FOOD PACKAGING HAS IMPROVED THE STORAGE AND QUALITY OF PACKAGED FOODS DRAMATICALLY OVER THE PAST FEW DECADES; HOWEVER, PACKAGING, ESPECIALLY DURING TRANSPORTATION, CAN STILL SUCCUMB TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS SUCH AS EXCESSIVE HEAT AND MOISTURE. DEGRADATION OF THE FOOD PACKAGE UNDER SUCH CONDITIONS OFTEN RESULTS IN LOSS OF MECHANICAL INTEGRITY, LEADING TO THE GOODS BEING COMPROMISED. IN REMOTE COMMUNITIES WHERE A RELIANCE ON TRANSPORTATION OF MANY FOODS IS HIGH, THIS CAN LEAD TO AN OVERALL REDUCTION IN SOCIETAL WELL-BEING WITH EACH DELIVERY OF DAMAGED GOODS.THE APPROACH USED IN THIS RESEARCH IS TO DEVELOP FUNCTIONAL COATINGS ONTO PAPER SUBSTRATES WHICH CAN WITHSTAND HIGH HEAT AND MOISTURE LOADS WITHOUT A LOSS IN MECHANICAL STRENGTH. THESE COATINGS WILL CONTAIN NANOPARTICLE AEROGELS, ALSO MADE FROM CELLULOSE, WHICH ESSENTIALLY CREATE VERY SMALL POCKETS OF AIR WITHIN THE COATING. THE POROUS COATINGS CREATED WILL PROVIDE INSULATION AGAINST HIGH HEAT LOADS, AND WILL ALSO ENHANCE WATER REPELLENCY. ONCE CONFIRMED, THE COATINGS WILL BE SUBJECTED TO MECHANICAL STRESSES TO DETERMINE THEIR ABILITY TO WITHSTAND MECHANICAL DEFORMATION. IF SUCCESSFUL, THIS RESEARCH WILL ULTIMATELY LEAD TO THE PRODUCTION OF ADVANCED FOOD PACKAGING THAT WILL BETTER PROTECT FOODSTUFFS AGAINST HARSH ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS DURING TRANSPORTATION.