USDA awards $5 million to support sustainable packaging lab for fresh produce

The USDA has awarded $5 million to the International Fresh Produce Association’s (IFPA) Foundation for Fresh Produce and Clemson University to establish a Sustainable Packaging Innovation Lab.

The lab will focus on developing new packaging solutions to address changing global regulations and reduce single-use plastics in the specialty crop industry.

This grant is part of a $25 million package from the USDA’s Assisting Specialty Crop Exports (ASCE) initiative. IFPA will also collaborate with the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) and the University of Florida to implement the program, aimed at ensuring U.S. fruits, vegetables and nuts meet international packaging and labeling standards.

“The packaging and labeling requirements for export markets are changing at a rapid pace,” Max Teplitski, chief science officer for IFPA, said in a news release. “This investment from the USDA will turbocharge the development and scale-up of innovative packaging compliant with emerging global packaging regulations.”

 

The project builds on IFPA’s Fresh Field Catalyst Accelerator program, which has been working to scale up innovations in the produce industry over the past three years. With recent packaging regulations emerging in markets such as Canada, the U.K., Australia and the European Union, many U.S. produce exports face hurdles due to conflicting standards.

Constance Gewa, scientific program director for FFAR, emphasized the importance of sustainable packaging in reducing environmental impact while maintaining food quality.

“The Sustainable Packaging Innovation Lab will accelerate the development of innovative solutions that support international trade while addressing the urgent need to minimize plastic use and reduce food waste,” she said in the release.

The initiative aims to strengthen the global competitiveness of U.S. specialty crops by ensuring packaging innovations meet international standards while promoting sustainability, according to the release.