College of Agriculture & Natural Resources School of Packaging

Day 1, November 13, 2024

Time (US EDT)

 Topic

 Speakers / Organizations

9:00-9:10 a.m.

Welcome

• Laura Bix, Professor and Interim Director; Associate Dean of Graduate Programs for Michigan State University (MSU) College of Agriculture and Natural Resources 
• Greg Olson, USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

9:10-9:15 a.m.

Ruffo Perez, Sr. Food Technology Advisor, USAID

9:15-10:45 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 Downstream Supply Chain Management: WFP East Africa Logistics Perspective
3. Updates on Packaging Regulations and Labeling
4. Regulatory Science Perspective on the Analysis of Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Human Food

A panel moderated by USAID/WFP

• Johannes Bergmair, General Secretary of the World Packaging Organization (WPO)
• Shahid Minhas and Emilie DuFour, World Food Programme (WFP)
• Carole Manceau, WFP
• Timothy Duncan, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, US Food and Drug Administration

10:45-11 a.m.

Coffee / Tea Break

11:00 a.m. - 12:40 p.m.

Commodity Packaging Improvement, Pilots and Trials

1. Packaging Down-Sizing as it relates to Programming and Last Mile Ration Distribution
2. Fortified Rice Retail-Size Packaging
3. Improving Palletization and Stacking Trials
4. Second Oil Tin Can Pilot

• Carole Manceau and Nafi-Aïsha Diop, WFP
• Kim Brown and Michelle Logan, Breedlove, Inc.
• David Silver, Didion Milling
• Steve Nims, Reynold Company

12:40-1:30 p.m.

Lunch

1:30-3 p.m.

Packaging Technologies and Food Infestation: A Technical Panel

1. Perfecting the Design of High-Performing Bags
2. Examining Packaging and Film Construction
3. Packaging Infestation Resilience Piloting and Research
4. Retooling and Optimizing Hybrid Bag Filling and Sealing Capability

• Nicole Cocuzzi and Mark Kosinski, ProAmpac
• Danielle Froio-Blumsack, DoD Soldier Lab, Natick, Boston
• Deanna Scheff, USDA/ARS and Dan Webber, USDA/AMS
• Terry Kleisinger, SEMO Milling Inc.

3-4 p.m.

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

• The SPCAID Project Updates, Implementation and Future Work
• Testing Packaging Integrity Technologies
• Filling Line Performance and In-Process Monitoring

• Nick Vena, Pearl International
• Chris Kelly, TVS VP of Food Safety and Quality Assurance
• Randy Kleiboer and Paul Huebener, Henry Broch Foods

4-4:10 p.m.

Coffee / Tea Break

4:10-4:40 p.m.

Glue and Adhesive Packaging Systems: Performance and Shelf Life

4:40-5 p.m.

Packaging and Commodity Shelf Life and Raw Ingredient Quality Session

5-5:30 p.m.

Wrap-up First Day

Ruffo Perez, (BHA/TPQ/PHN)

6-8 p.m.

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

Lora Allemeier, TVS CEO

Day 2, November 14, 2024

Time (US EDT)

Topic

Speakers / Organizations

8:00-8:05 a.m.

Second day overview and Expectations

USG/MSU

The Broader Food Assistance Sustainable Packaging Solutions and Systems

8:05-10:05 a.m.

The Material Neutrality of Food Packaging: A Panel Moderated by: Greg Rulifson, USAID

• New and improved packaging for sustainability

• Packaging waste management initiatives

• The multi-agency Sustainability Joint Initiative (JI): an update

• Carole Manceau, WFP; Tom Harrison-Prentice, UNICEF; Zoltan Laurincz, Mondi
• Alice Occhilupo and Rie Ishii, WFP: Marianna Nigra, UNHRD; Gard Saabye, Human Brights
• Greg Rulifson, USAID Contractor and Amro El Zoubi, Joint Initiative Consultant to WFP

10:05-10:15 a.m.

Morning Break

10:15 a.m. - 12: p.m.

Reverse Logistics Technologies in Support of Sustainable Packaging

1. PSE opportunities on Packaging Research and Development
2. Recycled Plastics for Circular Design
3. Converting Humanitarian Waste into Usable Products
4. Compostable Packaging for LNS Products
   

• Nacasi Green, USAID/PSE
  
• Joseph Klatt, MAD Plastic Labs
• Samantha Snabes, Co-Founder & Catalyst, Re3d
• Mark Manary and Kevin Stephenson, Washington University, St. Louis

12-12:30 p.m.

Packaging Standardization Project: The Case of Super Cereal Plus and LNS

• Didion Milling
• Edesia Nutrition

• SCP:David Silver, Didion Milling
• LNS: Emily Fischer, Edesia Nutrition

12:30-1:30 p.m.

Lunch

1:40-3:40 p.m.

Sustainable Packaging Stakeholders Engagement Stations

1. Edesia Nutrition
2. Transylvania Vocational Services (TVS)
3. United Nations World Food Program (WFP)
4. The Henrry Broch Food
5. INFICON Americas Packaging Integrity Testing
6. Re:3D Inc
7. Breedlove Foods
8. Heat-sealing Packaging Technologies
9. MANA Nutrition
10. ProAmpac Packaging Company

3:40-4:10 p.m.

Packaging Dynamics for food packages with application of Machine learning

Amin Joodaky, MSU School of Packaging

USAID Supporting Food Assistance Packaging Research and Innovation as an Enabler of Cost-Effective Food Aid Operations.

Ruffo Perez, USAID

Flash-card open discussion on food aid packaging: glue and adhesives, blue-sky topics, stakeholders say.

Ruffo Perez, USAID; Carole Manceau, WFP; Greg Rulifson, USAID Contractor; Dan Webber, USDA: Supplier: David Silver, Didion Milling; Mark Moore, MANA Nutrition

5:20-5:30 p.m.

Wrap up of Main Technical Meeting
Virtual conference concludes here

Day 3, November 15, 2024

Time (US EDT)

Topic

Speakers / Organizations

9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

(With break at 10:30 a.m.)

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

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

Group 2. Discussion on USG Food Assistance Research and Innovation Project

Group 2 Leads: USAID/TPQ/FARO

12:30-12:40 p.m.

Wrap-up and end of Workshop. Adjourn

USAID and MSU School of Packaging