The F Word!

45,000 Science Jobs required to Feed the World!
On the back of what were very successful STEM Conference in CAFRE Loughry and CAFRE Greenmount, I have included the quote below some 'food for thought'. If there is ever a time to promote CAFRE to our young people, it is NOW!

"Over the next decade, we will need tens of thousands of skilled food scientists to respond to the challenges we face in feeding the world safely and healthily. These men and women will have food science and food technology degrees and will be the foot soldiers in ensuring we produce enough of the right stuff to keep us alive!"

Job prospects for food scientists and food technologists in the UK are excellent, according to advisors from the leading Food and Nutritional Science department based at the University of Reading.

Professor Bob Rastall of the University of Reading said: "At a time when there has never been so much public interest in the importance of food, the UK food industry is still crying out for qualified food scientists and technologists."

Employment projections suggest the UK food and drink industry will need around 137,000 new recruits over the next decade with 45,000 of those jobs requiring high skill levels¹. The number of applicants for roles as qualified food scientists and technologists or nutritionists is in decline while the number of students studying food science at universities and further education colleges has also fallen as fewer school children choose science and technology based subjects

Professor Rastall continued: "The work of food scientists and technologists touches so many aspects of our relationship with food. Careers in food science will have a positive impact on the health and well-being of the nation, through the ready availability of good quality food. Future food scientists will be the guardians of the safety of the food we eat. They will be working on food security, conduct research on how the food we eat impacts on our health as well as advising food companies on the development of new products linked to optimal nutrition.