Packaging Innovation Program Grant

Packaging Innovation Program Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR)
Amount: US $50,000 - US $250,000
Last Updated: November 13, 2025

Summary

The Packaging Innovation Program by the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) seeks innovative research proposals to develop sustainable packaging alternatives for U.S. specialty crops. With increasing restrictions on single-use plastics, this initiative aims to enhance global market access for U.S. producers. Collaborating with Clemson University and the Foundation for Fresh Produce, the program supports three research tracks, focusing on applied R&D, technology acceleration, and pilot-scale manufacturing projects to advance eco-friendly packaging solutions.

Overview

About FFAR Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) advances food and agriculture science to develop tools, technologies and information that benefit farmers, consumers and the environment. We connect funders, researchers and farmers through public-private partnerships to support audacious research addressing the biggest food and agriculture challenges. Our unique public-private partnership model allows us to collaborate with diverse stakeholders to identify research opportunities that help farmers adapt to current challenges. Packaging Innovation Program The Packaging Innovation Lab is seeking research proposals to advance packaging innovations for U.S. producers and specialty crop exporters. Emerging restrictions on single-use and plastic packaging will limit access for U.S. specialty crops in global markets. Therefore, Clemson University and The Foundation for Fresh Produce (FFP) of the International Fresh Produce Association are partnering with the FFAR to advance packaging innovations for U.S. produce and specialty crop exporters as part of the Assisting Specialty Crop Exports program by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service. FFAR is accepting applications, on behalf of Clemson University and FFP, for the Packaging Innovation Program to develop packaging and packaging alternatives for specialty crops compliant with emerging packaging regulations in the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan and other key markets. This program is seeking research applications for novel sustainable packaging or packaging alternatives that can replace single-use packaging and single-use plastic packaging that offer at least some of the same functions economically. The Sustainable Innovation Packaging Program 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 at scaling innovations in sustainable packaging to meet requirements of foreign markets. Track 3 (Scale-up and Pilot) seeks proposals to run pilot-scale manufacturing projects aimed at commercializing a packaging solution for specialty crop exports.

Eligibility

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