Four students were declared winners of the 3rd Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) Innovation Competition, held recently in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in recognition of their outstanding research and ideas in advancing agri-sustainability for a food-secure and climate-resilient planet.

The, competition, which was held on the sidelines of the 14th GPCA Agri-Nutrients Conference, at the JW Marriott Hotel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 10-12 September 2024, recognised the contributions of two undergraduate and two postgraduate students from the GCC.

Rahma Hasan from the University of Bahrain was awarded the first place in the Undergraduate Student category for her research in ‘Optimal Production of Bacterial Cellulases and Their Application on Agro-industrial Waste Biodegradation’.

Manar Al Attar from the International Maritime College Oman (IMCO) was awarded the second place for her research in ‘Enhancing Agricultural Sustainability via Activated Carbon Production from Spent Coffee Waste for Enhanced Sustainable Resource Management’.

First place in the Postgraduate student category was secured by Ikhlas Ghiat from Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) in Qatar for ‘CO2 enrichment driven model predictive control: A novel approach for precision agriculture in greenhouses located in hyper-arid regions’.

Baqer Aljaman from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Kaust) in Saudi Arabia won in second place for ‘Upcycling food waste with Black Solder Fly Larvae’.

Students from across the GCC entered the competition, which was held under the theme ‘Race towards Agri-Sustainability’, to advance circular economy in agriculture; soil health; sustainable resource management; and innovation and emission reduction in agri-nutrients production.

A panel of industry experts presided over the selection process of the four winners, who presented their winning entries during the 14th GPCA Agri-Nutrients Conference.

Dr Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA, said: “Congratulations to the winners of the 3rd GPCA Innovation Competition, who impressed the jury with their talent and ingenuity to address some of the most pressing challenges facing the agri-industry in the region and globally.

“The competition attracted an array of innovative ideas from prestigious academic institutions in the Arabian Gulf underscoring the important role of young talent in shaping the future of agri-nutrients and food security.

“While the winners could only be four, I would like to congratulate each and every candidate for submitting an entry and showcasing their academic research to solve the challenges we face in farming, agri-sustainability, circular economy and so on.

“We hope the competition has inspired young graduates and scientists to pursue their research with great passion and dedication to their subject and I wish them every success in their future endeavours.” - TradeArabia News Service