The Agricultural Research Center (ARC), partner of SAFOOD4MED, has been actively promoting the project’s objectives through a series of dissemination, networking and strategic activities, strengthening connections between scientific research, agricultural innovation and industry.
The Egyptian team has participated in several events addressing key topics related to the project, including agricultural residue valorisation, sustainable packaging, circular economy, food security and the development of bio-based solutions.
On 1 July 2026, SAFOOD4MED was represented at the 2026 Egyptian Nile Cotton Festival in Cairo, held under the patronage of the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation and organised by the Cotton Research Institute of ARC in collaboration with the event’s organising committee and ElReef Elmasry TV. The Festival provided an opportunity to increase the visibility of the project and its approach to sustainable agricultural innovation.
From 20 to 22 July 2026, the project also contributed to the 2nd Agricultural Research Center Exhibition and International Conference, held under the theme “Food Security and Sustainable Agricultural Development”. The event provided a platform to showcase scientific applications and technological innovations, including developments in the field of bioplastics.
Alongside these dissemination and networking activities, Prof. Amal Saber Owis, hosted a strategic planning meeting to align the team’s activities around a shared long-term vision. The meeting focused on assessing current capabilities and relevant market and environmental factors, identifying strategic priorities and translating broader objectives into concrete milestones and operational actions.
These recent initiatives build on the ARC team’s previous engagement in events addressing sustainability and innovation in the agri-food and packaging sectors.
Food Africa 2024, held from 3 to 5 December 2024 at the Egypt International Exhibition Center in Cairo alongside pacprocess MEA 2024, provided an important platform for discussions on agricultural waste management and food loss, with particular attention to the valorisation of agricultural residues into value-added products, sustainable packaging and circular materials. Discussions also addressed biodegradable packaging, environmental standards and opportunities for scaling sustainable solutions within the agri-food sector.
The team’s engagement continued in January 2025 at the Partnerships and Innovations to Support the Plastics Industry Exhibition, which brought together industry representatives, academic researchers, technology providers and policymakers. The event provided a platform for exploring developments in bio-based and compostable polymers, agri-food residue valorisation, active and intelligent packaging, recycling technologies and smart waste management.
All these activities support SAFOOD4MED’s mission to develop safe antimicrobial bioplastic packaging aimed at strengthening food security, reducing post-harvest losses and advancing the circular bioeconomy. Particular attention is given to non-toxic, food-grade formulations and compostable solutions designed to re-enter biological nutrient cycles without leaving microplastic residues.
Through its continued engagement across research, agriculture and industry, the ARC team is helping to increase the visibility of SAFOOD4MED, foster knowledge exchange and create connections that can support the future development and uptake of sustainable bio-based packaging solutions in the Mediterranean region.
