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Highlights from the 2nd EXCEL4MED Living Lab in Malta

EXCEL4MED

On 21 November 2024, the Corinthia St. George’s Bay Hotel in Malta became the hub of innovation and collaboration for the 2nd EXCEL4MED Living Lab.

Organised in collaboration with Malta Food Agency, Malta Life Science Park (Malta Enterprise) and Koperattivi Malta, this event brought together diverse stakeholders to tackle pressing challenges in the Mediterranean food supply chains.

Fostering collaboration across sectors

Participants represented a broad spectrum of expertise, including industry leaders, policymakers, consultants and academics from organisations.

This diverse gathering created a vibrant space for multi-dimensional discussions, paving the way for actionable solutions in sustainability, food waste reduction and innovation.

A packed agenda with a purpose

The day began with Josephine Schembri from the Malta Food Agency introducing the EXCEL4MED project, setting the stage with an inspiring overview of its focus on green innovation and food waste valorisation.

Key presentations followed, including:

  • “Business Strategy for Fruit Products” by Johan Zammit (Malta Enterprise) and Aybike Bayraktar (CIHEAM IAM), which explored market strategies for high-quality fruit products.
  • Joseph P. Sammut, Director of MediMalta Network and Malta Innovation Hub, delved into the creation of innovation ecosystems in Mediterranean fruit supply chains, highlighting EXCEL4MED’s transformative role.

The event also featured two hands-on workshops:

  • Session 1: Local Food Production Case Studies focused on real-world examples to address economic, environmental and social challenges.
  • Session 2: Strategy Development refined these ideas, identifying actionable steps and aligning them with the project’s overarching goals.
EXCEL4MED’s innovative methodologies driving progress

Central to the event was the Triple Layered Business Model Canvas, a powerful tool used to explore sustainability challenges across three dimensions:

  • Economic: addressing cost structures, market dynamics and revenue streams.
  • Governmental: highlighting governance frameworks and policy collaboration.
  • Social: focusing on community impact and stakeholder engagement.

Stakeholders also explored environmental, social and governance (ESG) frameworks and discussed strategies to localise global sustainability standards for the Mediterranean context.

EXCEL4MED

Outcomes and future directions

The 2nd EXCEL4MED Living Lab in Malta revealed opportunities to strengthen local supply chains and maximise resource utilisation. Examples included transforming by-products like pomegranate peels into marketable goods, such as jams and sauces, turning waste into valuable assets.

Participants recognised the critical need for building integrated ecosystems to align stakeholder efforts, streamline operations and holistically address sustainability goals.

These insights will guide future actions to minimise environmental impact, improve economic viability and foster innovation across Mediterranean food systems!