News Items - International Association of Packaging Research Institutes
| UN’s World Food Programme head praises role of packaging and R&D at Clemson Summit The executive director of the World Food Programme (WFP), last week, opened Clemson University’s inaugural Food, Packaging & Sustainability Summit by underlining the critical importance of packaging in combatting food waste and the role that institutions such as Clemson can play in working with the WFP to find solutions.  The executive director of the World Food Programmed (WFP), last week, opened Clemson University’s inaugural Food, Packaging & Sustainability Summit by underlining the critical importance of packaging in combating food waste and the role that institutions such as Clemson can play in working with the WFP to find solutions.David Beasley, who is a Clemson alumnus and former Governor of South Carolina, pointed out to his online audience that most developing-world food losses took place between the farm and the marketplace. “That’s why we’re working on better packaging, containment and storage systems. Packaging is absolutely critical, and how we minimize the impact on the environment,” he said. He claimed there was a new spirit of collaboration at the UN. “There’s a realization that we’re not going to solve the problems of poverty and hunger without the private sector being front and center,” he said. “This is where companies like [event sponsor] Sonoco and universities like Clemson can partner together with the UN, as well as other organization, and truly impact the world in ways that are needed, now more than ever.” The three-day event, hosted by Clemson and the university’s Sonoco FRESH food safety, security and sustainability initiative, also saw presentations from Sonoco president Howard Coker, Deloitte Consulting and Closed Loop Partners, among many others. Earlier in his keynote, Beasley called on the wealthiest in the developed world to contribute a fraction of their income to provide emergency relief for those in greatest need. Last year, the WFP was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its work reducing hunger and promoting peace in conflict zones. Published: 02/25/21 |