FAO-consultant Dr. Manalili explains the potential of the packaging industry in fighting food losses in low-income countries.
Short overview of the key findings:
1. Packaging solutions crucial key to address food loss
2. Status of the packaging industry in developing countries:
Industry strength is derived from large volume of agricultural production, the continuous growth in food commodities and a steadily increasing demand in food stuffs.
The biggest weakness of the industry is the low level of investments by the packaging industry due to limitations of packaging solutions to meet international requirements and the small demand for packaging materials on domestic markets. One major consequence of this weakness is the lacking ability to enhance product quality.
3. Opportunities and potential of the packaging sector in developing countries:
Package manufacturing appears to have the greatest development potential of the entire industry (manufacturing, machinery, service) as there is an increasing demand for procession of products nearer to its production source.
Opportunities for the packaging industry in developing countries are therefore present; specifically if ethnical appeal of products is capitalized on and if extended to packing, as well as indigenous materials. There is also potential for second hand machinery.
4. Addressing the low investment level in packaging industries in developing countries:
The success of each growth strategy for the packaging industries is dependent on a country’s political and economic environment.
Relaxing packaging regulations to a certain extent will help increase the supply of packaging materials while addressing food loss concerns and without sacrificing food safety considerations.
