On 23 October 2026, MAGNO partner DNV organised an in-person stakeholder workshop in Cesena, Italy, with the support of FoodHub, to explore how emerging innovations could contribute to the future of food packaging, storage and the wider supply chain.
The workshop brought together more than 22 participants from 18 external companies and organisations, representing the food and packaging industries, logistics, research, wholesale distribution and institutions.
Assessing Innovations in Food Packaging and Storage
During the workshop, participants first selected the innovations of greatest interest and were then divided into groups to jointly discuss and assess different solutions, including:
- Active and intelligent packaging
- Automation
- Digital twins
- Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
- Circular logistics
The selected innovations were assessed against criteria developed through MAGNO’s research activities, covering health and environmental aspects, economic and social impacts, and implementation considerations.
Key Insights from the Discussions
The discussions identified several considerations for the adoption of these innovations, particularly initial investment costs, integration requirements and market readiness.
At the same time, participants highlighted their potential to reduce material use and food waste, improve traceability, support safer and more efficient operations, and contribute to a more sustainable food supply chain.
Next Steps
The results of these research activities, including the insights gathered during the workshop, will be consolidated in MAGNO Deliverable 4.2, “Analysis of Packaging Storage Solutions,” due on 31 December 2026.
We would like to thank DNV for organising the workshop and all participating stakeholders for their contributions.
