The Department of Food Science (DAPQ) focuses on the quality of both animal and plant agricultural products with regard to the requirements laid down in the Common Agricultural Policy and European legislation. The aim is to cover food safety and quality of agricultural products "from field to fork". For this purpose, the department brings together both experts on agricultural production and the quality of agricultural raw materials, as well as specialists having knowledge of the technology, processing and analytical chemistry concerning food quality and safety. This logical connection with the primary food sector offers graduates a wide opportunity to find a job in agriculture, food processing and retailing as well as in food and agriculture control, inspection and legislative institutions.
Research activities Educational activity Consultancy and cooperation with practice
Scientific and research activities of the DAQP cover many areas of the agri-food sector. The laboratory of cereals focuses on the determination of rheological parameters and quality assessment of cereals with regard to their baking properties. In the field of natural substances, the research focuses on monitoring antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of medicinal plants. Besides the evaluation of meat and meat products quality, the department is equipped for routine and special analyses of milk and dairy products. The research also focuses on goat and sheep milk. Sensory analysis of agricultural products is focused on monitoring changes in the organoleptic characteristics of plant and animal products during their storage and processing. The effect of production is also studied. DAPQ has the following instrumentation for the assessment of agricultural products quality: GC-FID, GC-MS, GCxGC-O-MS, HPLC-UV/VIS HPLC-RI MilkoScan FT 120, GC-QTOF, UHPLC QTOF-NMR and MALDI- TOF.
DQAP educates students of Bachelor's, Master's and doctoral degree programs in the following areas: quality and processing of plant products, quality and processing of animal products, quality and processing of milk and dairy products, sensory analysis of agricultural products, post-harvest processing, food preservation, storage and packaging, food safety quality and certification, biologically active substances.
With regard to consultancy and practical cooperation, the department is in close contact with the following companies: Selgen, a. s., Cvrčovická pekárna s.r.o., GoodMills Česko a.s., Náchodský mlýn, a.s., Millba-Czech, a.s. - Mlýn Louny, Terpenix s.r.o., DELACON Biotechnik ČR, spol. s r.o, AgroBio Opava, s. r. o., Meclovská zemědělská, a. s., ReConsulting a.s., Natura Food Additives, a.s., Backaldrin, s.r.o., PENAM, a.s., Bidvest s.r.o., Farma Zahrádka, AGRO Jesenice a.s. etc. There is also active cooperation with universities, research institutes and institutions of similar branches, as well as with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic. In the area of international cooperation, DAPQ cooperates with many European and non-European universities (UPV Valencia, BOKU Vienna, UHOHA Hohenheim, Ege Izmir and others). Within these activities, the department organises a regular summer school for students focusing on food quality and safety.
