Parrella: New Department Will Allow For Food Science Growth At U Of I

In July, the University of Idaho’s College of Agriculture announced it was combining animal, veterinary and food sciences research, education and outreach into one department. College of Ag and Life Sciences Dean Michael Parrella said by joining eight food science faculty members and 22 animal and veterinary science faculty to establish the new Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences, they are better able to serve the state and its modern ag industry.

This will slightly change the joint food science relationship the U of I has with neighboring Washington State University. Parrella said they will continue co-education efforts with WSU in both graduate and undergraduate food science classes. But the new Department will allow the U of I to broaden the food science classes offered on the Moscow campus.

“We have a very strong food science program in animal science, which makes sense, we’re building that meat science part of animal science, but yet, there was not really no connection to the food science program on the U of I campus, so that’s not going to be the case anymore.”

Back in January, Idaho and WSU decided to dissolve the Bi-State School of Food Science. Parrella added this new focus will allow the school to foster greater relationships to the south.

“We obviously have the CAFÉ project, [the Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment], there’s a huge dairy connection there obviously there’s a huge food science connectivity there with both the College of BYU in Rexburg and then the College of Southern Idaho [in Twin Falls], other colleges as well, and so we think there’s more of an opportunity for a food science connection there and we feel like this new vision for food science will bring that in under this broader umbrella.”

School officials project this realignment will improve opportunities for students, grant funding as well as research into the future.

Click Here to learn more about the new Department.

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