Workshop Agenda

Food Assistance Packaging Solutions Workshop Series: Stakeholder convening and piloting packaging prototypes to identify packaging solutions to address food safety and quality issues
November 13-15 2024
3535 Forest Rd, Lansing, MI 48910
Michigan State University James B. Henry Center for Executive Development


Main Contacts: Cimberly Weir, cimberly@msu.ed; Ruffo Perez, ruperez@usaid.gov
IT/Logistics Support: Betsy Braid, braidbet@msu.edu

The Main Objective of our Seminar:  Gather key food aid stakeholders to discuss the current status of food aid commodity packaging, challenges, new technological advances, potential solutions, and identify next steps in optimizing food aid packaging. The workshop should result in a report outlining specific steps to address current challenges using readily available technologies, as well as research and innovation opportunities within the next three years to five years.

Day 1, November 13, 2024

Time (US EDT)

 Topic

 

 Speakers / Organizations

9:00-9:10 a.m.

  • Welcome
  • Introduction, Expectations, Review of the Agenda

 

Moderated by Ruffo Perez, USAID

  • USG and MSU School of Packaging
  • TPQ/FARO Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

9:10-10:30 a.m.

Food that is not safe is not food, food that is not packaged effectively is not safe.

  1. Packaging, food safety, health and nutrition
  2. Packaging and supply chain management
  3. Labeling and Regulations
  4. Microplastic, chemical migration and pesticide/residue issues

 

Moderated by TPQ/FARO

  • USG, WFP, MSU
  • USAID/WFP
  • USDA
  • FDA

10:30-10:40 a.m.

Coffee / Tea Break

 

 

The Broader Food Assistance Sustainable Packaging Solutions and Systems

10:40 a.m. - 12:40 p.m.

The Material Neutrality of Food Packaging

  1. Sustainable packaging technologies
  2. Sustainable packaging science
  3. Revisiting green packaging from a cost perspective
  

A PANEL Moderated by: Greg Rulifson, USAID

  • TBD
  • TBD
  • TBD

12:40-1:30 p.m.

Lunch

1:30-2:50 p.m.

Packaging Technologies and Food Infestation

  1. Examining packaging and film construction
  2. Perfecting the design of high-performing bags
  3. Packaging infestation resilience research
  
  • Danielle Froio-Blumsack, DoD Soldier Lab, Natick
  • Lucas Thompson and Mark Kosinski, ProAmpac
  • Deanna Scheff, USDA/ARS

2:50-3:30 p.m.

Implementation of Key Performing Indicators (KPIs) for Packaging Quality Monitoring

  • Testing packaging integrity technologies
  • Filling line performance and in-process monitoring
  • Investing on more resilient packaging
 
  • Brian Wilson, TVS Foods
  • Randy Kleiboer and Paul Huebener, Henry Broch Foods
  • Terry Kleisinger, SEMO Milling

3:30-3:40 p.m.

Coffee / Tea Break

3:40-4:25 p.m.

Packaging Downsizing Approaches: the case of CSB+ and fortified rice

  

Davor JANJATOVIC, WFP

4:25-5:00 p.m.

Packaging and commodity shelf life and raw ingredient quality session

  

TBD

5-5:30p.m.

Wrap-up First Day

 

 

6-8 p.m.

Group Dinner and Keynote Speakers
The Story of TVS: Investing in the well-being of communities

 

 Leca Diehl, Transylvanie Vocational Services (TVS)

 

 

Day 2, November 14, 2024

Time (US EDT)

Topic

 

Speakers / Organizations

Updates on Streamworks under the Humanitarian Food Sustainable Packaging Agenda

8:00-8:05 a.m.

Second day overview and Expectations

 

USG/MSU

8:05-9:30 a.m.

USAID Private Sector Engagement Strategy

  1. PSE opportunities on packaging research and development
  2. Recycled plastics for circular design
  3. Converting humanitarian waste into usable products.
  4. Deployable technologies: turning waste into brick

 

Moderated by USAID

  • Nacasi Green, USAID/PSE
  • Joseph Klatt, MAD Plastic Labs
  • Doug Sassaman, Re3d
  • Stefano Guagliardo, The UNHRD LAB

9:30-10 a.m.

Packaging Standardization Project: The Case of Super Cereal Plus and Lipid-Based Therapeutic Foods

TVS Foods
Mana Nutrition

  

Moderated by BHA/TPQ/PHN

SCP:David Silver, Didion Milling

LNS: Mana Nutrition

10-10:10 a.m.

Coffee / Tea Break

 

  

10:10-11:10 a.m.

Packaging Research Areas with Application to Food Aid

  1. Climate change-responsive packaging technologies
  2. The reverse logistic approach: From packaging Waste back to product
  3. The Power of AI for in-process packaging quality control
  4. Compostable Packaging for LNS Products
  

Moderated by USG

  • TBD
  • TBD
  • TBD
  • Mark Manary and Kevin Stephenson, Washington University, St. Louis

11:10 a.m. - 12:40 p.m.

Sustainable Packaging Stakeholders Engagement Stations

  1. Sustainable Packaging Joint Initiative (JI)
  2. Transylvania Vocational Services -TVS
  3. United Nations World Food Program (WFP)
  4. The Henrry Broch Food
  5. INFICON Americas Packaging Integrity Testing
  6. Reverse Logistic Prototype Technologies 1
  7. Reverse Logistic Prototype Technologies 2
  8. Breedlove Foods
  9. Heat-sealing Packaging Technologies
  10. MANA Nutrition
   Packaging Exhibit Areas at MSU School of Packaging Hallway

12:40-1:40 p.m.

Lunch

1:40-2:20 p.m.

Update on Artificial Intelligence on Packaging Innovation, as it Applies to Food Aid

  

Euihark Lee, MSU School of Packaging
2:20-3 p.m.

The SPCAID Project Updates, Implementation and Future Work

  

Nick Vena, Pearl International

3:30-4:40 p.m.

MSU School of Packaging Laboratory / Packaging Testing Facility Visit / Tour

 

MSU School of Packaging Graduate Students
4:40-5 p.m. MSU Dairy Store Break    

5-5:30 p.m.

Return to meeting venue, the James B. Henry Center
Virtual conference concludes here

 

 MSU

 

 

Day 3, November 15, 2024

Time (US EDT)

Topic

 

Speakers / Organizations

9 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

(With break at 10 a.m.)

 

 

Group 1. Options to Reduce Environmental Impact throughout the Supply Chain with a Focus on Packaging

 

Group 1 Leads: Greg Rulifson, USAID and Carole Manceau, WFP

Group 2. Kick-off the USAID Food Aid Packaging Associate Award Project and Next Steps

 

Group 2 Leads: USAID/TPQ/FARO

12:10-12:30 p.m.

Wrap-up and end of Workshop. Adjourn

 

USAID and MSU School of Packaging

 

DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

STUDENTS

RESEARCH & TESTING

ALUMNI & GIVING

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