Food security course
The UK’s University of Chester has secured funding to deliver a course that will boost research into the global challenges around future food security.
The course, which will lead to a postgraduate certificate in food integrity and innovation, is being developed by Professor Graham Bonwick and Dr Catherine Birch (pictured), of the University’s Institute of Food Science and Innovation (IFSI).
A grant from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council will fund development and validation costs for the first three modules of the seven-module course, which will be launched next year.
Dr Birch says, “The world is facing a potential crisis in terms of future food supply, and the challenge is to provide the growing global population with access to safe, nutritious and affordable food – and that’s where research comes in. The IFSI is already doing research into alternative, sustainable sources of protein that could help feed the world.”
The three modules currently under development are food nanotechnology, functional foods and bioactive ingredients and packaging innovation and future developments.
Dr Birch adds, “The aim of the University of Chester’s new programme is to enable study into areas where research and innovation have significant potential to address these future societal challenges.
“Our objective is to introduce students to key concepts that will help them understand what a difference contributions from areas such as industrial biotechnology, molecular biology, nanotechnology and materials science can make to these serious global challenges.”
The course aims to provide participants with the knowledge and skills to enable them, as managers and leaders, to make informed, higher level decisions that will ultimately enhance competitiveness, innovation and new market opportunities, while responding to consumer need.
