Skip to 0 minutes and 0 seconds By 2050, global food systems will need to feed and nourish more than 9 billion people in a safe, responsible, and sustainable way. In order to achieve global food security for future generations, innovations and technology will play an important role. This free online course will showcase state-of-the-art technologies across the entire food chain, from farm to fork, that have the potential to transform the food system, and achieve productive, nutritious, sustainable, and transparent food systems, which contribute to global food security. If you are working in the food sector and looking to innovate through technological advancements, or aspiring to become an agent of change, this course will help you on your journey towards an innovative, inclusive, and trusted food system for the future.
Revolutionising the Food Chain with Technology
Explore how technology and digitalisation can change how the food system operates, reducing waste and environmental pressures.
2,353 enrolled on this course
Duration
5 weeksWeekly study
4 hours100% online
How it works
Revolutionising the Food Chain with Technology
This course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles. Find out more.
Discover how innovative technologies could revolutionise the food sector
Please note that this course runs without facilitation. A Spanish version of the course can be found here.
Food quality and safety is increasingly under threat as natural resources are stretched by climate change, hunger, and explosive population growth.
On this course, you’ll learn how the food sector can respond to these challenges by adopting innovative tech. You’ll discover how data-enabled technologies are becoming more accessible and affordable, driving a revolution in how the food business operates.
You’ll identify how these innovations can make the food chain and food systems more efficient and productive, allowing them to contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Syllabus
Week 1
Precision Farming
Welcome to the course!
Hello and welcome to our course on Revolutionising the Food Chain with Technology. Find out what you will be learning and how the course is taught here.
Precision Agriculture
Precision agriculture is innovative farming management practises, which involve observing, measuring, controlling, and optimising agricultural production processes.
Agricultural robotics
Throughout history, farmers have been inventive in developing tools to lighten their job. Agricultural robotics, a robot deployed for agricultural purposes, are increasingly used at the harvesting stage.
Summary
Congratulations you have reached the end of week 1. This week we have explored precision farming. Let's reflect on this week.
Week 2
Manufacturing Technologies
Introduction to Week 2!
Hello and welcome to week 2 of the course. This week we will take a closer look at novel food formulations; industry 4.0 and food manufacturing; and smart food packaging.
Novel Food Ingredients
As food supply chains are constantly evolving toward healthier food production and better resource management, novel food ingredients are becoming increasingly important for achieving sustainable food production.
Food Manufacturing
Technology and digitalisation allows the food industry to move towards greater automation and data exchange in food manufacturing, thereby optimising the sectors productivity, sustainability and economic performance.
Food Packaging
New forms of active and intelligent packaging are becoming cost-effective and have the potential to address the substantial amount of food waste across the globe.
Summary
Congratulations! You have reached the end of week 2. This week we have looked at novel food formulations; industry 4.0 and food manufacturing; and smart and active food packaging. Please reflect on your learning this week.
Week 3
Food Sensing Technologies
Welcome to Week 3!
Welcome to week 3. Globally, the food sector plays a significant direct role in human well-being. This week we will explore food sensing technologies for the provision of authentic food ‘fit for human consumption'.
Food Quality
The term food quality represents the sum of all properties and attributes of a food item that are acceptable to the customer.
Food Safety
Food safety is a scientific discipline describing the handling, preparation and storage of food in ways that prevent food borne illness. A food safety hazard is any biological, chemical or physical agent that could cause illness.
Food Authenticity
The food sector plays a significant direct role in human well-being through the provision of authentic food fit for human consumption. We will take a closer look at food fraud and technologies monitoring food authenticity.
Summary
Congratualtions, we have reached the end of week 3. This week we have explored technologies to monitor food quality, safety and authenticity. It is now time to reflect on what you have learnt.
Week 4
Personalised Nutrition and Consumer Engagement
Welcome to Week 4!
Hello and welcome to week 4 of the course. This week we will take a closer look at personalised nutrition and consumer engagement.
Personalised Nutrition
Personalized nutrition aims to prevent the onset and development of chronic diseases, such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia, by targeting dietary recommendations to an individual’s characters
3D Food Printing
3D Printing is driving major innovations in the food industry. It allows manufacturing of food products using a variety of additive manufacturing techniques.
New ways of shopping and digitial engagement
Digital engagement is anything and everything that involves communication and the use of digitial tools; and techniques to find, listen to and mobilise a community around an issue. We will look at this and new ways of shopping.
Summary
Congratulations! You have reached the end of week 4. This week we have looked at personalized nutrition, 3D food printing and consumer engagement with food. Please reflect on your learning this week.
Week 5
Management Perspectives
Welcome to Week 5!
Digital technology has already played a role in revolutionising other industries, however the food and agriculture sector is falling behind on the technology adoption curve. This week we will look at some of the reasons for this.
Management Perspectives
The use of digital technology in the food system is highly complex and involves a number of management considerations. We will take a close at the economic, environmental, political, technical, market and welfare factors.
Summary
Congratulations! You have reached the end of the course. Lets take some time to reflect on everything you have learnt.
Who is this accredited by?
The CPD Certification Service was established in 1996 and is the leading independent CPD accreditation institution operating across industry sectors to complement the CPD policies of professional and academic bodies.
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Describe the different technologies which can transform the food sector
- Identify the issues related to a sustainable and innovative food system which delivers the dietary needs of a rising population in a safe, sustainable and responsible way
- Explain food sensing technologies for the provision of authentic food ‘fit for human consumption'.
- Develop an appreciation of the economic, environmental and health benefits which digital technology can offer the food system
- Produce an innovation plan to bring the food sector to the forefront of innovation
- Assess the issues in transitioning to a digitalised food system – economic, environmental, technical, political, welfare and market factors
Who is the course for?
Everyone is welcome to join for general interest purposes.
This course would particularly appeal to professionals working in the agri-food sector, and entrepreneurs and enterprises looking to transform the food sector with technological advancements and new trends.
If you’re looking to expand your knowledge on this topic, you might also find of interest the following EIT Food courses on food system, technology and sustainability:
Who will you learn with?
Michaela is a Lecturer in Education working on the development of EITFOOD education programmes. Her background is in food science and research at the Institute for Global Food Security.
I am Manager Technology Innovation Strategy at the John Deere European Technology Innovation Center in Germany. My research focus is on precision agriculture and sustainable food production
Wouter is a professor in Biosystems Engineering at the University of Leuven in Belgium. His research is focused on optical sensing for food quality assesment and precision agriculture.
Who developed the course?
EIT Food
EIT Food is Europe’s leading food initiative, working to make the food system more sustainable, healthy and trusted.
Queen's University Belfast
Queen’s University Belfast is a member of the Russell Group of 24 leading UK research-intensive universities.
Endorsers and supporters
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| Choose the best way to learn for you! | $134/one-off payment | $39.99/month Automatically renews | Free |
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| Access to this course | tick | tick | Access expires 24 May 2024 |
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| Learn at your own pace | tick | tick | cross |
| Discuss your learning in comments | tick | tick | tick |
| Tests to check your learning | tick | tick | cross |
| Certificate when you're eligible | Printed and digital | Digital only | cross |
Cancel for free anytime |
Ways to learn
Choose the best way to learn for you!
Subscribe & save
$39.99/month
Automatically renews
Develop skills to further your career
- Access to this course
- Access to 1,000+ courses
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Tests to boost your learning
- Digital certificate when you're eligible
Cancel for free anytime
Buy this course
$134/one-off payment
Fulfill your current learning need
- Access to this course
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Tests to boost your learning
- Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible
Limited access
Free
Sample the course materials
- Access expires 24 May 2024
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades) | |||
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)
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