Sustainable Packaging Innovation Lab
$50k-$250k per project for novel sustainable packaging or alternatives that can replace single-use packaging for specialty crops.
Opportunity Details
When
Registration Opens
11/12/2024
Registration Closes
12/02/2025
Award
Up to twenty (20) awards of between $50,000 and $250,000 each; awardees will also gain access to collaboration and networking opportunities, fresh produce industry and consumer insights, LCA analyses and legal reviews of emergent packaging regulations.
Clemson University and The Foundation for Fresh Produce (FFP) of the International Fresh Produce Association are partnering with the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) for the Sustainable Packaging Innovation Lab program to develop packaging and packaging alternatives for specialty crops compliant with the emergent packaging regulations in the EU, UK, Canada, Japan and other key markets.
We seek novel sustainable packaging or packaging alternatives that can replace single-use packaging and single-use plastic packaging but can offer at least some of the same functions in an economical manner.
The Sustainable Innovation Packaging Lab consists of three distinct tracks:
- Track 1 (Applied R&D) seeks proposals aimed at bringing a solution for specialty crop exports that is still at the laboratory stage but shows high promise to be implemented in pilot-scale manufacturing with minimal further effort.
- Track 2 (Technology Accelerator) seeks proposals aimed on scaling innovations in sustainable packaging for the fresh produce industry.
- Track 3 (Scale-up and pilot) seeks proposals to run pilot-scale manufacturing projects aimed at commercializing a packaging solution for specialty crop exports.
Funding will be provided for up to twenty (20) awards of between $50,000 and $250,000 each.
UK applicants must have a clearly described collaboration with US-based researchers, packaging companies or exporters of specialty crops.
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Clemson University and FFP welcome applications from institutions of higher education, non-profit and for-profit organizations, government-affiliated researchers, and domestic and international organizations. Applications from international entities are invited as long as there is a clearly described collaboration with US-based researchers, packaging companies or exporters of specialty crops.
Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) is invited to work with their organization to develop an application for support.
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All research activities must be structured to answer, directly or indirectly, at least two of the following questions before, during, and after the development and dissemination of research and development or commercialization outputs:
- How does the activity advance the goals of maintaining or increasing U.S. exports of specialty crops?
- How does the activity enable U.S. exporters to comply with emerging regulatory requirements for packaging and labeling?
- How does the activity support the development of packaging materials that are alternatives to single-use plastic packaging?
- How does the activity support the development of reusable packaging systems for the export of specialty crops?
- How does the activity support the export of specialty crops that will be sold at retail without packaging?
- How does the activity reduce food loss and waste of exported fresh produce?
- How does the activity promote the implementation of novel sustainable packaging at a commercial scale for exports of specialty crops?
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Funding will be provided for up to twenty (20) awards of between $50,000 and $250,000 each. No matching funds are required. The performance period for awards will be 12 months. In addition to funding, awardees will gain access to collaboration and networking opportunities, fresh produce industry and consumer insights, LCA analyses and legal reviews of emergent packaging regulations.
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An informational webinar will be held on January 13, 2025, 1-2:30 p.m. EST (6-7:30pm UK time). Register to attend the webinar.
For inquiries related to:
- Tracks 1 (applied R&D) and 3 (scale-up & pilot), please contact Dr. James Sternberg at sternbe@g.clemson.edu
- Track 2 (Technology A,ccelerator) please contact Vonnie Estes at vestes@freshproduce.com
For questions related to the online submission system, please contact FFAR’s Grants Management team at grants@foundationfar.org.
For questions related to the Sustainable Packaging Innovative Lab, please contact FFAR’s Scientific Program Director, Constance Gewa at cgewa@foundationfar.org.