Introduction
Overview of Biotechnology and Food Technology
It cannot be overemphasized that numerous changes, developments, and the wave of the 4th Industrial revolution is questing the "status quo" and gradually transforming our lives positively. A Biotechnological and Food Technological revolution is indeed unfolding and it will shape the future and transform our lives. New tools and technologies, advances in Food Technologies, and multidisciplinary approaches are changing the way Biotechnology and Food Technology are undertaken.
Dan Gold / Unsplash
UJ has a unique and central place in supporting SA's position in Biotechnology and Food Technology. Our training provides knowledge and skilled people thereby making major contributions across society and economy by:
Ensuring the supply of excellent scientists into South African industries and public bodies.
Support the development of new technologies that improve lives and boost the economy
Excellent research underpins and drives advances in medicine and health, green technologies, new pharmaceuticals, and safe and nutritious food; it leads to more sustainable agriculture, helps to combat infectious diseases, and underpins responses to climate change. In the no distant future, Biotechnology and Food technology will be at the heart of providing solutions to major challenges facing humankind such as:
Feeding nine billion people sustainably by 2050
Staying healthier for longer as lifespan increase and society ages
Increasing the lifespan of fresh food
Bioconverting food to other products
Addressing the challenges of antimicrobial resistance
Key strategic research priorities
Our key research priorities are as follows:
Agriculture and Food security:Biotechnology and Food Technology for sustainable and productive agriculture, supplying not only sufficient, affordable, nutritious, and safe food, but also non-food products and feedstocks, in a rapidly changing world.
Industrial Biotechnology:Industrial materials and biopharmaceuticals, developed and produced using biological processes will help to drive the SA economy.
Biotechnology and Food Technology for Health:We will be driving advances in fundamental Biotechnology and Food Technology for better health across the life course, reducing the need for medical and social intervention.
Enabling Themes
These are:
Enabling Innovation: Maximizing the impact of science and skilled people in boosting the South African economy, informing policies, and improving quality of life.
Exploiting new ways of working: Enabling innovative ways of working practices in an era of rapid technological advancement, and multidisciplinary research.
Collaboration and Partnership: Working with different stakeholders (Government and Private sector, Academic Institutions) both nationally and internationally, to deliver our vision for a global meaningful impact.
We strive to drive Biotechnology and Food Technology forward by exploiting new and exciting ways of working and thinking.
At the University of Johannesburg “The Future. Reimagined.” is not simply a catchy phrase
The institution is taking the lead across Africa in the 4th Industrial Revolution Thinking, reimagining the future for all disciplines 4IR is the next wave of industrialization that we need to understand and shape in order to build the future of this country – and the Africa continent – so richly deserve. 4IR is not just about robotics and automation; it is about the advancement of society to empower people and uplift generations.
As the world moves forward into the 4th industrial revolution, so does UJ with “Education 4IR” – bringing 4IR thinking and technology into the curriculum across different courses and using innovative blended-learning technologies. This means that UJ graduates are better prepared to embrace the future of business and industry as AI and 4IR play a bigger part in the way we live and work.
At the University of Johannesburg, it is our duty to embrace and navigate the future leaders of our country proudly and boldly through the unimagined complexities of 4IR so that they may take full advantage and deliver a better tomorrow. Future leaders like you! Here we are leading courageous conversation; pushing and shaping the design of a new tomorrow. Here we are taking action and building the new world.
Advanced Diploma Contact
Mr. Tinyiko Sithole Tel: 011 559 6349 E-mail: tinyikos@uj.ac.za
