Pharma.Aero and TIACA jointly launch air cargo project
The Food and Farm for Health initiative is strategically developed in collaboration with the CCA and the HLA.
Pharma.Aero and The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) jointly launched the Food and Farm for Health project to use air cargo as a means to improve access to life-saving medicines and support agricultural exports in low- and middle-income countries. The initiative, developed in collaboration with the Cool Chain Association (CCA) and the Humanitarian Logistics Association (HLA), aims to address healthcare and economic challenges by maximising the use of cargo space in both directions — importing essential pharmaceuticals and exporting perishable farm produce.
Frank Van Gelder, Secretary General of Pharma.Aero, said, "The Food and Farm for Health Project is about leveraging air cargo to address two critical needs in low- and middle-income countries: healthcare access and economic empowerment. We, at Pharma.Aero, recognised a critical gap and initiated this project to use air cargo as a dual-purpose tool: flying in life-saving pharmaceuticals and medical supplies while flying out perishable agricultural products — like fruits, vegetables, and flowers — from local farmers to Western markets."
He added that using available cargo space on return flights creates a more cost-effective and efficient trade route, ensuring faster access to medicines while helping local farmers reach international markets.
Steven Polmans, Chair of TIACA, said, “Air cargo is more than a mode of transport — it’s a critical lifeline for economies and communities across the globe. The completion of our Global Market Evolution Analysis marks a major milestone in understanding how perishable goods and pharmaceuticals move, especially in regions where access means everything. From Kenya’s flower exports supporting millions of jobs to India’s seafood sector driving billions in trade, our work confirms that airfreight is a catalyst for opportunity, health, and resilience.”
The project will evaluate global air cargo flows, assess their economic contributions, and measure their alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Experts in pharmaceutical logistics, humanitarian supply chains, and temperature-sensitive freight will collaborate to provide actionable insights.
Ian Buck, board member of the CCA, said, “Aligning healthcare providers in their mission to provide lifesaving treatments and preventative medicines to developing and emerging regions, and in turn giving those regions an economic reach for their homegrown and produced perishable products, is the balance we seek.”
George Fenton, CEO of HLA, said, “The aid sector recognises the need to change but is struggling to bring about transformation through evolution. There is a huge need to find innovative ways to strengthen local supply chain capability. The air cargo industry is vital to the fast delivery of humanitarian aid, yet the last mile is still the greatest challenge. The Food and Farm for Health project will provide valuable insights to support effective, sustainable change through improved cross-sector coordination, collaboration and knowledge sharing.”
The Food and Farm for Health project supports the common goal of all four organisations — Pharma.Aero, TIACA, CCA, and HLA — to create equitable healthcare access and promote economic resilience in underserved regions through sustainable air logistics.
