The Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs des Techniques des Industries Agricoles et Alimentaires (ENITIA), now integrated into Oniris - Nantes Global Food Campus, offers a comprehensive engineering program focused on agro-food sciences and technologies. The curriculum is designed to train highly skilled engineers capable of addressing challenges in sustainable agriculture, food production, processing, and distribution.
- Core Engineering Foundations: Students begin with fundamental courses in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology, providing a solid scientific base essential for agro-industrial applications. These include advanced calculus, thermodynamics, and organic chemistry tailored to biological systems.
- Agro-Food Processing Technologies: In-depth studies cover food preservation methods such as pasteurization, sterilization, and freezing; unit operations like mixing, separation, and packaging; and emerging technologies including high-pressure processing and pulsed electric fields for minimal processing of foods.
- Biotechnology and Microbiology: Courses explore microbial physiology, fermentation processes for dairy, bakery, and beverage industries, genetic engineering of crops and microbes, and bioreactor design for producing enzymes, biofuels, and functional foods.
- Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Engineering: Emphasis on precision farming, soil and water management, waste valorization in agro-industries, and life cycle assessment to promote eco-friendly practices. Topics include integrated pest management, organic farming techniques, and renewable energy applications in rural settings.
- Food Quality and Safety: Training in HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points), sensory analysis, nutritional science, and regulatory compliance with EU food laws. Students learn to develop quality assurance systems and traceability mechanisms for global supply chains.
- Supply Chain and Economics: Modules on logistics for perishable goods, market analysis, business management in agro-food sectors, and innovation strategies for product development, including entrepreneurship and intellectual property in food tech.
- Interdisciplinary Electives: Options in bioinformatics for genomics in agriculture, nanotechnology for food delivery systems, and digital tools like AI and IoT for smart farming and predictive maintenance in processing plants.
The program culminates in a final-year project and internship, often in partnership with industry leaders like Danone or Nestlé, fostering practical skills and research capabilities. With a duration of five years post-baccalauréat, it integrates theoretical learning with hands-on labs and international exchanges, preparing graduates for roles in R&D, production management, consulting, and policy-making in the global agro-food industry. The campus facilities include state-of-the-art pilot plants for food processing simulations, greenhouses for agronomic experiments, and analytical labs equipped with chromatography and spectroscopy tools, ensuring students gain real-world expertise in a dynamic field projected to grow with increasing demand for sustainable and nutritious food solutions.
