There has never been a more urgent need to train food security researchers who are equipped with skills in agronomy, plant pathology, plant disease and plant genetics, and knowledge of modern agricultural systems and agricultural policy. As outlined in The Royal Society’s 2009 report Reaping the Benefits: science and the sustainable intensification of global agriculture, it is of vital importance that we increase crop yields significantly over the next 50 years, while also decreasing our dependency on chemical intervention and fertilizers.
This interdisciplinary programme was developed in collaboration with a variety of stakeholders, including: the agricultural industry, government agencies (including Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (defra) and The Food and Environment Research Agency (fera)), and farmers and food manufacturers. Research-led teaching in molecular plant pathology, plant sciences, and microbiology is strongly supplemented by Rothamsted Research, North Wyke expertise in grassland management, soil science, and sustainable farming systems. The combination of expertise in both arable and pastureland systems ensures a truly rounded learning experience. Leading social scientists also provide valuable input on land use and economic practices in rural areas.
The curriculum is designed to address critical shortages of experts capable of working in government agencies, agriculture, and the food industry as researchers, advisers, policy developers, and managers. The programme provides opportunities to gain industrial and practical experience and observe food security issues first-hand during field trips.
Teaching is enriched by expert contributions from a broad cross-section of the industry. Scientific staff from Fera provide specialist lectures as part of the Crop Security module, members of the Plant Health Inspectorate cover field aspects of plant pathology, and a LEAF1 farmer addresses agricultural systems and the realities of food production using integrated farm management. In addition, teaching staff from the University and BBSRC Rothamsted-North Wyke will draw on material and experiences from their academic research and scientific links with industry.
All students will have opportunities to gain industrial and practical experiences. Teaching visits will be made to the Plant Health Inspectorate in Cornwall to see quarantine management of Phytophthora, and to a local LEAF farm to review the challenges and approaches to food production in integrated farm management systems. You will gain specialised experience in practical science or policy making through a dissertation or project placement with external agencies. Defra and Fera, for example, are offering five dissertation and/or project placements annually.
The programme is made up of modules. The list of modules may include the following;
The modules listed here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Please see the website for an up to date list (http://www.exeter.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/biosciences/foodsecurity/#Programme-structure)
The MSc Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture curriculum has been designed in collaboration with the agricultural industry to tackle the skills shortage that exists in this vital interdisciplinary area. This programme will provide the highly skilled individuals required in government agencies, agriculture and food industries for critical roles in scientific research, advice, evaluation, policy development and implementation tackling the challenges of food security.
With food security and sustainable agriculture a global concern, opportunities for specialists in the areas of agronomy, plant pathology, plant disease and plant improvement will be worldwide. By combining expertise across the natural, social and political sciences, this programme provides valuable interdisciplinary knowledge and skills in both arable and pastureland systems. Graduates will be prepared to take on the global challenges of food security and sustainable agriculture, being able to adapt to farming systems across the world and identify cross-disciplinary solutions to local agricultural problems.
The programme is enriched by expert contributions from a broad cross-section of the industry, with specialist lectures, teaching visits to observe the practical application of techniques, and industrial placement opportunities for project work or dissertations in practical science or policy making.
Our Food Chain Systems MSc has been developed as a result of extensive industry-led research. The course examines the whole of the food chain from pre-harvest to market with the overall aim of enhancing the quality and safety of food.
The course is suitable for new graduates from a science or technology background who are interested in a career within the food industry. The course is also ideal for professionals already working in the industry who would like to train to further their careers. Available on a full and part-time basis the course offers flexibility and support for those who wish to train whilst remaining in employment.
Food Chain Systems MSc is part of the Agriculture and Food Programme. It provides a critical appreciation of the issues concerned with the production and supply of safe food in the modern world. Through the integration of scientific, technological and managerial factors students will learn how to use food resources more efficiently to achieve higher quality and safer food production as well as successfully understand and manage food supply chains.
The holistic approach of the MSc will provide you with a detailed understanding of the whole of the food chain system including:
Increasing consumer awareness and demand regarding food quality, nutrition and safety issues, coupled with intensifying competition within the rapidly changing food industry, has created a demand for individuals who are able to drive success in the management of key food chains in a modern global economic market.
Our Food Chain Systems MSc has been developed as a result of extensive industry-led research. It represents a unique offering within the UK and Europe in that it examines the whole of the food chain from pre-harvest to market through the integration of science, technology and management.
The holistic approach of the MSc responds to the increasingly integrated food supply chain ('farm to fork') and will equip you with the relevant knowledge, skills and practical experience needed to pursue a wide variety of career opportunities in today's food industry.
Our MSc in Food Chain Systems benefits from input from an industry advisory panel with representatives from commercial organisations and non-commercial organisations, who help to ensure the course maintains its real-world relevance to the marketplace and industry focus. This involvement by industry makes successful students highly sought after in the employment market.
This course is accredited by Institution of Agricultural Engineers and Institute of Food Science and Technology.
The formal taught component of this course comprises eight compulsory modules. Each module is two weeks in duration, consisting of one week of lectures, practical work, site visits and one week for private study. Part-time students attend the first week of each module but may continue with coursework assignments at a suitable time and location. This element constitutes 40% of the overall mark.
Group project
Group projects provide students with an understanding of working on real challenges in the work place along with skills in team working, managing resources and developing reporting and presentation skills. Many of the projects are supported by external organisations and the experience gained is highly valued by both students and prospective employers. For part-time students a dissertation usually replaces the group project.
This element constitutes 20% of the overall mark.
Individual project
The four-month individual research project can be carried out within industry or academia and for part-time candidates it can be undertaken in your place of work. This key part of the course allows you to apply the research skills acquired during the taught phase of the course to a practical problem in health science and acts as an opportunity for you to meet potential future employers.
This element constitutes 40% of the overall mark.
Assessment
Taught Modules 40%, Group Project 20%, Individual Research Project 40%
Upon successful completion of the course, graduates will be able to pursue or enhance careers in a variety of key areas such as:
Employers will exist in a variety of food-related sectors including:
Cranfield graduates are very successful in achieving relevant work. Some 93% are in relevant employment or further study six months after graduation. For professionals already in industry, Cranfield qualifications enhance their careers, benefiting both the candidate and their employer.
This programme has been designed to provide students with knowledge and understanding of key steps in the development and launch of new ingredients and products to contribute to healthy living and lifestyles. It is based upon the strengths and expertise of staff working in the Faculty of Engineering and Science, e.g. human nutrition and public health, food chemistry and biochemistry, functional foods, marketing and economics, new product and process development, food packaging, food safety and quality management, food legislation, applied food microbiology, creative thinking, sustainability and entrepreneurship.
This programme is aimed at graduates who want to develop a career path in the food industry in the area of product development, for students who have not followed an undergraduate programme in food science or technology, and for professionals working in the food industry who want to participate in the programme, either in a part-time mode or by following a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) route. Students with backgrounds in Biology, Chemistry, Nutrition, Biotechnology and Hospitality are encouraged to join the programme.
This new programme is intended to prepare graduates from a life science or catering background for careers as professional Product Development Scientists, based upon a clear understanding and competency of science-based subjects.
Please note that as part of the compulsory courses below students will sit the Level 3 award in Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) for Food Manufacturing course offered by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH).
The aims of the programme are to:
Year 1
Students are required to study the following compulsory courses.
Students are required to choose 45 credits from this list of options.
Year 1
Students are required to study the following compulsory courses.
Year 2
Students are required to study the following compulsory courses.
Students are required to choose 45 credits from this list of options.
Assessments will take the form of:
Graduates from this programme will have the knowledge and skills to pursue careers at government level, working in competent authorities; in the food industry as food technologists, including in the area of product development; or in hospitality sectors.
