Innovative Agro Industry joins Expo team

THE Innovative Agro Industry (IAI) is the latest company to join the PNG Expo 2020 team.
It is the only milk and dairy producer in country, and invests in fresh vegetable production, and a frozen potato chips brand Kuk – taken from the famous Kuk United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) heritage site in Western Highlands.
Potatoes are sourced from farmers and processed in Pangia, Southern Highlands.
Kuk kaukau (sweet potato) was recently made available in the market, adding to the growing list of high quality Kuk products.
IAI chairman Ilan Weiss said apart from promoting the company’s food products, they would also share the story of the origin of the Kuk heritage site.
“Kuk is a Unesco heritage site,” he said.
“Archaeological evidence (revealed) that Papua New Guineans were the first prehistory famers, well before societies in areas like Europe got into organised farming.
“We will also be telling the world that with the application of appropriate technology and using the traditional environment friendly agriculture methods applied by smallholder farmers, PNG can produce some of the best products, including processed organically grown products.” Ilimo dairy products include milk, yogurt and ice cream.
Weiss said the company was also investing in aquaculture in Western for the export market, plus cocoa production and processing in East Sepik.
“The company is expanding because we have confidence in the ability of PNG farmers to produce the best environment-friendly organic products that can be supported by modern extension and production technology,” he said.
“This is the story we are taking to the Dubai exposition where the world will meet, exchange ideas and make trade and other related connections.”