Food technology continues to shine with back-to-back top 50 global rankings

The programme holds steady at 43rd globally, highlighting Massey’s continued strength in this field.

Massey’s School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences offers the Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours, a unique degree that combines food science, food engineering and food business. Graduates are highly sought after, moving directly into roles such as product development, process development, quality management and production management, or specialised areas such as food microbiology, food chemistry and packaging technology.

The rankings focus heavily on research, highlighting universities that excel in academic contributions within their fields.

Head of School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences Professor Jamie Quinton says the retention of Massey’s position among the top 50 in the world for food technology reflects the university’s global standing.

“Our international presence strengthens this ranking. We deliver world-class food technology programmes not only in Aotearoa but also in China and Singapore, giving students across all three countries access to cutting-edge research and the technical skills needed for a global career in food technology.”

Pro Vice-Chancellor Colleges of Sciences Professor Ray Geor adds that the need for food technologists to support our primary producing nation has never been stronger.

“Massey’s world-ranked food technology group supports the food industry in Aotearoa New Zealand by teaching the next generation of food technologists. New Zealand supplies much of the world with food products, and our research and reputation for food innovation has led to some important advancements. Massey has long been the home of food technology teaching, research and industry partnerships in New Zealand.“

Professor Geor says our record in supporting and contributing to growing the nation’s food industry supports our high position in these rankings.

“There is a need for us to train the scientists, creators, developers and manufacturers that work on food products. These people may not be household names – but their work is familiar to every single one of us, and we use their innovations every day.”

Massey’s food technology programme combines classroom learning with hands-on labs and workshops that tackle real industry challenges. The degree is endorsed by the United States of America-based industry body, the Institute of Food Technologists, meaning our graduates are welcomed in roles overseas. The degree is delivered in conjunction with well-established food sector companies who provide scholarships, research opportunities and practical experience for students.

Students also benefit from world-class facilities, including the Food Experience and Sensory Testing (Feast) Laboratory, containing New Zealand’s only wall-to-wall projected immersive space for consumer sensory product testing, state-of-the-art sensory booths and panel areas. The lab allows researchers and students to study human behaviour and perception, providing valuable insights to companies in New Zealand and worldwide.

Massey is also home to the FoodPilot, the largest collection of pilot-scale food and beverage equipment in the southern hemisphere, which helps companies turn innovative ideas into commercially viable products. Students get to experience working on the Food Pilot when undertaking group and individual projects.

Looking to the future, the food technology team is hosting the inaugural Food Innovation Youth Summit in early 2026. The three-day programme will give Year 12 and 13 students hands-on experience with workshops and activities designed to showcase the diverse career pathways in food technology. Hosted by food scientists, developers and passionate food advocates, the summit aims to inspire the next generation of food innovators.

The number one ranked programme in the field is Jiangnan University in China, Massey’s partner in the Jiangnan-Massey Food Technology programme. Students in this joint honours degree spend three years studying in China before completing their fourth and final year at Massey in New Zealand. Since the partnership began in 2020, two cohorts have completed their degrees, with student feedback praising the supportive learning environment, strong research culture and practical opportunities at Massey that prepare them for successful careers.

The Shanghai Rankings compare universities in 57 academic subjects, evaluating performance across five key categories: world-class faculty, world-class research output, high-quality research, research impact and international collaboration.

More information on the Shanghai Rankings is available on their website.