School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences , Te Kura Hangarau Kai me ngā Pūtaiao Taiao

The School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences explores new ideas in food science and food technology, alongside the fundamental sciences of chemistry and biology.

Overview

The School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences is committed to supporting New Zealand’s export-driven growth based on high-value products, processes and technologies related to our bio-economy. We also seek new insights and discoveries in the scientific and technological worlds.

Our teaching builds capability in food and the fundamental sciences of chemistry and biology. Our internationally-recognised researchers apply their skills to solve the worlds biggest challenges.

Our interdisciplinary approach to research involves national and international collaborations. We enthusiastically mentor the next generation of scientists to think critically and creatively to tackle big issues through applied approaches and blue-sky research.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi at Massey

We are deeply committed to being a Tiriti-led university, demonstrating authentic leadership in contemporary Aotearoa New Zealand as we uphold te Tiriti o Waitangi, the founding document of our nation, and its principles through our practice. We embrace this not just as an obligation but as a real opportunity for the nation and its people.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi ki Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – The Treaty of Waitangi at Massey

Study with us

Choose from a range of qualifications in food science and food technology, including postgraduate study options such as food safety, quality systems or supply chain management.

Scholarships available for first-year food technology students

Explore by area of interest

Explore a selection of qualifications relating to your interests.

Study food & nutrition

Get the most out of food. The most flavour. The best nutrition. Safe and efficient production processes. Learn from world-class lecturers and researchers.

Smiling person in lab coat puts plant samples in a machine Smiling person in lab coat puts plant samples in a machine Smiling person in lab coat puts plant samples in a machine Smiling person in lab coat puts plant samples in a machine

Study biological & natural sciences

Devise new ideas and technologies for agribusiness, biotechnology, conservation, energy or healthcare. World-class lecturers. Learn more today.

Close up of teacher holding a model skeleton Close up of teacher holding a model skeleton Close up of teacher holding a model skeleton Close up of teacher holding a model skeleton

Study natural environment

Study at Massey to create a sustainable future for the planet and its people, plants and creatures. Discover your study options today.

Smiling person standing in river collecting water samples Smiling person standing in river collecting water samples Smiling person standing in river collecting water samples Smiling person standing in river collecting water samples

Who we are

Our people make us who we are. Meet senior leaders in the School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences.

Professor Steve Flint

Professor Steve Flint

Food Technology Group Lead
Associate Professor Evelyn Sattlegger

Associate Professor Evelyn Sattlegger

Molecular Cellular Biology and Microbiology Group Lead
Professor Murray Potter

Professor Murray Potter

Ecology, Conservation and Zoology Group Lead
Professor Mark Waterland

Professor Mark Waterland

Chemistry Group Lead

Professor Joanne Hort

Director of Food Experience and Sensory Testing Laboratory (Feast)

Joanne is particularly interested in individual differences in sensory perception across different cultures (markets) and life stages particularly in the area of taste and texture. She is also examining the impact of context on both the sensory and emotional response to food and how to measure it.

View Joanne Hort's profile

Accreditations and rankings

Institute of Food Technologist (IFT) approved

Both majors of the BFoodTech (Hons) are approved by the US-based Institute of Food Technologists (IFT).

Learn more

ShanghaiRanking - Food science and technology

Massey University is ranked as one of the top 100 universities worldwide for Food Science and Technology (out of 300) by ShanghaiRanking.

Learn more

QS Ranking - Biological Sciences

Massey University is ranked by QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) as one of the top 450 universities in the world for biological sciences.

Learn more

QS Ranking - Chemistry

Massey University is ranked by QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) as one of the top 500 universities in the world for chemistry.

Research

Our staff and students carry out interdisciplinary research at the frontiers of our disciplines. We have extensive international collaborations and an impressive history of commercialising our results.

Our researchers win grants and other funding from prestigious sources such as the Royal Society of New Zealand's Marsden Fund Te Pūtea Rangahau and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Enterprise (MBIE) for applied research.

Learn about the Marsden Fund
Learn about the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Enterprise

Consultancy

We often carry out research for partners outside Massey or work with stakeholders on certain topics or as part of long-term relationships. Our consultancy makes the most of expertise from within the School and around the university, offering fresh thinking.

Research themes

Food

Our research includes animal nutrition, food biosciences, food materials, food processing, and human nutrition.

Biology

Our research includes biochemistry, evolution, genetics and genomics, microbiology, and the biological basis of disease.

Chemistry

Climate change, energy sources, medicines and technologies all rely on new materials and molecules. These will be developed by chemists and nanoscientists.

Environment

We focus on understanding and creating a sustainable future for the unique flora, fauna and land of Aotearoa New Zealand. Our research includes biodiversity, ecosystem health, ecological genetics, and zoology.

Research teams and projects

Examples of how our people create and share new knowledge.

Food Experience and Sensory Testing Laboratory (Feast)

Feast is Massey's Food Experience and Sensory Testing Laboratory. Facilities include:

  • mixed/virtual reality suite to mimic settings such as cafes or hospital wards
  • sensory booths
  • testing rooms for tasting panels of consumers or experts.

Students can learn and practice in the laboratory.

Food Experience and Sensory Testing (Feast) laboratory

Does intra-nuclear aggregation of HDAC4 promote neuronal dysfunction?

Abnormal accumulation of HDAC4 protein in the nuclei of nerve cells has been implicated in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. In our Drosophila (fruit fly) model system, excess levels of HDAC4 also impair neuronal development and memory.

This HDAC4 accumulation in nuclei results in the formation of protein aggregates, but it is unknown how they contribute to disease. We will determine the protein composition of the aggregates and will investigate their role in neuronal dysfunction in our Drosophila model.

Contact Helen Fitzsimons

Enhancing legume nitrogen fixation to reduce fertiliser use

Nitrogen fertiliser supports plant growth effectively, but it strongly inhibits nitrogen-fixation by clovers and therefore abolishes this natural source of nitrogen traditionally utilised by farmers.

“We have discovered a trait in the legume Medicago in which this nitrogen-fixation inhibition process is disrupted," says Associate Professor Dijkwel. "Transfer of this trait to clover will greatly reduce fertiliser use because clover uses less fertiliser, while continuing to enrich the pasture with fixed nitrogen. Our discovery of a Medicago truncatula plant line resistant to inhibition of nitrogen-fixation is ground-breaking.”

Contact Paul Dijkwel

Research centres

Our research centres seek innovative solutions to contemporary issues.

FoodPILOT

Learn to create and test food and nutrition products, using industrial-standard processing equipment such as:

  • extruders
  • high-pressure processors
  • pasteurising equipment
  • sterilisation equipment.

Businesses from boutique makers to exporters use FoodPILOT to turn ideas into reality.

Location: Manawatū campus

Opportunities for students

Projects with industry

Students in the final year of the Bachelor of Engineering with Honours or Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours work on real-world projects with businesses in the food industry.

Study with Massey in China or Singapore

Massey offers its Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours (Food Product Technology) at the Singapore Institute of Technology.

Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours (Food Product Technology)

Massey and China's Jiangnan University offer a joint degree in food science and technology. Study for three years at Jiangnan then switch to Massey’s Manawatū campus for the research-intensive fourth year. Graduates will be awarded Jiangnan's Bachelor of Food Science and Engineering and Massey's

Massey-Jiangnan joint degree

Meet our food graduates

“As I got closer to the end of my degree, I found that everything I had learnt throughout the four years was very practical and applicable in the food industry. And I am proud to say, that after all my hard work, I’ve got a job that I wanted to do.”
Jeen Tae Hwang

Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours

“Being a foodie, I’ve always wanted to try new foods and beverages. I was curious about these were developed and made. This provided a perfect path. I worked on product development projects, from prototypes to launching to market, and gained knowledge in processing technologies and engineering.”
Alcoli Cao

Master of Food Technology

“Studying at Massey has been an invaluable experience for me. It provided a strong foundation, extended my knowledge, and was an excellent gateway to securing my dream job. I am extremely fortunate to have been taught and supervised by world-class academicians who provided excellent guidance and supp”
Ripudaman Kaur

Master of Food Safety and Quality

Services and facilities

We use a wide range of first-class facilities in our teaching and research. Massey carries out research for or with businesses and other organisations.

Food Innovation for business development

FoodPilot's Food Innovation offers advice, consultancy or commissioned research in any area of food science, food technology or the business of food. With extensive food industry experience, we can help with everything from brainstorming concepts to small production trials.

Destructive and non-destructive testing

We have expertise in testing for yield and tensile strength of a range of materials, using destructive and non-destructive methods. Our equipment include a tensilometer and scanning electron microscopes.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Laboratory

Equipment in this laboratory includes:

  • 700 MHz spectrometer with a cryogenically-cooled probe; 60-place sample changer and autotune and match module for high throughput
  • 500 MHz spectrometer
  • 400 MHz spectrometer
  • 200 MHz horizontal widebore spectrometer, with high resolution imaging capabilities.

Massey laboratories

State-of-the-art laboratories and equipment include:

  • nuclear magnetic resonance lab
  • optical lab with optical tweezers, light scattering, and spectrometers
  • PC2-certified lab for molecular biology, protein expression and purification
  • solar cell construction and testing facilities
  • X-ray diffraction lab.
Kauri tree

Ampersand Technologies

DNA testing and test development services with a focus on agricultural, horticultural, and environmental applications. We use new DNA diagnostic technologies to deliver fast and accurate testing to our clients.

Cetacean Pathology Unit

Our post-mortem facility assesses cetacean (whale, dolphin and porpoise) anatomy, life history, diet and human impacts. We hold a 30-year national tissue collection (frozen, fixed and dry) for research purposes.

Research includes:

  • markers of health and disease in stranded cetaceans
  • environmental contaminants
  • climate and nutritional stress effects
  • animal welfare in strandings response and euthanasia.

Nutrition Laboratory

Massey's Nutrition Laboratory specialises in analysing food, plant and animal products through research and testing.

Manawatū Microscopy & Imaging Centre

The facilities in the Manawatū Microscopy and Imaging Centre in Palmerston North can be booked for use.

Massey Genome Service

Our lab provides sequencing services to New Zealand researchers and students, including analysis of genomic DNA, genotyping, RNA and ABI sequencing.

Contact the School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences

School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences

Location

Use our Manawatū campus maps or find us on Google Maps.

Social media

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