Momentum Toward the Future of Food and Health
As a result of extensive advocacy efforts and the notable growth and momentum demonstrated by our Department, the University has recognized that investment in FScN facilities is an institutional priority. The University has allocated $25 million in Higher Education Asset Preservation and Replacement (HEAPR) funding to be used in significant and much needed infrastructure upgrades for the FScN Building, plus an additional $30 million in UMN "Capital Investment Initiative" funds, bringing the total to $55 million. Our advocacy efforts with the University and beyond will continue in order to reinforce FScN’s identity as an integral collaborator in the nation’s food industry.
Building a New Foundation
Over the past several years under new leadership, FScN has placed the building blocks necessary to transform the Department and prepare for a modern era of research and education. Since 2022, we have onboarded six new faculty members in a range of disciplines including dietetics, dairy science, food chemistry, and both community and precision nutrition. Four additional new faculty positions are in the process of recruiting. This emergent cohort of academics, supported by a rejuvenated team of highly qualified staff members, has built a solid foundation for continual growth and development for our Department in the coming years.
Our national reputation has been bolstered in recent years by the activities of the various centers and units housed in FScN, including: the Plant Protein Innovation Center, the Midwest Dairy Foods Research Center, and the JJ Warthesen Food Processing Center. This is in addition to our partnerships with the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute and Dairy Management Inc. Furthermore, we have developed new coursework as well as a Masters of Professional Studies program in Dietetics that addresses a nationwide demand for students seeking to fulfill the new graduate degree requirement to become a Registered Dietitian.
JJ Warthesen Food Processing Center, “Pilot Plant”
First built in the 1950s, our pilot plant has been an indispensable resource for a long list of MN startup companies as well as larger, established companies across the US. The Pilot Plant has played a major role in the dairy industry for decades and now provides a variety of services in multiple food industry sectors.
With an already consistent client schedule booked out months in advance, the pilot plant looks forward to expanding its offerings once facility renovations are completed and new processing equipment can be acquired and installed.