Dr. Samuel M. Imathiu, PhD Chairperson of Department
Welcome to the Department of Food Science and Technology at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). The department is housed in the School of Food and Nutrition Sciences (SOFNUS) in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (COANRE). Food science and technology is a multidisciplinary area of study that applies the principles of chemistry, nutrition, microbiology and engineering to develop, process, preserve and improve the nutritional wholesomeness and safety of foods from farm-to-fork. Our department prides itself in producing some of the best qualified and most sought after graduates regionally to fill in positions in the largest and the best food manufacturing companies. Others go on to establish their own food businesses becoming successful entrepreneurs and job creators. There is in fact a very high chance that a Food Science and Technology graduate from JKUAT assisted in bringing your most favorite food to your plate. Our graduates who choose to further their studies within the region and abroad also have a reputation of performing exceptionally well in their study disciplines attesting to the quality grounding they receive from our department.
The department boasts of very highly qualified and experienced academic as well as technical staff who understands that students learning by acquisition and inquiry is not enough to produce capable graduates that fits well in the current technologically dynamic environment. Here, we in addition emphasize learning by practice and production in our very well equipped food processing workshop and laboratories. Our students hands on food processing experience is enhanced by organized industrial visits, taking a two months internal attachment in our food processing workshop at the end of their second year of study, and a further two months attachment in the food industry after their third year of study. Our food product innovations are well known nationally, and we are often featured in popular media outlets.
The department currently offers two full time programs; Food Science and Technology at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and Nutraceutical Science and Technology at undergraduate level. I warmly welcome and encourage you to explore our website to get to learn more about us. Should you have any query, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us. You can e-mail us on foodscience@agr.jkuat.ac.ke. Welcome to the Department of Food Science and Technology @ JKUAT!