Fort Valley State University, the historically Black educational institution in Georgia, has announced the establishment of a new degree program in its College of Agriculture, Family Sciences and Technology. Students will now be able to study for a bachelor’s degree in food science. The University of Georgia is the only other public educational institution in the state to offer a bachelor’s degree in food science.
Young Park, professor and coordinator of the food science program, notes that ‘industry demand is outpacing the current supply of food scientists. A student with an undergraduate degree can graduate from Fort Valley State University and get a job with a starting salary of $50,000.”
Food product industries represent 15 percent of the total manufacturing sector employment in Georgia and the industry is growing. Govind Kannan, dean of the College of Agriculture, Family Sciences and Technology, adds that “there is obviously a critical need for more food service graduates in Georgia to meet the food manufacturing industry’s workforce demands.”
