FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POPULARIZATION ACTIONS IN THE STATE OF RIO DE JANEIRO

Abstract

The ignorance about concepts and practices in Food Science and Technology (S&T) and the lack of specialized staff in agricultural education institutions are factors that limit the interest of future technicians on this topic. Such limitations may be overcome through actions to awaken curiosity and motivate the technicians being trained to be interested in all matters of Food S&T, using pedagogical techniques and encouraging interest in the potential of agro-industrial activity. Thus, a partnership was established between Embrapa Food Technology; the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio de Janeiro – Campus Nilo Peçanha (Pinheiral) – (IFRJ); and the Technical College of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (CTUR), located in the municipality of Seropédica, state of Rio de Janeiro. A diagnosis of the physical and educational structure of these institutions was performed, and demographic and socioeconomic data of the studied localities were collected. Subsequently, the activities for popularization of Food S&T consisted of five training courses, and construction of a web site and a discussion forum. A network of relationships and communication was built, which included the actors concerned in the development of these localities. Also, disclosure materials were produced. The participants’ views about the courses and the event were evaluated. The obtained data showed that the activities were mostly positive and that new actions are necessary.