Supermarket chain Sainsbury's is launching a food science graduate scheme to help tackle skills shortages in the sector.

The programme, Taste the World, will offer funding to graduates to travel the world for up to 12 months, visiting suppliers on their chosen route of travel.

According to the supermarket, the number of graduates becoming food science experts has hit dangerously low levels in recent years,.

It is working with universities to implement the programme which will help fund food science graduates to travel the world for up to 12 months, visiting suppliers on their chosen route of travel.

Liz Jarman, Sainsbury's head of product technology, said: “We wanted to come up with an interesting way of attracting the best people to the business as they'll help shape the future of food.”

To be eligible for the scheme, graduates must have a food or science-based degree, and pass through the company’s assessment centre as a product technologist.