Tetra Pak has identified an opportunity for more women to join the F&B manufacturing industry, to help drive transformational change.
A wide variety of roles is required to boost innovation in the F&B industry, ranging from mechanical and automation engineers to microbiologists and regulatory specialists. According to the World Economic Forum’s Gender Gap report, women make up only a third of roles in the manufacturing sector, dropping to just 21% at a senior executive level.
“Manufacturing industries have not always been the most attractive career choice for women, owing to the stereotypes and legacies of this heavily male-dominated sector. But now there is a brilliant opportunity for female innovators to help protect our global food supply chains for generations to come,” states Laurence Mott, Executive VP, Development and Engineering at Tetra Pak.
Marie Sandin, Vice President Engineering and Plant Automation at Tetra Pak, says: “Our global food systems are facing many challenges – in terms of climate change, food safety and hygiene and distribution. We can make a difference in all of these areas, but our impact will be far more effective if we involve more women in the movement. The Covid-19 pandemic has shone a light on critical environmental issues as well as the importance of food safety and availability and we need all hands on deck to address these evolving challenges.”
Tetra Pak Food Science Lead in USA & Canada Abigail Dagadu says: “I see an opportunity for women to enter the food science discipline and make an impact. Drawing from my own experience, my role is to look for innovative solutions to some of the world’s most important issues today: from food insecurity and famine to metabolic diseases, like obesity and diabetes, it’s a chance to drive real societal change, and I would encourage all young women with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) qualifications to consider a career in the F&B industry.”
Laurence Mott says: “We have a number of women in leadership roles across Automation and Digital, Programme Management, Systems Engineering and Materials and Packaging, and our Future Talent graduate programme is helping usher in the next generation of female engineers and leaders, - but we can still do more.
Tetra Pak supports International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), 23 June, an international initiative celebrating the work and achievements of female engineers. The day provides an important opportunity to raise the profile of women in innovation and highlight the amazing career opportunities available. To celebrate the upcoming day, Tetra Pak has published a brochure called Voices of Innovation, showcasing examples of female employees from all over the world, in different roles and from varying academic backgrounds, discussing how they’re helping futureproof our global food supply chain.
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