The last several years have seen many changes in the packaging supply chain. Consolidation on every level – suppliers, distributors, customers – has led to an increasingly competitive market. Data from Smithers Pira forecasts steady growth across the packaging industry: a market valued at $839 billion in 2015 will increase at 3.5% year-on-year and reach a total value of $997 billion in 2020. As this happens sustainability will become an increasingly important factor for decision makers at all stages of packaging value chains.
FuturePack Packaging 2018 reunites Food Packaging Manufacturers, Retailers, Processors, Suppliers and Academia from around the UK for an unmissable morning of sharing best practice, lessons learned, detection & prevention methods. FuturePack Packaging 2018 takes place on the 23rd March at National Agri-Food Innovation Campus.
Fera Science Ltd (Fera) and Newcastle University invites you to join us for the next FuturePack 2018 meeting. Our symposium will be discussing the common challenges the packaging supply chain industry face, training updates as well as a great networking opportunity.
We’ve been busy
Last year we held several meetings under the FuturePack banner with the aim of promoting developments in packaging training and research. One output from of these meetings was the start of the development of the Packaging Technologist Degree Apprenticeship programme, managed by the National Skills Academy Food and Drink with packaging industry input. Subsequently and partly as a result of the FuturePack meetings I am very pleased to be able to advise you of further developments, new postgraduate training and CPD opportunities provided by Newcastle University and Fera Science Limited with funding for PhD studentships through the Institute for Agri-Food Research and Innovation (IAFRI) in areas such as sustainable packaging and smart labels as an outcome.
Objectives for the Symposium
- Greater understanding of recent and planned developments in training, research and commercial services to support the packaging supply chain industries
- Update on current issues, considerations of next steps for stronger future strategies to support further growth of the sector
- Networking and development of a community with a packaging focus that is visibly addressing current issues e.g. sustainability
- Assisting businesses to secure funding for innovation and development
- Identification of future research and training needs of the packaging supply chain industries
- Promotion of the IAFRI partnership (great opportunity to feed into Fera / IAFRI responsiveness to current issues and support for the agri-food sector)
Provisional Agenda
1. Packaging Training Update: An overview of programme aims, structure, content, delivery methods and assessment strategies
- Packaging Technologist Graduate Apprenticeship Programme (National Skills Academy Food & Drink)
- Food Packaging postgraduate certificate (PG Cert) and workshops for continuing professional development (NU)
- Future Developments in packaging training – postgraduate diploma (PgDip) and Masters (MSc) in food and non-food areas
- Participation - opportunities for Industry in training programme development, review and delivery, provision of student placements and internships.
2. Food Innovation & Packaging Technology at the NAFIC
- The FIPT Centre
- The IAFRI partnership and support for packaging research
- Overview of current and proposed research (NU/IAFRI)
- National Reference Laboratory and services available to industry
- Supporting regional SMEs – the SIAFS project
3. Strategic Development for Packaging
- Access to funding and other support for industry (The KTN, the FIN, Innovate UK, LEP etc)
- Responding to industry needs and current challenges in packaging – next steps.
2018 Speakers include:
Ioana Lock –> view profile
