Lincoln University unveils food courses

The University of Lincoln has launched its BSc (Hons) Food Manufacture in response to the sector’s acute difficulties in finding staff, with the higher-level skills needed to ensure future competitiveness; 50% of the sector’s workforce is over 40 years old and one in four technologist posts are reportedly vacant, due to a lack of skilled applicants.

Principal lecturer Pauline Lovatt said: “The aim of this programme is to provide students with an understanding and application of a range of sciences and manufacturing operations relating to the need of society for sustainable food security, quality and safety.”

Its other new course, BSc (Hons) Agriculture and Environmental Management, aims to address the sector’s significant skills gap due to the ageing workforce and increased demands of technology; 60% of the vacancies in agriculture crops and livestock in England are hard to fill – twice the level found across all other sectors of the economy.

Principal lecturer David Stainton said: “The impact of legislation, climate change and sustainability on food production, waste and resource management will drive the demand for technical and supervisory management-level graduates.”

Programmes start in September 2010. For more details, contact David Stainton on 01522 895498, Pauline Lovatt on 01406 493000, or email enquiries@lincoln.ac.uk.

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