Innovation in Food Production
The Food Science and Nutrition Pilot Plant at Cal Poly provides students with hands-on experience in commercial-scale food processing, research and development. As a certified production facility, it supports product formulation, quality control, food safety testing and sensory evaluation while preparing students for careers in the food industry.
The Pilot Plant features industry-standard equipment that provides students with real-world experience producing food products while applying principles of food safety, quality assurance and process control in a commercial-scale environment.
Roughly 20 undergraduate student employees oversee production scheduling, research and development, inventory management, record keeping and sales.
The plant produces Cal Poly student made jam, barbecue sauce, chocolate and more that is available for purchase throughout San Luis Obispo county as well as at calpolymade.com.