About:

Department of Food Business Management (FBM) of College of Food Processing Technology, Anand Agricultural University, Anand was established in 2009 with the objective of carrying out business management related education, research and extension activities in the field of Food Technology. Extensive application of Management Principles in the working of food processing industries, along with the phenomenal revolution in the field of Information Technology, necessitates a need to provide formal management education to the students of College of Food Processing Technology & Bio Energy. The department is involved in both under graduate and post-graduate teaching.  The department mainly focuses on courses such as Project Management, Entrepreneurship Development, Marketing Management & International Trade, Operation Research, Computer Programming & Data Structures, IT Applications in Food Industry, Engineering Mathematics and Language & Communication Skills.

Since 2013, the department is also coordinating Training-cum-Coaching programme for ICAR National Eligibility Test (NET) approved by Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Govt. of Gujarat. Anand Agricultural University has been nominated by Government of Gujarat as Nodal Institute for its Start Ups Support Scheme. The department is also managing the financial and mentoring support provided to the budding agri and food entrepreneurs under this scheme. Besides, the department is also looking after various other activities of the college, such as IT services, Under Graduate academic activities and Drawing and Disbursing Office along with implementation of special projects as assigned by the college/university.

Goal

• To achieve excellence in the field of food business management in line with the mandate area of the university i.e. academics, research and extension.

Mission

• To train and develop skills of the students on the application of principles of management in food processing business with special emphasis on main functional areas of the industry.
• To bring out the hidden potential and entrepreneurship aptitude of the students and also to encourage team building activities by enhancing the decision making, critical thinking and the problem solving capabilities of the students.
• To make a significant contribution in the field of food processing business by inter-institutional collaboration in education, research and extension and providing benefits to all the stakeholders, producer farmers, industry, students, academia, government and society.

Facilities of the department:

Computer cum Language Lab

Computer laboratory of the department with an area of 800 sq. ft. is connected to the university network having high speed intranet connectivity, library network and internet access with LAN and wifi facility for use of students and faculty. The laboratory is equipped with 1 server, 26 nos. of terminals, latest software useful for industry, such as, Design expert, AutoCAD, MATLAB, SolidWork,Globarena, E-Mentoring System (GEMS), other general purpose softwares.

With a view to teach and develop communication skills of the students and allow the students to learn English language and improve their own Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing skills at an accelerated rate, the computer laboratory available at the college is currently being used as language laboratory with the following details. The software, being used at the college has different modules designed to enhance Language Skills amongst students to make them successful in terms of English Language, i.e., conversations, grammar, listening, pronunciation, reading, vocabulary, word mentor, writing, etc.

Conference, Seminar & Multipurpose Rooms

The department is also managing one Conference Room and one seminar room equipped with LCD projectors, screens, internet access and other audio visual accessories for organizing conferences, meetings and workshops for both faculties and students. Besides, the department also has a Multipurpose Room with audio visual facilities, which is used as an activity Hub for conducting various programmes, such as, Personality Development, SRC, NSS and other Cultural activities, Training and Workshops.

Major activities of the department:

Academics: 

The Department of FBM is engaged in teaching of students of B. Tech (Food Technology) and M.Tech. / Ph.D. (Food Technology). Department also carries out under graduate academic activities including admission procedure, preparation of academic schedules, maintaining student records, and arranging scholarship and medals for the students.

Departmental Courses for Under Graduate:

Semester wise courses taught by the department in B. Tech. (Food Technology) programme:

Departmental Courses for Post Graduate:

Courses taught by the department in M. Tech. (Food Technology) / Ph. D. (Food Technology) programmes:

Research:

Department takes up research work in the area of food business management in accordance to the expertise of the faculty members of the department. Following research projects have been undertaken by the department.

Special project:

• Department is implementing the Government of Gujarat scheme of conducting training-cum-coaching programme to prepare passed-out postgraduates, final year Master degree students, Ph.D. students and research associates/fellows of four state agricultural universities and Kamdhenu University of Gujarat for ICAR NET exam since 2013-14. So far, eight programmes have been successfully completed and the ninth one is commenced in October, 2021.
• Anand Agricultural University has established an Incubation Centre on Agriculture & Food Processing at College of Food Processing Technology and Bio Energy, AAU. Government of Gujarat has also developed a policy for providing assistance to Startups/ Innovation. Anand Agricultural University has been nominated by Government of Gujarat as Nodal Institute for its Start Ups Support Scheme in 2016. The FBM Department is managing the activities for implementation of this scheme, such as, advertisement seeking applications, screening of applications, selection of incubatees, providing mentoring facilities, submission of applications of selected incubates for funding, etc. Till now AAU incubated three startups, working on the area of instant powder of indigenous probiotic milk products, development of micro tractor and drumstick enriched innovative food products, have been funded under this scheme.

Extension Activities:

• Department maintains liaison with food start-ups, food entrepreneurships, food processing industries of the state and the country.
• Department participates in krushi melas, krushi mahotsavs, vibrant Gujarat summits, exhibitions and other programmes organized by the university and other agencies.
• Departmental staffs also participate in various seminars, symposiums and conferences organized by different institutes in state and national level.
• Department of FBM organized ICAR Sponsored Summer School on “Numerical Techniques & its Application to Agricultural & Food engineering Problems” during 17th June – 07th July, 2015.
• Besides, it also engaged in facilitation of in-house training programmes and certificate courses organized for national and international students, entrepreneurs, government officials.

Faculty:

For details contact:

Associate Professor & Head
Food Business Management Department
College of Food Processing Technology and Bio Energy
Anand Agricultural University
Anand – 388110, Gujarat, India
Ph. 0091 2692 261302(O)

Fax: 0091 2692 261302
Email: samit@aau.in