Initiative is looking to fund ideas to help mitigate plastic pollution in the African country

The Fresh Produce Impact Hub has launched three calls for concept solutions to identify ideas with the potential to mitigate plastic pollution in Ghana caused by agricultural mulch, workwear, and PPE and packaging.

Up to £900,000 is on offer to test and commercialise new technology and business models that can mitigate plastic pollution through material substitution, accelerated biodegradation and improved manufacturing and remanufacturing processes.

The competition is open to established businesses, start-ups, SMEs or entrepreneurs, with submissions from universities and other research organisations also welcomed. The deadline for submissions is 1 December 2022.

The research and development hub for the fresh produce industry, also known as FRESHPPACT, was launched by Blue Skies in February in partnership with Waitrose and the University of Northampton Centre for Sustainable Business Practices. Since then, the FRESHPPACT consortium has expanded with more organisations joining  or participating as associate members.

Full consortium members include Blue Skies, Waitrose, Primafruit and HPW, while associate members include the Fresh Produce Consortium, The Food People, the University of Nottingham’s Future Food Beacon, the Africa Skills Hub and FruVeg.

The Fresh Produce Impact Hub is being implemented by Blue Skies, backed by a UKAid grant. 

Click here for a video outlining FRESHPPACT’s goals in Ghana and the background to the project.

 

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