Many students have a feeling of confusion about which field to choose between “Dairy Technology” and “Food Technology”, if you are feeling the same, you’re not alone—many students face the same situation. To make it easier for you, this article Dairy Technology vs Food Technology breaks down the key differences and similarities between the two. Whether your interest lies within the highly specialized world of dairy products, from milk to cheese, or the broader and continually evolving world of food innovation, this comparison will allow you to have a clear understanding of what might suit you better in pursuing your interests, career, and long-term goals.
What is the scope of each field?
Dairy Technology is dedicated to the manufacturing, processing, and conservation of milk into milk products such as ghee, cheese, yogurt, paneer, ice creams, and many more. The scope covers all aspects of dairy farming, dairy engineering, product development, and quality control. Graduates have the opportunity to pursue careers as dairy technologists, quality control officers, dairy extension officers, and various other roles.
Additionally, they have the opportunity to pursue careers in the banking and insurance industries. Top recruiters like Nestle, Amul, HUL, and Mother Dairy are worth considering. Graduates also have the option to establish their dairy units, ice cream units, and milk plants. They have the opportunity to work in a variety of settings such as dairy plants, food sectors, nutrition fields, dairy farm management, cattle fields, etc.
Food Technology covers a wide range of aspects, including dairy technology as a subject such as enhancing and creating different types of food products (whether animal-based or plant-based), exploring food preservation techniques, innovating in packaging, ensuring food safety, and venturing into new concepts like lab-grown meat and plant-based substitutes. Graduates have the opportunity to pursue roles such as technical brewers, food safety officers, quality control managers, food production managers, etc. They have the opportunity to work in a variety of settings such as food industries, distilleries, bakeries, restaurants, and beyond.
What are the career opportunities in each field?
- Dairy Technology: Careers often lead to roles in dairy processing plants, research & development (R&D), quality control, dairy farming, supply chain management, marketing & sales, procurement or even starting your own dairy-related business (e.g., ghee manufacturing unit or ice cream unit ). You can also work in beverages-related industries, opportunities are less in the food industry as that of food technologists.
- Food Technology: Food technologists can work in place of dairy technologists in the dairy industry as well. Career opportunities are wide-ranging, including roles in food manufacturing, food safety, quality assurance, R&D, packaging, regulatory agencies in both animal and plant-based foods, and even in emerging sectors like food startups and sustainable food solutions. In both fields, you can opt for higher studies (MTech, MBA) in the specialized subject you desire. You can also opt for government exams conducted by FSSAI, BIS, and other central regulatory bodies.
Which field offers better job prospects?
- Dairy Technology: Job prospects are stable but can be more limited to the dairy industry, which is more limited compared to the broader food industry. Dairy technology is crucial in countries with large dairy industries such as New Zealand & Ireland. You can always start your dairy farm, milk chilling centers, or small processing units for which the government provides various schemes and opportunities.
- Food Technology: It has a wider job market, as food is an essential industry globally. It includes various sectors such as the dairy industry, processed food, beverages, snacks, chocolates, confectionery, health food, food safety, nutrition, meat products, seafood, fruits and vegetable products, breweries, vines, and emerging areas like food tech startups and sustainability. Food technology has a wide scope in India as well as countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, France etc.
Which field is more innovative and future-oriented?
- Dairy Technology: While there are innovations in dairy, especially in alternative dairy products (e.g., plant-based milk), and clean label products, the field can sometimes feel more traditional, focused on improving dairy processing and quality control. The adoption of new technologies incorporating AI has quite good potential in dairy farming and milk processing. Advanced sensors and data analytics are helping producers to track animal health, milk quality, and production efficiency. Various real-time methods and sensors to detect adulteration, contamination, and antibiotics in milk in real time are always a trending topic.
- Food Technology: It offers more opportunities for innovation, especially with emerging technologies in dairy products, plant-based foods, functional foods (enhanced with health benefits), nutraceuticals, health supplements, food sustainability, personalized nutrition, and smart food production. Personalized nutrition systems, 3D food printing, smart packaging, and food traceability are the hot topics of research in today’s world. The incorporation of AI in the food industry to transform production, innovation, and technology is an ever-growing field.
How is the curriculum different?
- Dairy Technology: The curriculum is more specialized, focusing on dairy product processing, microbiology, food safety, dairy chemistry, fermentation, dairy engineering, dairy technology, food business management, and milk preservation techniques.
- Food Technology: It covers a broader range of topics, including dairy technology with food chemistry, food processing techniques (for various food types), microbiology, food engineering, packaging, nutrition, food biotechnology and bioengineering, and food safety. It also includes dairy technology as a subject that covers the basics of milk processing and preservatives, in-depth understanding will not be covered, and emerging technologies like 3D food printing and artificial intelligence in food production.
Financial benefits – Dairy Technology vs Food Technology
- Dairy Technology: Salaries can be competitive, especially for roles in quality control, R&D, and processing plants. However, the salary range may vary based on location and the size of the dairy industry. The general salary offered is between 3-4 LPA for graduates, while 6-12 LPA for masters graduate students.
- Food Technology: It generally offers higher salaries due to the larger scope of the industry, especially for roles in R&D, food safety, packaging, and management in multinational food companies. The general salary offered is between 5-6 LPA for graduates, while 6-20 LPA for masters graduate students. (Reference: Shikska.com)
Summary: Dairy Technology vs Food Technology
| Factor | Dairy Technology | Food Technology |
| Focus Area | Specializes in dairy production, processing, and distribution. | Covers a broad spectrum of food production, preservation, packaging, and safety. |
| Industry Scope | Primarily focuses on dairy industries such as milk production, ice cream, cheese, and yogurt. | Expansive opportunities across food manufacturing, packaging, R&D, and food safety. |
| Top Recruiters | – Amul – Mother Dairy – Nestle – Purabi Dairy – Hatsun Agro – Vadilal Group – Verka – Almarai |
– Nestle
-AbInBev -Mondelez -United Breweries -Devyani International -IFFCO |
| Roles After Graduation | Dairy Technologist – Quality Assurance Officer – Dairy Production Manager – Research & Development Specialist |
Food Technologist – Food Safety Officer-Food Production Supervisor – Quality Control Manager – R&D Manager – Food Packaging Expert |
| Entrepreneurship Opportunities | Starting dairy-based businesses like creamery units, ice cream production, and milk processing units. | Starting food processing units, bakery, packaging companies, and product development businesses. |
| Global Career Opportunities | High demand in countries like New Zealand, Ireland, and The Netherlands. | High global demand United Arabian, Japan, Singapur, and Malaysia, especially in R&D, packaging, and food manufacturing industries, as techno-commercial roles. |
| Salary by Role | Entry-level: ₹1.2 Lakh – ₹2.5 Lakh/year Mid-level: ₹4 Lakh – ₹6 Lakh/year Experienced: ₹7 Lakh – ₹15 Lakh/year |
Entry-level: ₹3 Lakh – ₹5 Lakh/year Mid-level: ₹5 Lakh – ₹8 Lakh/year Experienced: ₹8 Lakh – ₹20 Lakh/year |
| Government Roles | FSSAI, Quality Control, Dairy extension officer, Dairy officer, Dairy Inspector | FSSAI, Food Safety Officer, Food Inspector, BIS, CFSO, CDS. |
Conclusion:
The fields of Dairy Technology and Food Technology each have their own set of opportunities and challenges. Dairy Technology deals with the processing, safety, quality, preservation, and innovation of dairy products such as milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream. In contrast, Food Technology has a broader scope of food products, including processed snacks to plant-based foods and emerging innovations such as lab-grown meat. As dairy technology is part of food technology, wider opportunities are there for food technologists. Food technologists can work in the dairy industry as well but vice versa have limited opportunities.
References:
- Shikska.com (Salary Information)
- Market reports on Food Technology (2023) by Precedence Research
- Tangorra FM, Buoio E, Calcante A, Bassi A, Costa A. Internet of Things (IoT): Sensors Application in Dairy Cattle Farming. Animals. 2024; 14(21):3071.
