Department of Food Processing

, 00.00.0000 00:00, E-mail to author, Print

In 1956 a study programme for food technologists has been started and during following 54 years above 600 highly educated specialists on food technology and foodservice technology have graduated from Tallinn University of Technology.

Hence, the main objectives of the scientific research and development works of the Department of Food Processing (formerly the Department of Food Chemistry and Technology) have been to contribute to the national food industry, its engineering and processing development. In Estonia the Department of Food Processing has become the centre concentrated on different problems connected with food area - new technologies, food safety, quality management etc. The scientific topics have been influenced by specificity of our study programmes and courses as well as industrial training. Different planned technological investigations have been carried out on the basis of the industrial grants. More recently, our short-term objectives are directed to perfecting food quality and the nutritional aspects of different food products both produced in Estonia and imported, as well. Estonian enterprises are trying to create in a very short time new quality control systems at the places to meet safety requirements of developed industrial countries and to be a potential partner in a free movement of goods.

Networking combined with expertise will be emphasized as a success factor for the Department of Food Processing as the only one in Estonia which provides students with extensive knowledge of common food processing and catering. Its reputation, both nationally and internationally, will be based on and reflect both quality and innovation.

In 1995 the Department has started nutrition survey of children and elderly people in Estonia and has prepared the special multilevel courses on nutrition and health because of the food variety compared to the very past - it has been changed so much. Well-known methods for the nutrition surveys have been applied to prepare the intervention studies on nutrition of children in nurseries and schools. Our food industry is also involved into these investigations because nutrition labelling of food products is a very important part of consumer protection and health.

As a part of the common expertise in food area the Kuressaare College will have an active role in the Estonian tourism cluster integrating training, research and financing in the field of Hotel, Tourism and Restaurant Management. Together with the Department of Food Processing they will guarantee the further development of food safety systems both in food enterprises and catering facilities and thus promoting well-being and sustaining working capacity.

The mission of the Department, likewise, functions as a catalyst for the working life of the food sectors in Estonia, both food industry and catering facilities (restaurant management). The programs create experts and expertise who later apply these skills in the Estonian workforce. Thus, raising the competitive level of their sector, and also maintaining foodservice standards to an internationally accepted level which also benefits from the constantly changing conditions in the industry.