EXCEL4MED continues its educational outreach with a recent visit to the 81st Elementary School of Athens (Greece), where our partners from EKPIZO engaged young learners in an inspiring discussion about food waste, sustainability and the value of science in everyday life!

The visit took place on 16 May 2025, as part of the school’s Active Citizen programme, which encourages children to reflect on real-world challenges and how they can play a role in addressing them.

Food waste as a learning opportunity

During the session, students explored how common food waste materials, such as orange and pomegranate peels, can be reused and transformed into valuable bioactive compounds using green extraction methods.

These compounds can then be added to new food products to boost their nutritional value, aligning with EXCEL4MED’s mission to reduce food waste and promote healthier food systems across the Mediterranean.

Science made simple thanks to EXCEL4MED

The presentation combined interactive dialogue, real-life examples and simple explanations of complex scientific ideas, making the session both fun and informative.

The enthusiasm and thoughtful questions from the students demonstrated once again how powerful early education can be in building awareness and encouraging future innovation!

Through initiatives like this, EXCEL4MED fosters a culture of sustainability from a young age, empowering children to think critically about food, waste and their role as active citizens in shaping a more resilient future.