Salt, Sep.17 (Petra) – Al-Balqa' Applied University’s Faculty of Agricultural Technology won first place in the Hack4safeFood hackathon, organized by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) under the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Regional Food Safety Research and Innovation Network (RFSRIN).
The team, which included Hazem Sharif Hassan, Issam Qornafleh, and graduates Ruba Mahmoud, Mohammed Ajouri, and Nour Abu Amara, competed against 175 projects from 33 countries. Fifteen reached the finals, where the university team won with the "Basket of Life" initiative.
The project addresses food loss and waste, estimated at 51 percent after harvest in the Near East and North Africa, by proposing a circular bioeconomy framework based on the 9Rs principles (Refuse, Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Refurbish, Remanufacture, Repurpose, Recycle, and Recover) and producing eco-friendly packaging to extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables.
University President Ahmad Ajlouni stated that the award reflects the excellence of the university’s staff and students in providing innovative solutions to global challenges. He thanked the SFDA and the FAO for supporting innovation and regional cooperation.
The win qualifies the team to participate in the FAO Global Exhibition "From Seeds to Foods," part of the organization’s 80th anniversary and World Food Forum events.
//Petra// NQ
