Post-COVID-19: Resilience building and new opportunities for Caribbean businesses A session organised by IICA and COLEAD
Caribbean Agrifood Business Session n°1
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Innovations Session N°18
Program Links
24/04/2024
Innovations in packaging: opportunities for African entrepreneurs and SMEs
Improving packaging systems will contribute to strengthening the entire food supply chain, improve the competitiveness of enterprises and benefit all food chain actors and consumers.
The need for efficient supply chains and logistics systems which ensure timely and cost-effective delivery of packaged goods remains a complex task.
More and more packaging is no longer considered as a cost item by businesses but as an investment which adds value to the finished product. This is crucial as a consumer’s decision to buy is made largely by looking at the packaged product, and consumers are captivated by unique products.
Appropriate packaging has a significant impact in improving food quality and safety, thereby reducing food losses, whilst enhancing the competitiveness of Africa’s agro-enterprises and boosting trade. Furthermore, packaging plays a key role in improving the marketing of produce and is an important part of a strategy to enhance competitiveness of agro-SMEs.
To reducing the overall environmental impact of food packaging systems, the continent should also consider the environmental impact of the packaging material itself.
African enterprises must lead in green packaging. To achieve this, they will need facilities to test new packaging designs, information platforms to inform processors about available materials and equipment, and advisory support services to help enterprises adapt production and product design to reduce costs, waste and pollution. Also, there is a need to attract investors to develop scalable and recyclable packaging manufacturing facilities.[1]
[1] FAO. Experts define sustainable packaging priorities for Africa. 2018.https://www.fao.org/africa/news/detail-news/en/c/1152067/.
Session Categories
Networking
Join our Agrinnovators community forum to discuss and explore how to encourage innovations across agricultural value chains to transform food systems in Africa, promote sustainable agriculture, and leverage investment. Share insights, ask questions, and collaborate on innovative solutions for a greener future
Isolina Boto
Head of Networks and Alliances - COLEAD
Isolina Boto is the Head of Networks and Alliances at COLEAD. Isolina has more than 25 years of experience in agricultural development. She started her career with the European Commission and has also worked with various ACP embassies and NGOs in areas related to food security, rural development and trade. Before joining COLEAD, she was the Manager of the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA) Brussels Office (2004-2020).
Chichi Eriobu
Founder and CEO - Phronesis Foods Nigeria Limited
Chichi Eriobu is the Founder and CEO of Phronesis Foods Nigeria Limited, a food processing, packaging and export company, creating new food product lines from existing raw materials. Her vision is to build a globally recognised solution-based business and to impact other young entrepreneurs.
Chichi’s consistency with growing her company with very minimal funding has gained both her personal and business brand a global recognition.
Joan Inès Henry Gad
Director General - JHINES Factories
Joan Inès Henry Gad is an agronomist by training and promoter of JHINES Factories, a food and cosmetics company specialising in tomato processing. She has a solid background in project management and has attended the training in active pedagogy. Joan Inès is an awarded social entrepreneur and has extensive international experience in agricultural entrepreneurship (various internships and training courses).
Tom Owuor
Founder and Managing Partner - Direne Packaging and Business Advisory Services
Tom is a certified trainer in packaging and holds a Bachelor of Science and MBA in Strategic Management. He is the founder and Managing Partner at Direne Packaging and Business Advisory Services and is among the very few packaging experts certified by the United Nations to offer packaging advisory services to enterprises in Africa.
Dr. Babafemi Oyewole
CEO - PAFO
Dr. Babafemi Oyewole, the CEO of Pan African Farmers Organization (PAFO), is a tri-sector executive and professional with experiences in the public, private and non-government sectors, and a veteran in the management of international institutions.
Derrick Sarfo
Founder and CEO -DercolBags Packaging Limited Company
Derrick Sarfo is the Founder and CEO of DercolBags Packaging Limited Company, a packaging firm with a mission to empower women entrepreneurs to replace single-use plastic packages with eco-friendly packages for a cleaner environment. With more than half a decade of experience as an entrepreneur, Derrick leads an amazing team at DercolBags Packaging with a collective professional experience of 40 years.
Zippy Shiyoya
Director - the Institute of Packaging Professionals Kenya
With over two decades of experience in the packaging industry, Zippy currently serves as Director at the Institute of Packaging Professionals Kenya (IOPPK). Her background includes a pivotal role at a Swedish-Swiss multinational food packaging and processing company, where she managed design projects and led printing initiatives at a major converting factory in Kenya.
Additional Resources
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