Packaging Institute Ties 23rd Anniversary to Farmers’ Day with Push for Agricultural Value Addition

The Institute of Packaging, Ghana (IOPG) has announced plans to deepen collaboration with farmers and agro-processors, positioning packaging as a strategic tool to reduce post-harvest losses and boost the competitiveness of locally produced goods as the institute marks 23 years of operations.

The initiative, captured in a statement issued on November 3, will culminate in a Packaging Webinar on December 2, 2026, two days ahead of Ghana’s 42nd National Farmers’ Day celebrations in Sunyani . The webinar, themed “Packaging as a Strategic Asset: Building Brand Loyalty and Driving Agricultural Value Creation,” is being organised in collaboration with Royal Crown Packaging Limited, the Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana, Qualiplast Ghana Limited and ePack Flexible Packaging .

A Sector Grappling with Losses

The IOPG’s focus on post-harvest losses addresses a persistent and costly challenge. Studies estimate that approximately 30 per cent of food in Ghana spoils before reaching consumers or retailers, with fruits and vegetables particularly vulnerable . Research by the International Growth Centre found that losses are 1.5 times higher in areas where farmers struggle to find buyers, and that farmers located far from markets experience disproportionately high levels of waste—challenges that improved packaging and branding could help mitigate by extending shelf life and expanding market reach .

The stakes are significant for Ghana’s export ambitions. Non-traditional export earnings surpassed US$5 billion for the first time in 2025, a 30.7 per cent increase over the previous year, driven largely by processed and semi-processed products that accounted for more than 83 per cent of earnings . Agricultural commodities including cashew nuts, shea nuts, bananas and yams recorded strong growth, but the IOPG argues that without better packaging, Ghanaian products will continue to underperform in international markets.

Two Decades of Advocacy

The IOPG was inaugurated on November 3, 2003, with a mandate that remains strikingly relevant. At the inauguration, then-Food and Agriculture Minister Major Courage Quashigah (rtd) identified packaging as “the weakest link in Ghana’s agribusiness chain,” noting that poor packaging was the reason excellent Ghanaian products could not compete internationally .

Since then, the institute has provided professional training, research, advocacy and consultancy services to industry players and SMEs, with interventions aimed at reducing post-harvest losses, enhancing food security and expanding trade . It is a member of the World Packaging Organisation and maintains collaborations with the International Trade Centre, the Greek Packaging Association and packaging institutions in South Africa, India, the United States and the United Kingdom .

Its flagship Packaging Research and Innovation Challenge, organised with Royal Crown Packaging and sponsored by Qualiplast and ePack, has over eight years unearthed packaging talent from seven Ghanaian universities, earning an overall Gold Award at the WPO’s Annual WorldStar Student Pack Awards in 2024 .

Beyond Containment

The December webinar will bring together farmers, agro-processors, packaging manufacturers, researchers, policymakers and private-sector players to explore agricultural value addition, post-harvest loss reduction, brand development, market access, export competitiveness, regulatory requirements and sustainable packaging innovation .

“Packaging must go beyond simply containing and protecting products to become an important business tool for adding value, building strong brands and increasing profitability,” the institute said in its statement.

The IOPG has called on government agencies, industry associations, educational institutions and private-sector organisations to invest in appropriate and innovative packaging solutions to unlock the potential of Ghana’s agricultural resources.

As the institute enters its 24th year, the message is clear: the country’s farmers can grow the crops, but without the packaging to protect, present and preserve them, the value—and the profit—will continue to slip away.