History and Evolution of PPGCTA
The Graduate Program in Food Science and Technology (PPGCTA) at the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV) began in August 1974 (Master’s level) and April 1994 (Doctoral level), completing 50 years in 2024. By December 31, 2024, UFV will have graduated over 60,000 professionals, including 12,000 master’s and 4,000 doctoral degree holders, of which 740 master’s and 386 doctoral graduates came from PPGCTA.
PPGCTA is accredited by the competent bodies of the Ministry of Education (MEC) for both Master’s and Doctoral levels, and both are recommended for candidates applying to the Institutional Program for Teacher and Technical Staff Qualification (PICDT). The doctoral program is also recommended by the Technical Advisory Group of CAPES-MEC (GTC-CAPES-MEC).
Students enrolled in the program are supervised by an Advisory Committee, which is appointed during the first academic semester. The study plan is developed based on the student’s previous experience, aligned with their training interests and the research lines of PPGCTA. Research projects are evaluated by an independent reviewer and defended before a panel composed of the reviewer and the advisory committee. This defense must occur by the second semester for Master’s students and by the third semester for Doctoral students. This process allows potential risks and deviations to be identified early, avoiding future setbacks. The duration of the Master’s program ranges from 18 to 24 months, while the Doctoral program ranges from 30 to 48 months. All requirements are detailed in the program’s regulations (https://posalimentos.ufv.br/normas/), which are updated as needed and comply with the institutional regulations (https://ppg.ufv.br/pos-graduacao/scricto-sensu/regimento/).
PPGCTA receives scholarships from CAPES, CNPq, and FAPEMIG, which are granted to candidates who meet specific criteria. Scholarships are awarded after enrollment, based on priority of need and performance in the selection process, with all criteria clearly defined in the official call (https://posalimentos.ufv.br/edital-3/). As part of their training, students also participate in teaching internships, assisting professors in undergraduate courses. Since 2019, PPGCTA has also offered the Academic Master’s and Doctorate in Innovation (MAI-DAI), a partnership model with private companies linked to the Department of Food Technology, under the coordination of PPGCTA faculty members. Furthermore, PPGCTA advisors host international students for Master’s, Doctoral, and Postdoctoral training. These students must be self-funded or hold scholarships from the PEC-PG program (Graduate Programs for Students from Cooperation Agreements) or international programs such as FARA-TETFund.
The projects developed by PPGCTA faculty and students have an innovative character, as evidenced by a significant increase in patent applications, licensing agreements, and entrepreneurial initiatives based on the research developed. In 2024 alone, six patent applications were submitted by program advisors, with at least four in the negotiation phase for licensing.
Graduates from the program have excelled in various fields, working as faculty members at educational institutions in Brazil and abroad, as well as contributing to research institutes and companies in the food and related sectors, advancing scientific and technological progress in the area. More information can be found in the self-assessment report available at: https://posalimentos.ufv.br/auto-avaliacao-2/. In general, PPGCTA-UFV alumni consider the training they received to be essential for their professional integration and for performing their current duties, providing significant returns to both the scientific community and society.
PPGCTA values continuous self-improvement in academic and scientific quality, societal support, and environmental responsibility. In the CAPES evaluation for the 1998–2000 period, the program received a rating of 4 and subsequently achieved a rating of 5 for the periods 2001–2003, 2004–2006, 2010–2012, and 2013–2016. It received a rating of 6 in the 2007–2009 period and again in the most recent four-year evaluation (2017–2020), reflecting its evolution and excellence in graduate education. The maintenance and progression of these ratings highlight the program’s status as a consolidated graduate program, with adequate social engagement and infrastructure to support its teaching, research, and extension activities.
CAPES Concepts of PPGCTA/UFV
Period 1998-2000: Concept 4
Period 2001-2003: Concept 5
Period 2004-2006: Concept 5
Period 2007-2009: Concept 6
Period 2010-2012: Concept 5
Period 2013-2016: Concept 5
Period 2017-2020: Concept 6
