On 7 February 2025, the EXCEL4MED and NEWFEED projects came together for a networking webinar aimed at fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange in the fields of circular economy and sustainable food production.
During the webinar, representatives from both projects discussed innovative strategies to reduce food waste and maximise the value of agricultural by-products.
Exploring food waste valorisation in animal feed
The event opened with a presentation from David San Martín, coordinator of NEWFEED, who introduced the project’s approach to optimising food by-products for animal feed. He showcased three case studies demonstrating how agricultural residues can be repurposed to create nutritious and sustainable feed alternatives:
- Grape stems for ruminants: investigating their potential as a feed source for dairy cattle.
- Orange peels for ruminants: studying their nutritional impact on sheep.
- Olive cake for poultry: assessing its viability as an alternative poultry feed ingredient.
The discussion highlighted the environmental and economic benefits of using food processing by-products in animal nutrition and emphasised the role of industry feedback in ensuring effective implementation.
EXCEL4MED’s innovative approach to food processing
Following a dynamic Q&A session, our partner Stella Roufou, from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, presented EXCEL4MED’s vision for sustainable food processing in the Mediterranean.
Stella outlined our efforts to build an innovation ecosystem, where green technologies play a central role in transforming food by-products into valuable resources.
A key focus was on electrochemical treatments used to extract bioactive compounds from pomegranate and citrus by-products. These technologies open new possibilities for sustainable food processing, adding economic value while reducing waste.
Strengthening synergies for a more circular future
Throughout the webinar, participants explored potential synergies between the two projects, including:
- Common strategies for food waste valorisation, leveraging innovative processing methods.
- Enhancing knowledge transfer between academia and industry to drive real-world impact.
- Opportunities for future collaboration, particularly in the Mediterranean agri-food sector.
With a shared commitment to circular economy principles and sustainable innovation, this webinar marked an important step toward stronger partnerships in Mediterranean food systems.
As EXCEL4MED continues to advance, the exchange of ideas and expertise will play a crucial role in shaping a more sustainable and resource-efficient future!
