Packaging - Agrinnovators Forum

How prepared are Caribbean exporters for the evolving traceability requirements in global markets?

Nina Desanlis-Perrin — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 11:59:20 +0000

Strengthening traceability is becoming essential for Caribbean food exports.

As international food safety regulations evolve, Caribbean agribusinesses must ensure that their traceability systems meet the requirements of key export markets, including the United States. The U.S. Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Traceability Rule introduces new expectations for record-keeping, product tracking, and supply chain transparency.

To support regional preparedness, CAHFSA, in collaboration with COLEAD.link, will host an FDA Traceability Awareness Session aimed at helping Caribbean producers, processors, exporters, and food safety professionals better understand the implications of these requirements.

The session will provide practical guidance on:
• Understanding the FDA traceability rule
• Key data elements and record-keeping requirements
• Strengthening internal traceability systems
• Preparing Caribbean agribusinesses for continued access to international markets

🗓 Date: March 24, 2026
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM (Eastern Caribbean Time)
🎤 Speaker: Marie-Hélène Kestemont, SPS Expert – COLEAD & Dr. Martin van Brakel, European policy and regulations Expert - COLEAD

This initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen food safety systems, enhance regulatory compliance, and support market access for Caribbean agri-food products.

As global supply chains demand greater transparency, traceability is no longer optional — it is a cornerstone of food safety, consumer confidence, and international trade.

🔗 Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe3wFFMenpV1WbrYV6O-VA15Ypa78pBnuuEKxd5zDd94QTCZg/viewform?usp=send_form

Packaging.

Tola — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 21:25:27 +0000

There are three minimum levels of the Packaging phase; Food serviceware, Flexible and Rigid packaging. All these must meet EU standards and specifications. The question to ask is; How do you know the EU requirements at each phase? To ease the issues of compliance, standards and regulations, i suggest the EU come up with a comprehensive E-glossary of its rules, compliance and regulations for export to EU. For example, what food coatings are acceptable? Is Modified Atmospheric Packaging acceptable for packaging fresh meat/fish?

Thank you

Strengthening Food Safety Through GHP & HACCP

Nina Desanlis-Perrin — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 10:21:00 +0000

Strengthening Food Safety Through GHP & HACCP

Effective food safety systems are built on strong Good Hygiene Practices (GHP) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) principles.
To support continuous improvement and compliance within the agri-food sector, COLEAD.link in collaboration with CAHFSA will host a GHP & HACCP Refresher Training.

This session will reinforce core food safety principles and provide practical guidance for strengthening documentation, verification, and compliance strategies for both regional and export markets.

📅 Date: March 17, 2026
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Eastern Caribbean Time)
🎤 Speaker: David Sodade, Senior Project Manager, Training – COLEAD & Ernest Muzukutwa, Food Safety Consultant, Trainer & Auditor

Participants will benefit from:
• Updated insights on GHP implementation
• Reinforcement of the 7 HACCP principles
• Strengthening documentation and verification systems
• Practical compliance strategies for export markets

🔗 Go to the website to Register: https://lnkd.in/dnd_EzCy

OECD-COLEAD Session n° 12 : Navigating EU policies, regulations and standards impacting fruit and vegetable value chains

Ahoefa Soklou — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 13:07:16 +0000

The regulatory landscape governing access to the European Union (EU) market is evolving rapidly. New developments related to pesticide regulations, corporate sustainability due diligence and packaging standards are increasingly shaping how fruit and vegetable exporters engage with EU buyers.

To better understand these changes and their implications for fruit and vegetables value chains, join the Fruit and Vegetable Industry session 12 to be held this 📅 17 March 2026.

⏰ 10:00–11:30 UTC
💻 Online (Zoom)
🎧 Live interpretation in English and French

The session will explore recent EU regulatory developments and discuss how exporters and producers can navigate evolving compliance requirements while remaining competitive in international markets.

🔗 Register here: https://tinyurl.com/373vtte4

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New EU Packaging Rules (PPWR) – Are You Ready?

Ahoefa Soklou — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 18:37:47 +0000

The new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) 2025/40 will apply from 12 August 2026, introducing stricter EU requirements on packaging design, recyclability, waste prevention and labelling with progressive implementation until 2040.

For agri-food exporters using small retail-ready packaging (fresh produce, ready-to-cook, processed products), these changes will directly affect compliance, costs and market access.

🎯 Join one of the 90-minute webinars organized by COLEAD AGRINFO Department.

Understand the main new obligations
Anticipate implementation challenges
Identify practical strategies to stay competitive

Two time slots are available, choose the one that suits you best:

👉 Register here for the session on Wednesday, 25 February 2026 – 09:00 UTC (English+French)
👉 Register here for the session on Thursday, 26 February 2026 – 15:00 UTC (English+Spanish)

Don’t miss this opportunity, anticipate now.

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Webinar on Good Packaging and Processing Practices for Caribbean Value Chains

Nina Desanlis-Perrin — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 13:40:58 +0000

This information sharing session is designed to equip national value chain teams from the FAO Caribbean Value Chain Programme with essential knowledge and practical skills in good packaging practices, aimed at enhancing product quality, ensuring regulatory compliance, and improving market competitiveness. The presentation will draw on content from the recently published document Good packaging practices for micro, small and medium-sized food processing enterprises in the Caribbean Community and Common Market, and will relate relevant guidance to ongoing work in the pepper, dasheen, ginger, lettuce and sweet pepper value chains.

Check it out : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qld3RFKMh5M

The COLEAD MOOC on Packaging and Labelling is Live | Le MOOC du COLEAD sur le Packaging et l’Etiquetage est lancé !

Ahoefa Soklou — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 14:33:57 +0000

🎉 It’s underway!

The first COLEAD MOOC on Packaging and Labelling officially kicked off today with over 400 registered participants from across the agri-food sector!

Today’s agenda introduced participants to the basics of packaging, explored trends and innovations in agri-food packaging, and showcased case studies of businesses that adopted sustainable solutions and entrepreneurs who successfully expanded into export markets through effective packaging.

The discussion continues here on Agrinnovators, share your thoughts, key takeaways, or questions in the comments below.
Our experts will be happy to provide clarifications and insights.

Let’s go further, together !!!

🎉 C’est lancé !

Le premier MOOC du COLEAD sur le packaging et l’étiquetage a officiellement démarré aujourd’hui avec plus de 400 participants inscrits issus du secteur agroalimentaire !

L’agenda du jour a permis aux participants de découvrir les bases du packaging, d’explorer les tendances et innovations dans le packaging agroalimentaire, et d’analyser des études de cas d’entreprises ayant adopté des solutions durables et d’entrepreneurs ayant réussi à exporter grâce à un emballage efficace.

Les échanges se poursuivent ici sur Agrinnovators partagez vos impressions, vos points clés ou posez vos questions ci-dessous.
Nos experts se feront un plaisir d’y répondre.

Allons plus loin, ensemble !

Derrick Sarfo turns plastic into sustainable opportunities

Nina Desanlis-Perrin — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 12:29:01 +0000

In Ghana, young entrepreneur Derrick Sarfo, founder and director of DercolBags Packaging Ltd., is transforming the fight against plastic pollution into a story of innovation, inclusion, and sustainability.

His mission began after the 2015 Accra floods, which were worsened by plastic waste blocking drains — a tragedy that inspired him to take action. By 2018, Derrick had launched DercolBags, a social enterprise producing eco-friendly packaging made from paper, cardboard, and other biodegradable materials as alternatives to single-use plastics.

DercolBags goes beyond green packaging — it’s also a platform for youth training and empowerment. The company employs 18 young people (including 8 women) and has trained over 140 individuals in sustainable packaging practices, reaching more than 12,000 online learners. Today, over 460 Ghanaian businesses use DercolBags’ products, contributing to the elimination of nearly 12,000 tonnes of plastic waste.

To ensure inclusive growth, 60% of the company’s products are distributed by women traders in local markets, helping them earn income while spreading eco-friendly solutions. Derrick also co-founded SPEX (Smartpack Exchange) — a reusable food container system already used by over 4,600 customers, targeting plastic waste in the food service industry.

Recognized by several international support programmes, Derrick’s work has blended environmental protection, entrepreneurship, and social impact. His long-term vision: expand DercolBags across West Africa and franchise the SPEX model to promote circular, community-led packaging solutions.

Through his initiatives, Derrick demonstrates that sustainable packaging is a powerful tool for creating jobs, empowering communities, and driving responsible business growth.

More information: https://agrinnovators.org/business-profile/dercolbags-packaging-ltd-company/

Packaging & Labelling Training – Registration still open!

Ahoefa Soklou — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 13:48:02 +0000

Dear network, we are delighted to share with you an exciting opportunity: the first Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Labelling and Packaging, organised by COLEAD. This course is designed to support women and men entrepreneurs, managers, and professionals of agri-food SMEs in developing packaging and labelling strategies that enhance competitiveness, meet market expectations, and comply with international requirements.

👉 Why join?

Understand the fundamentals of packaging design and materials for agri-food products.
Explore sustainable, innovative, and cost-effective packaging solutions tailored to SMEs.
Navigate international regulatory standards (Codex, FDA, EU) for packaging, labelling, and traceability.
Connect with experts, MSMEs, researchers, and policymakers via the Agrinnovators Forum.

🎯 Who should attend?
Consultants, company managers, purchasing, packing, processing, quality & traceability, marketing, CSR, and sales managers.

📌 Details

Format: Online MOOC (open to all, no participant limit)
Duration: 2.5 weeks
Registration deadline: 29 September 2025 (you still have 6 days to go!)

Don’t miss this chance to unlock packaging strategies that will transform your business impact and growth! Package smart. Sell better.

Active packaging with 1-MCP cuts produce waste

Nina Desanlis-Perrin — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 11:54:03 +0000

Global food waste, estimated at over $1 trillion annually, continues to present significant challenges for fresh produce suppliers, especially in managing spoilage and maintaining profitability. Active packaging technologies are emerging as a potential solution. One such development, the Vidre+ Complex, has been showing results in supply chain trials aimed at extending the freshness of perishable items like spinach and raspberries.

Developed by Fresh Inset, Vidre+ is a packaging-integrated solution designed to help delay produce deterioration. In independent trials, the technology reportedly extended spinach shelf life by up to 10 days and reduced shrinkage in raspberries. The solution is incorporated into common packaging materials, such as cardboard boxes or clamshells, and is compatible with existing logistics systems.

More information : https://www.freshplaza.com/europe/article/9743978/active-packaging-with-1-mcp-cuts-produce-waste/?utm_medium=email