India is one of the largest producers of vegetables and fruits in the world. But most of the production just rots away while in transit. Fruits and vegetables have to be transported to the market quickly as they are highly perishable. However, in India even air conditioned vans to transport the produce to the market are often not available.

All this is slowly changing in modern India. Food processing is on the increase in modern India, and consequently new technology in food processing and preservation is the need of the hour.

The universities and educational institutions have understood this demand for food technologists and have devised new courses like food technology, food preservation which are hugely in demand.

Many universities in India offer degree courses in food science and food technology. The student can also do home science or Nutrition and Dietetics, and then go on to their masters in food technology.

Any student who has completed Plus Two examination with Physics and Chemistry and Maths (or Biology) is eligible.

The Ministry of Food and Civil Supplies has several Food and Nutrition Extension Centers in different parts of the country providing short-term courses and training in home-based preservation of fruits and vegetables, preparation of bakery and confectionery items, rice milling, oil seed processing
Some students even take up such job oriented short term certificate course immediately after Plus Two and go on to work for industries in the food processing sector. Such courses are offered at the various polytechnics in the country, food crafts institutes, and the renowned Central Food Technological Research Institute in Mysore.

Osmania University, IIT Kharagpur, the Agricultural University at Pantnagar, the famous Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science, the Gujarat Agricultural University, Madras University, University of Mysore, University of Calcutta are some of the major universities in India offer a B.Sc in Food Technology. Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science also offers many other courses like Home Sciences and Nutrition and Dietetics.

Students can also do the B.Sc course in Food and Nutrition available in the Osmania University and the Warangal-based Kakatiya University. A B.Sc course in Food Preservation is available in Madras University. Food and Nutrition courses are also available in the Pondicherry University. Food technology courses are available in all the major universities in India. The course at the University Department of Chemical Technology, Matunga, Mumbai is particularly good.

After doing your degree you might want to do your PG. The Central Food Technological Research Institute in Mysore also offers PG degrees in Food Technology. There are also institutes offering postgraduate courses in specialized aspects of food processing.
 SRMC offers a one-year PG Diploma in Clinical Nutrition. Any student with a graduation degree with Food, Nutrition and Dietetics / Home Science is eligible. The University of Bombay offers a one-year diploma in Dietetics and Applied Nutrition. The University of Home Economics (Delhi University) offers a diploma course in Dietetics and Public Health Nutrition. Andhra University at Visakapatnam offers a Post Graduate course in Food Sciences. PG courses in Food sciences are available in the Sri Padmavati Mahila Visva Vidyalayam, Women’s University at Tirupati. If you want to specialize further, you can always for a Ph.D in food technology or biotechnology or food preservation.

There are good courses in this area specialization in the UK and US also. Food technologists and biotechnologists are greatly in demand all over the world. Another favourite destination of Indian students nowadays is Australia and New Zealand, where job prospects and permanent resident ship after finishing the course are very bright.

The area of study has enormous scope. There is an increased need for food processing and food preservation in India. There are attempts by the state and central governments to setup food technology companies close to the areas under cultivation, as to utilize fruitfully the enormous agricultural produce of India. Food would be transported in a good condition, extra nutrients added, and food preserved and stored. Ready-made juices, read to eat chips, instant soups and noodles, microwavable meals are in demand in India. Consequently, for students the new development raises enormous employment opportunities in this sector. Food technologists are greatly in demand in the manufacture, preservation, packaging, processing, canning of various food products. They are responsible for the introduction of new methods of preservation and conservation. They have to check for the contamination, adulteration, and the nutritional value of the food products. Food technologists are also required to assess quality of the raw materials and the finished food product. They are responsible for the cleanliness and the hygiene of the storage space.

Food technologists/Nutrition specialist can be employed in the following areas:
· food research labs and food processing industries
· wholesalers of food
· catering
· retailers
· hospitals
· restaurants
The lower-end jobs in this sector include bakers, cutters, slaughterers, ready-to-eat food makers.

The major companies in India have all jumped on to the bandwagon of food retail and food processing. They include

ITC; PepsiCo India; Nestle; Parle Products; Reliance; Cadbury India; Kellogs; Dabur India; Godrej India; MTR foods limited; Amul; Britannia Industries; Hindustan Lever Limited
The salary varies according to the educational qualification and experience. With processed food chains with foreign tie-ups emerging on the Indian scene, food technologists will have opportunities to improve their prospects. Agri-exports have picked up tremendously with the encouraging involvement of the corporate sector and marketing and sales personnel are required for sales promotion and marketing. Food technologists work in research laboratories or on production lines to develop new products, test current ones, and control the overall food quality. This can be a rewarding career. Home Science graduates or higher degrees in Dietetics / Nutrition and Hotel Management graduates (food & beverage) can work as a team in food production industries, marketing, and preservation and so on. This is why graduates in Home Science Food Technology, Food Sciences and Nutrition have a wide range of options before them.