Food Industry Design, Technology and Innovation

A.Y. 2024/2025
6
Max ECTS
48
Overall hours
SSD
AGR/15
Language
English
Learning objectives
The course is intended for the development of Food Science & Technology & Product Development knowledge and cognitive skills.
In the course, the role of design for sustainable innovation over the whole food value chain is described and challenged, inspiring new ideas and practices through real-world examples.
Food design for innovation is declined in sustainable technology terms, which complement the economic and quality aspects of the industrial activities, in a way that responsibility for sustainable improvement of food products can be generated.
The attended outcomes are (a) the students' ability to understand the technological innovation in food system, to identify the challenges, risks and benefit of food design for innovation and (b) the ability to identify critical issues for benefits and detriments of conducting sustainable innovative policies in food industry or within the public food area.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course the students are expected to have acquired cognitive tools, logic elements and familiarity with essential concepts of food technology and of frontier technological innovations, that allow them to stay informed on the continuous technological updating from the food manufacturing professional sector. At the end of the course, students will have the knowledge and autonomous judgment skills for analyzing innovation opportunities within food production and market contexts. Students will become capable of collaborating with food production experts and will have sufficient technical communication tools to be participate in programme actions and to manage intervention in innovation. Students will be adequately trained to perform advisory and managerial tasks for private companies and public institutions, in relation to food and health.
Single course

This course can be attended as a single course.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course program focuses on sustainable innovation within the food system and encompasses the following themes:

Challenges for sustainability in the food system
New indicators for innovation in the food industry
Fundamental aspects of food science and technology: formulation, processing, and preservation technologies, as well as packaging
Sustainable diets and ingredients
Innovations in food processing: emerging technologies and eco-design
Sustainability assessment: indicators for food and nutrition security
Food loss and waste management
Case studies highlighting cutting-edge innovations such as plastics, new products, and novel consumption opportunities.
Prerequisites for admission
The course is open to science and technology majors as well as business and humanities majors. The concepts of food science and technology and technological innovation for sustainable development are taught in an appropriate way so that a wide audience from different backgrounds can benefit.
Teaching methods
The course includes lectures, discussions, and active participation in group activities. Students are required to collaborate on a group project, which must be approved and discussed with the teacher. The project involves engaging with stakeholders and is based on a topic assigned at the start of the course. It must be completed by the end of the course period and will be individually discussed during the exam. Active participation in lessons and constructive interaction with the teacher are essential due to the project's training nature.
Teaching Resources
The course slides are accessible through MY ARIEL-UNIMI, and the teacher provides scientific literature for further study. The slides will be available on ARIEL for the entire semester but will be removed afterward. Lecture notes created by unknown authors and not authorized by the teacher are not considered official teaching materials for the course.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Mode: The assessment of learning will take the form of an oral examination on the topics covered in the lectures. There will be no continuous assessment.
- Structure of the exam: the first part consists of a discussion on the course content: two questions are formulated, one at the discretion of the teacher, one on a topic of the program chosen by the student. After passing the first part of the oral exam, a final question relates to the project/exercise developed during the course;
- Assessment parameters: Correctness of answers, appropriateness of language, ability to incorporate interdisciplinary elements and concepts will be assessed if necessary.
- Type of assessment: mark out of thirty.
- Useful materials for the test: All technical tables/sheets useful for the formulation of the answers will be provided by the teacher.
AGR/15 - FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 48 hours
Professor: Piazza Laura
Professor(s)