Framingham State University has received a $30,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to develop a new collaborative pathway designed to introduce more students to careers in food science and better prepare them for the workforce.

The two-year planning grant will bring together FSU, local high schools, technical schools, community colleges and industry partners to explore the development of a structured “2+2+2” pathway that could guide students from high school through a community college and ultimately to a bachelor’s degree in Food Science at Framingham State.

The project, titled “Developing Collaborative Pathway in Food Science to Expand Access and Workforce Readiness,” is funded through NIFA’s Capacity Building Grants for Non-Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture program. The project runs through August 2028.

“We have found that few students in high school are aware of food science degrees and career pathways,” says Vinay Mannam, professor of Food Science in FSU’s Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Food Science Department and director of the project, alongside 'Vinay Mannam, professor of Food Science and project PI, alongside co-PI Emmanouil Apostolidis, professor of Food Science. “By the time many students at FSU realize they want to major in it, they are behind because they lack core math and science requirements. Our hope is to bring together partners at the high school and community college levels to create a clear pathway for students interested in the Food Science industry.”

Food science is a broad field that combines chemistry, biology and other sciences to address the development, production, safety and quality of food. Graduates can pursue careers in areas including food manufacturing and product development, food safety and regulation, and wholesale distribution. Food Science also can provide a strong undergraduate foundation for students interested in pre-medical and other health-related careers.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor information cited in the project proposal, the region is expected to see approximately 30% growth in demand for food science professionals over the next decade. FSU has seen its Food Science graduates find opportunities throughout the food sector, while the field continues to offer opportunities at both large and small organizations.

FSU will convene a working group of educators, administrators and industry representatives to examine existing programs and identify opportunities to align curricula, dual enrollment, transfer agreements and student support systems. The project will also conduct a gap analysis to identify barriers that can make it difficult for students to move from high school or a two-year institution into a four-year Food Science program.

The proposed pathway would give students the opportunity to begin building the necessary math and science foundation earlier in their education. Dual enrollment opportunities could also introduce high school students to Food Science and help them understand the academic preparation and career opportunities associated with the field.

“Students who discover Food Science after they arrive at FSU sometimes realize that they need to complete math or science requirements before they can progress through the major,” Mannam says. “If we can build that foundation earlier, we know we can increase the likelihood that students will be successful.”

The planning process will establish an evaluation strategy to measure awareness of Food Science careers, transfer readiness and workforce preparation, while identifying barriers and opportunities for future implementation.

The ultimate goal is to develop a long-term plan that can support a larger capacity-building proposal and establish a sustainable Food Science pipeline connecting high schools, technical schools, community colleges and Framingham State.

“Food Science is a field where there is always demand,” Mannam says. “We want students to understand that there are many different career possibilities in the food industry and to see a clear path from where they are now to those opportunities.”

Through the project, FSU hopes to make Food Science a more visible academic and career option for students while strengthening connections among educational institutions and the food industry across Massachusetts.'