World Food Programme executive to speak at packaging summit

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Clemson University alumnus and executive director of the Nobel Prize-winning United Nations World Food Programme David Beasley will give a keynote presentation at the school’s first virtual Food, Packaging and Sustainability Summit on Feb. 24- 26.

The event, hosted by Sonoco Fresh, focuses on the optimization of the food value chain in manners that protect the food chain and the environment, according to a news release.

Beasley’s keynote will target the industry’s potential for sustainable food systems in light of the program’s 2020 Nobel Peace Prize for its “efforts to combat hunger, for its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and for acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict.” Beasley served as governor of South Carolina, 1995-1999.

The first day of the summit will feature remarks from Clemson President Jim Clements and Howard Coker, president and CEO of Sonoco Fresh, following Beasley’s keynote. The speeches will be followed by an eco-ethics social hour hosted by Joel Gamoran, founder of Homemade Classes LLC, and Richard Crawford, host of Amazon Prime’s Leave No Trace, according to the release.

Representatives from Deloitte Consulting and Caue Suplicy, the founder of recycled banana snack company Barnana, will speak on the food value chain and circularity during the second day. Presentations on cradle-to-cradle packaging, advanced recycling practices and other sustainable innovations will conclude the summit on Feb. 26 with a speech from Ron Gonen, co-founder and CEO of Closed Loop Partners.

“The need for collaborations and innovative approaches to protecting the safety, security and sustainability of the food value chain has never been greater,” Anne Barr, executive director of Sonoco Fresh, said in the release. “Networking and interaction are the cornerstones of our event, and we will be using a dynamic virtual conference platform that will allow attendees to join interactive and engaging programs — all while connecting from the comfort and safety of their homes or offices.”

Registration for the virtual summit is $129 for individuals, and $99 per person for groups of five or more registering together. Proceeds from the summit Fresh initiative support activities at Clemson University.