The Department through its dedicated and dynamic faculty, who are also professionals in the fields of Food Science, Food Engineering, and Postharvest Technology, have a core mandate of producing the best crop of Food Scientist and Postharvest Technologist in Ghana and beyond. This is being done through strategic teaching approaches, research, internship, Field trips and community service. The Department also organize a series of training for cocoa farmer/processors, pineapple farmers/processors, citrus farmers, watermelon farmers and vegetables farmers/processors on how to manage postharvest losses, food product development and value addition.

Background Information

The quest for food sustainability requires continuous innovation and technology in the food and agriculture industries. As food security is associated with postharvest losses, there is the need for a paradigm and postharvest technology to address and improve the phenomena. Postharvest Technology is the science and technique applied to agricultural produce after harvest for its protection, conservation, processing, packaging, distribution, marketing and utilization to meet the food and nutritional requirements of the people in relation to their needs. The Food and Postharvest Technology programme intends to help train graduates with both practical and theoretical knowledge in the field of Food Science and Postharvest management. The programme includes laboratory practicals, pilot plant and computer practicals that provide training in Food Science and Postharvest Technology. The programme aligns with key areas of Ghana’s development policy, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) the Planting for Food and Jobs and One District-One Factory (1D1F) initiative by the Government of Ghana.

The department is yet to have its first batch of students in the 2020/2021 academic year and all efforts are being made to get prospective students to apply to the programme. At the moment, the department has six (6) permanent lecturers and two (2) Laboratory Technicians who are all well positioned and ready to execute the agenda of the department.

Vision

To be one of the best Departments in Cape Coast Technical University and Ghana at large in teaching, research, technology transfer as well as community services.

Mission

Our mission is to develop an educated, productive and responsible citizen, to conduct problem solving researches, provide satisfactory services in Food and Postharvest Technology for the society and to contribute to the overall development of the country.

Objective Statement

The aim of the programme is to equip students with the core principles and practical skills in food and postharvest technology as well as the use of postharvest waste as biomass.       

Programmes

The programme to be run by the department are:

• Diploma in Food Processing Technology
• B.Tech Food and Postharvest Technology

The department has the vision of mounting MSc. Postharvest Technology and MSc. Food Science and Technology. In line with this, the curricular for both programmes would be developed in the 2020/2021 academic year.

Projection

The department is expected to run M.Phil. in Food Science and Technology and M.Phil. Postharvest Science Technology in 2021/2022 academic year. The department also intends to employ more lectures with Ph.D. to enable it successfully run the postgraduate programmes. The student enrollment is projected to increase from 21 in 2020/2021 to 45 in 2021/2022 academic year.

Core Staff of the Department