field of chemistry, material sciences, petroleum science, medical sciences etc. are eligible for the posts and what adds to the misery is the limited number of seats and the time period between the advertisements of the posts. Now when we look at the portfolio of the food inspector it deals with food laws and regulations, food tests, adulteration, fortification, nutrition, health, hygiene, sanitation etc., which is wholly and solely the subject of Food Technology and all these parameters can be addressed much competently by food technologists.
The Government should implement the “Food Safety and Standard Act 2006” in the state of J&K in its letter and spirit so that the menace of adulteration, supply of spurious drugs and the sub-standard food is controlled for future. The Government should constitute a “Scientific Expert Committee” of the eminent persons and the experts from the concerned agencies for implementation of the policies of the government in its true spirit. In this context the service of the “Lead Auditors” certified for “Food Safety and Management Systems” under ISO 22000 may be considered for expert opinions. Within the pursuit of our Forum and with the aid of the government, our forum can produce people who can deal with maintaining safety and security of the agricultural produce. Moreover, there is a need to constitute Food Safety and Security Agency that will scrutinize the laws and regulations for the upliftment of hygiene and sanitations of the food market. We have a good number of ISO-2200 trained personnel within our forum who are trained for this cause.
The concept of Food Technology must be introduced into the Polytechnics, Industrial Training Institutes (I.T.I) as the name suggests these are the centres to facilitate the technical knowledge and experiences. Though some of the Polytechnics and I.T.Is have these concepts but they are hardly handled by Food Technologists. The techniques and processes related to the food technology must be taught and exercised by the Food Engineers and Technologists.
There must be the autonomous body of Food Engineers and Technologists which will address all these concerns and issues. Moreover, it should not be diluted with the Agriculture and Home science. Food Technology can be economically uplifting for the state if addressed and handled properly.
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