liquid processing packaging
14 November 2006
The Northern Cape Government entered into a co-operation agreement with one
of the world's leading liquid food processing and packaging giants, Tetra Pak
(PTY) LTD. The agreement is based on the undertaking of a feasibility study
that could usher in a new era for school feeding schemes, primary healthcare
(PHC) facilities, government institutions catering for vulnerable community
members, local and national liquid markets. Northern Cape Premier Dipuo Peters
and Tetra Pak's Managing Director in South Africa, Robert Perez, signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tuesday night, 14 November 2006, at
Galeshewe's Ekhaya Guest House.
Premier Peters said, "This agreement shall commence on 1 December 2006 and
end with the finalisation of the feasibility study by the end of April 2007. We
are hoping to have our first version of the feasibility study by end of January
2007 with a report being put before the Economic Cluster at the same time." She
stated that exploring nutrition alternatives against the tradition of cooked
veggies has for long been a matter that her Cabinet members deliberated on
through the Integrated Food Security and Nutrition Programme (IFSNP).
She added that the introduction of fortified drinks as a new global trend in
building immune systems could serve as a nutrition linchpin in eliminating
under-nourishment among learners and in communities once fortified drinks are
appreciated for their nutritional value.
Tetra Pak South Africa's Managing Director Robert Perez, who lifted the
ceremony veil, stated that his company would lead the feasibility study with a
foremost acknowledgment of reciprocal benefit of the exercise. "We'll be
committing our best expertise and resources that we've acquired over decades of
being in the field of liquid food processing and packaging but equally so in
the sharing of information with dedicated partners, much more could be
achieved," enthused Perez.
In partnering Tetra Pak in the feasibility study, the Northern Cape
government would be making use of officials from the departments of agriculture
and land reform, education, social development, health and economic affairs.
Furthermore, farmers and other out-growers of fresh produce are also going to
be consulted as they would serve as the supply base of the raw agricultural
products for processing. The two parties are expected to bear each one's costs
during the five month process of the feasibility study.
Editors notes:
Tetra Pak
Tetra Pak is a very global company with over 50 years of experience in
developing processing and packaging of foods such as milk, juices etc and
present in more than 165 countries around the world. Tetra Pak's sister company
DeLaval is a world leading full service supplier to the dairy farming
industry.
The group has experience in initiating and supporting school nutrition
programmes all over the world. Today children in at least 45 countries get milk
and other nutritious products in the group's packages in school. These
programmes cover around 40 million children of with 15 million are estimated to
be living in developing countries.
The food for development office is the mechanism that Tetra Pak uses to put
this extensive experience at work around the world. Food for development office
initiates, develops and supports school feeding and agricultural development
programmes. Their activities spring from the company's core business,
processing and packaging of food.
In May 2006, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Prince of
Wales International Business Leaders Forum and the International Chamber of
Commerce awarded the food for development office the 2006 World Business Award
in support of the United Nations (UN) Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Tetra Pak South Africa is responsible for Tetra Pak's activities in southern
Africa including South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia,
Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In South Africa, Tetra Pak runs a converting
factory in Pinetown producing packaging material.
School nutrition is high on the agenda of many countries, not only for the
benefit of children, but also for the potential of developing the local
agricultural sector, creating job opportunities and economic development.
Last week's International School Milk Conference in Stellenbosch, South
Africa, which Tetra Pak sponsored, was a sign of the great interest and
attention paid to school nutrition. Around 25 countries participated in this
three-day event.
Tetra Pak is prepared to share experience both in food processing and
packaging and also in school nutrition programmes with private and public
partners here in Northern Cape.
In this feasibility study, Tetra Pak will use its resources from their
market company here in South Africa and with resources from its food for
development office which specialises in developing integrated projects covering
the whole value chain from locally produced raw materials such as milk, fruit
and vegetables all the way to the ready to consume long-life products that its
customers produce and that could be supplied to the commercial market as well
as to schools and other nutrition programmes. The company is looking forward to
work with the authorities and with the private sector here in Northern Cape and
hope that their efforts will lead to both social and economic development in
the province.
Contact:
Mohlomi Mothobi
Tetra Pak
Cell: 082 783 2801
E-mail: mohlomi.mothobi@tetrapak.co.za
Thabo Mothibi
Cell: 083 255 8840
E-mail: tmothibi@agri.ncape.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Agriculture and Land Reform, Northern Cape
Provincial Government
14 November 2006
