An urgent plan to redress an acute shortage of food scientists and technologists has been launched by a top-level working party led by Improve, the food and drink sector skills council.

The newly established working group ‘Future - Food Science and Technology’ has started by commissioning the first dedicated research to determine the exact scale of the crisis. Research company NOP will investigate the extent of the shortages in food and drink manufacturing businesses, and the provision and level of take-up of relevant courses at universities and colleges.

“Everyone knows there is a problem, and everyone knows it’s getting worse,” said Jack Matthews, chief executive of Improve and chairman of the working group. “But until now no-one has undertaken any thorough research to understand the exact size and nature of it, or to find out the impact the shortage is having on the competitiveness of UK food and drink businesses.

“It’s a crucial issue and one that is a very good example of the kind of problem Improve was set up to tackle. Jobs in science and technology in the food industry - the largest sector within UK manufacturing - are interesting, challenging and well-rewarded. They should be highly sought after by our brightest young people when planning their careers.

“For some reason they are not. We need to understand why, and then we need to change things in schools, colleges and universities. We need to create a position in which young people start competing to study for food science and technology qualifications. Then these vital jobs will become as highly prized as they should be.”

The research findings are expected to be reported in September when the working group, which comprises senior figures from the Institute of Food Science and Technology, the Science Council, and Improve, will start to address both long-term and short-term solutions.