Food Science Pilot Plant Internship Helps Student Find Passion and Gain Experience | Newswise - Newswise

Newswise — Tucked away in the far southern part of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus is the Food Science Pilot Plant, a flexible, state-of-the-art space for food processing. As part of the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition and working alongside the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory, the Pilot Plant includes a food analysis laboratory, product development kitchen, and the pilot plant itself, which features an array of food processing equipment that allows scientists and external clients in food manufacturing to develop and test novel products at scales well beyond the lab bench. “We develop foods made from crops grown on University of Illinois farms, produce products for University Dining, test new ingredients and processing methods, and scale products such as extruded cereals, snacks, powders, beverages, and other foods,” said Jedi Brown, a Senior Pilot Plant specialist. The plant is also an educational asset for future food science leaders.