Conference on transformation agri-food supply chain for a sustainable future
We are delighted to announce the Conference on Transforming Agri-FoodSupply Chain for a Sustainable Future organized by InovFarmer.MED, in collaboration with the Arab Academy of Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport. The Conference will take place onsite in Alexandria, Egypt, on 30th April 2025.
This event will bring together leading researchers, industry experts, and policymakers to explore groundbreaking innovations and emerging trends in the agri-food supply chain. The conference will serve as a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, fostering collaboration and innovative solutions to build resilient, efficient, and sustainable food systems.
The event will feature a dynamic lineup of presentations, including Invited keynote lectures, interactive discussions, and networking opportunities. Participants will have the opportunity to present their research through Oral, Flash and Poster Communications, engage in thought-provoking discussions, and collaborate on strategies to drive meaningful change in the agri-food sector.
We look forward to welcoming you to Alexandria for an enriching experience filled with innovation, learning, and collaboration.
Event’s Address:
Arab Academy of Science, Technology, and
Maritime Transport
(Latitude): 31.3161° N
(Longitude): 30.0694° E
Abstract submission closes on 22nd March, 2025.
Acceptance notification until 29th March 2025.
Early-bird registration until 4rd April 2025;
Regular registration until 18th April 2025.
Secretariat: Joana Santos, inovfarmermed@gmail.com
Thematic Areas
The program includes four thematic sessions:
1 – Digital solutions for building resilient and efficient agri-food supply chain
– Smart Supply Chains | real-time tracking, blockchain, e-commerce.
– Precision Agriculture | AI, IoT, drones and satellites for smart farms.
– Resilience Agri-Food | AI risk assessment, early warnings, predictive analytics.
– Sustainable Systems | Waste reduction, smart packaging, IoT water management.
2 – Healthy Foods Towards Transformative Changes
– Fortified Foods | Nutrient-enriched and functional innovations.
– Next-Generation Proteins | Plant-based, lab-grown, and algae proteins.
– Microbiome-Enhancing Foods | Prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics for health.
– Mediterranean Diet | Health, culture, and sustainability benefits.
3 – Advancing Ingredients and Processing Solutions for Food and Agriculture
– Clean-Label | Natural preservatives, colors, and sweeteners.
– Upcycling | Turning food waste into valuable ingredients.
– Eco-Packaging | Bioplastics, edible coatings.
– Food Processing | HPP, drying, pulsed fields, fermentation.
– Natural Crop Protection | Biostimulants, bio-pesticides, plant-based solutions.
4 – Business models for equity and farmer empowerment
– Farmer Empowerment | Agri-tech, digital co-ops, blockchain for market & finance.
– Gender and Social Equity | Women’s empowerment, youth agribusiness, land rights.
– Sustainable Farming | Regenerative agriculture, waste reduction, climate-smart business approaches.
– Resilient Business | Strategies for climate, price volatility, and supply risks.
Program
30th April 2025
8h30 - 9h00 — Registration
9h00 - 9:20h — Open Session
- Representatives of AASTMT (Rector), InovFarmer.MED (Dulcineia Wessel), Resilient Smallholder Intiative (Congduc Pham), FoodWaStop (Gianfranco Romanazzi), PRIMA Agency (Mohamed Wageih)
Session 1. Digital Solutions for Building Resilient and Efficient Agri-food Supply Chain
Chairpersons: Ahmed Solyman, Glasgow Caledonian University, United Kingdom & Odete Lopes, Polytechnic University of Viseu, Portugal
9:20h - 9: 45h — IL 01 - The RESILINK digital platform and the platform-of-platforms approach to share local resources
Yasser Dessouky, Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport, Egypt
9:45h - 9:55h — OC 01 - Smallholder's readiness to adopt platforms linking local resource-sharing in Egypt
Seham El Gamal, Agricultural Research Centre, Egypt
9:55h - 10:05h — OC 02 - Assessing the challenges of adopting digital platforms for localized resource sharing in agriculture
Hayat Lionboui, National Institute of Agronomic Research, Morocco
10:05h - 10:15h — OC 03 - Analyzing Tunisia's cereal supply chain: towards enhancing resilience, efficiency, and digital transformation
Raja Nabli, National Institute of Fields Crops, Tunisia
10:15h – 10:25h — OC 04 - Traceability: a scalable and interoperable blockchain for tracing rice along the value chain
Nuno Serra, Food4Sustainability, Portugal
10:25h - 10:35h — OC 05 - A continuous ripeness scale for figs and prickly pears using multimodal data integration
Diogo Paulo, University of Beira Interior, Portugal
10:35h - 10:55h — Coffee Break
Session 2. Healthy Foods Towards Transformative Changes
Chairpersons: Cláudia Neves, Polytechnic University of Viseu, Portugal & Susana Cardoso, University of Aveiro, Portugal
10:55h - 11:20h — IL 02 - Innovation in ancient grains functional products development
Amr Helal, Health Tech for Integrated Health Solutions, Egypt
11:20h - 11:30h — OC 06 - Valuation of a green microalga (Chlorella vulgaris) as an ingredient in think pear snacks
Sílvia Petronilho, University of Aveiro, Portugal
11:30h - 11:40h — OC 07 - A holistic approach to Opuntia peel utilization: sustainable strategies for functional food development
Ricardo Ferreira, University of Aveiro, Portugal
11h40 - 11:50h — OC 08 - (Re)valorisation of acorn as an innovative ingredient for new food products development
Silvia Moreira, Food4Sustainability CoLAB, Portugal
11:50h - 12:00h — OC 09 - Fermented camel milk whey supplemented with antioxidants-rich extracts
Farah Jertila, University of Manouba, Tunisia
12:00h - 12:10h — FC 01 - Acute toxicity assessment of fenugreek sprouts: safety evaluation for functional food applications
Zeyneb Sadok, Hassiba Ben Bouali University of Chlef, Algeria
12:10h – 12:15h — FC 02 - Application of anthocyanins from purple sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) in yogurt: a natural alternative to synthetic dyes
Flavia Silva, Federal University of Pelotas, Brazil
12:15h - 12:20h — FC 04 - Targeting postprandial hyperglycemia: inhibitory effects of Eugenia pyriformis on key digestive enzymes
Chirle Raphaelli, Federal University of Pampa, Brazil
12:25h - 13h25 - Lunch
Session 3. Advancing Ingredients and Processing Solutions for Food and Agriculture
Chairpersons: Dulcineia Wessel, Polytechnic University of Viseu, Portugal & Meriem-Hind Ben-Mahdi, Ecole Nationale Supérieure Vétérinaire, Algeria
13:30h - 13:55h — IL 03 - Ingredients and processing solutions for food based on carbohydrates
Manuel Coimbra, University of Aveiro, Portugal
13:55h - 14:05h — OC 11 - Manufacturing of biodegradable bioplastics from cellulosic fibers of Tunisian tomato and red pepper by-products
Marwa Rouhou, University of Carthage, Tunisia
14:05h - 14:15h — OC 12 - In vitro PGP and antifungal activities of salt and drought tolerant actinobacteria, isolated from arid area in Morocco
Badra Banane, University Ibn zohr, Morocco
14:15h - 14:25h — OC 13 - Antioxidant, antibacterial, antibiofilm and prebiotic properties enhancing Lactobacillus gasseri growth of date seeds extracts
Amal Dbeibia, University of Manouba, Tunisia
14:25h - 14:30h — FC 05 - Hybrid solar dryer performance: assessing the solar contribution
Carlos Pereira, Polytechnic University of Viseu, Portugal
14:30h - 14:35h — FC 06 - Eutectic solvents and SC-CO₂ for sustainable anthocyanin recovery from purple sweet potatoes
Gabriel de Barros, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Brasil
14:35h - 14:40h — FC 07 - Date pits sugar analysis: impact of various treatments
Keltoum Babouche, University of Brothers Mentouri, Algeria
14:40h - 14:45h — FC 08 - Polysaccharide composition of fresh and dried strawberry extract residues: influence of thermal drying
Hassiba Ben Bouali University of Chlef, Algeria
14:45h - 14:50h — FC 09 - Evaluation of some biological activities of watermelon byproduct
Halima Saiah, Hassiba Ben Bouali University of Chlef, Algeria
14:50h - 14:55h — FC 10 - Effect of ripening and drying of figs on the extractability of sugars, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides
Sara Gonçalves, University of Aveiro, Portugal
14:55h - 15:00h — FC 11 - Anti-inflammatory activity of portulaca Oleracea L. essential oils in an acute formalin-induced inflammation model in rats
Hassiba Ben Bouali University of Chlef, Algeria
15:00h - 15:05h —FC 12 - Linking agricultural practices to soil health
Maria Godinho, Polytechnic University of Santarem, Portugal
15:05h - 15:10h — FC 13 - Valorization of faba bean waste and cactus gel: a sustainable approach to enhance broiler chick nutrition
Hassiba Ben Bouali University of Chlef, Algeria
15:10h - 15:15h — FC 14 - Chemical characterization and antioxidant properties of macroalgae from Algeria's coast
Imad El Haci, University of Tlemcen, Algeria
15:15h - 15:20h — FC 15 - Changes of food quality upon to drying: the case study of grapes and figs
Ramla Khiari, University of Aveiro, Portugal
15:20h - 15:35h — Coffee Break
15:35h - 15:45h — OC 14 - Soluble dietary fibers and oligosaccharides characterization towards valorisation of fresh fig as a functional ingredient
Elena Cassin, University of Aveiro, Portugal
15:45h - 15:55h — OC 15 - Diverse parameters for assessing quinoa yield reliability under environmental conditionssation of fresh fig as a functional ingredient
Ahmed El-Baz, The British University in Egypt, Egypt
15:55h - 16:05h — OC 16 - Therapeutic potential of hydroxytyrosol-rich olive mill wastewater in cerebral ischemia: insights from a Psammomys obesus cortical culture model
Sihem Mbarek, University of Manouba, Tunisia
16:05h - 16:15h — OC 17 - Spinach waste-derived photocatalyst for sustainable bioproducts
Cláudia Neves, Polytechnic University of Viseu, Portugal
Session 4. Business models for equity and farmer empowerment
Chairpersons: Youssuf Gherbawy, University of South Valley, Egypt & Luca Camanzi, University of Bologna, Italy
16:15h - 16:40h —IL 04 - The evolution of cooperative business models in agriculture: ownership and governance aspects
Constantine Iliopoulos, Co-opAbility Institute, Greece
16:40h - 16:50h — OC 18 - Sustaining economies and enhancing dynamic structures: a project overview
Noura Omri, ENCO Srl – Engineering & Consulting, Italy
16:50h - 17:00h — OC 19 - Cereal supply chain in Jordan
Raed Abdalqader, National Agricultural Research Center, Jordan
17:00h - 17:10h — OC 20 - The prickly pear palm as profitable alternative for small scale farmers: an innovative business model
Odete Lopes, Polytechnic University of Viseu, Portugal
17:10h - 17:20h — OC 21 - Bifacial solar photovoltaics for enhanced agrivoltaics in hot climates
Tarek Abdelsalam, The British University of Egypt, Egypt
17h20h - 17:35h — Closing Session
Invited Lecture
Yasser Gaber Dessouky - Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime
Increasing Resilience of Smallholders with Multi-Platforms Linking Localized Resource Sharing
Professor Yasser Gaber Dessouky graduated from Alexandria University in 1991 and earned his PhD from Heriot-Watt University, UK, in 1998. Since 2006, he has been a professor in the Department of Electrical and Control Engineering at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport (AASTMT). Currently, he is the Dean of Scientific Research and Innovation at AASTMT. He is a Renewable Energy Expert in the ESCWA of the UN. He is a member of the national steering committee of the Egyptian Science, Technology and Innovation Observatory (ESTIO). Professor Dessouky is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development and an Editorial board member of several scientific Journals. He is a consultant for various industrial companies and leads the Technology, Innovation, and Commercialization Office (TICO). He was the principal investigator (PI) for the Innovation Cluster for Deepening Local Manufacturing in the Electronics Industry (Egypt Knowledge and Technology Alliances 2016–2018), funded nationally by the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology. He is also the AASTMT PI for multiple EU-funded projects. An active researcher, Professor Dessouky has published over 65 research papers, supervised numerous PhD and MSc theses, and is a peer reviewer for leading journals and conferences. He also holds a patent from the UK Patent Office.
Amr Helal - CEO HEALTHTECH
Medicinal Plants and Functional ingredients Academia-Driven Products Development New Era for Egypt and Africa
Dr. Helal graduated from the Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University in 1983, where he received his M.Sc. and Ph.D. (1985–1997), including research in Japan from 1994 to 1997. His primary interest lies in investing in science, particularly in grain storage and the valorization of agricultural and food industry residues. Through his companies, Dr. Helal leads several projects supported by the Egyptian Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT) and the European Union (RDI) in these fields. Dr.Helal contributions have earned him numerous prestigious awards, including the Green Apple Award (UK) in 2008, the Innova Award (Egypt) in 2012, and the COMESA Innovation Prize for Africa in 2013. In November 2018, his company received the Innovation Award from ASRT, leading to his presentation at the Geneva Innovation Exhibition in April 2019. For his achievements, he was honored with Gold and Silver medals in 20YX.
Manuel António Coimbra - University of Aveiro
Ingredients and Processing Solutions for Food based on Carbohydrates
Manuel A. Coimbra is Full Professor at the Department of Chemistry of University of Aveiro, Portugal. He graduated in 1985 in Biochemistry at the University of Porto and got his PhD in Chemistry at the University of Aveiro in 1993, in a collaboration with the Institute of Food Research, in Norwich, UK. He is Professor of Food Chemistry and Biochemistry and Director of the BSc graduation in Biochemistry.
The scientific expertise and interests of Manuel A. Coimbra are focused on carbohydrate chemistry, polysaccharide structure and applications, food chemistry, and industry by-products valuation under a circular economy. The research has been based in Aveiro at the Associated Laboratory LAQV/REQUIMTE, allowing to rule over 80 research projects funded by different
entities, including industries. He is co-author of 8 patents, 348 research peer-reviewed papers (15,928 citations, h=67, Scopus), and supervised 28 PhD thesis (+9 running) and 13 Post-Docs.
Manuel A. Coimbra is Editor in Chief of Elsevier journal Carbohydrate Polymers (IF2023= 10.7), President of the Scientific Panel of Food Additives and Food Chain Contaminants of ASAE, the Portuguese Food Safety Agency.
Constantine Iliopoulos - Co-opAbility Institute
The Evolution of Cooperative Business Models in Agriculture: Ownership and Governance Aspects
Constantine’s mission is to lead and co-create with people, cooperatives, organizations, and communities to develop innovative, sustainable solutions to pressing organizational challenges and social dilemmas. He achieves this through leadership, action research, writing, facilitation, experiential training, systems-wise team building, and coaching. With over 30 years of experience in top-quality research projects across numerous countries, Costas combines: (1) a lifelong passion and deep expertise in cooperatives and team dynamics, cultivated through three decades of collaboration with the Graduate Institute of Cooperative Leadership (GICL) at the University of Missouri, USA; and (2) advanced training in systems thinking and system dynamics at MIT, Processwork Hub Athens, and AKMA. For 28 years, he has worked with leading agribusiness cooperatives worldwide, including California Tomato Growers and Land O’Lakes (USA), Co-operative Bulk Handling (Australia), ZON, FrieslandCampina, and CRV (Netherlands), KEVILI (Estonia), Koperattiva Produtturi tal-Halib Ltd. (Malta), Santo Wines, Kefalonia Fisheries, and ThesGi (Greece), among others. Costas is co-founder and senior researcher at the Co-opAbility Institute, Director of the Agricultural Economics Research Institute in Greece, and a visiting scholar at the Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO) in Germany. He is widely published in esteemed academic journals and edited volumes. A sought-after speaker, he regularly presents at international conferences, industry events, and annual meetings of agricultural cooperatives in more than 30 countries, sharing insights on cooperative leadership, governance, and sustainable development.
Abstracts submission
Authors are invited to submit their abstracts by March 15th, 2025, following the provided template.
Each registered author can submit a maximum of one abstract as presenting author, regardless of whether it is for an Oral, Flash, or Poster Communication.
The official language of the Conference is English.
The maximum length for Oral presentations is 8 minutes and for Flash presentations 3 minutes. All presenters are requested to adhere to the estipulated time to ensure a smooth program flow.
Presentation Selection Process
We aim to accommodate the maximum possible number of Oral Communication slots.
However, if the requested Oral Communications exceeds the number of slots available, the Scientific Committee reserves the right to reassign submissions to Flash or Poster Communications based on scientific evaluation of all submitted abstracts. Conversely, if any Flash or Poster Communication meets the scientific requirements, the Scientific Committee will also take the liberty of proposing to the author its transformation into Oral Communication.
Upon submission, authors should receive a confirmation email. If the participant does not receive an email confirming the submission of the abstract, he/she should confirm in the spam e-mail box. For problems the participant should contact the Conference Secretariat (inovfarmermed@gmail.com).
All accepted abstracts will be published on the E-book of abstracts.
Guidelines for presenters
IL 20 + 5 min Q&A
OC 8 + 2 min Q&A
FC 3 + 2 min Q&A
Posters are required to have standard A0 size (841 mm x 1189 mm)
Registration
Registration includes:
● Access to all sessions of the scientific program
● Identification tags
● Coffee breaks
● Lunch
● Social Dinner
● Certificate of Participation
Payment Details
Euro bank account
– Beneficiary name: Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport
– Beneficiary address: P.O. Box 1029, Miami, Alexandria, Egypt
– Bank name: Commercial International Bank (CIB), Smouha Branch, Alexandria, Egypt
– Bank address: 98 Fawzy Mouaz st., Lutos building, Smouha, Alexandria, Egypt.
– Account number: 100012751178
– IBAN: EG260010003400000100012751178
– Swift code: CIBEEGCX034
Egyptian pound bank account
– Beneficiary name: Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime
Transport
– Beneficiary address: P.O. Box 1029, Miami, Alexandria, Egypt
– Bank name: Commercial International Bank (CIB), Smouha Branch,
Alexandria, Egypt
– Bank address: 98 Fawzy Mouaz st., Lutos building, Smouha, Alexandria,
Egypt.
– Account number: 100005844139
– IBAN: EG130010003400000100005844139
– Swift code: CIBEEGCX034.
US dollar bank account
– Beneficiary name: Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport
– Beneficiary address: P.O. Box 1029, Miami, Alexandria, Egypt
– Bank name: Commercial International Bank (CIB), Smouha Branch, Alexandria, Egypt
– Bank address: 98 Fawzy Mouaz st., Lutos building, Smouha, Alexandria, Egypt.
– Account number: 100012751178
– IBAN: EG260010003400000100012751178
– Swift code: CIBEEGCX034
Important remarks:
● Please add the following reference to the transfer: Invofarmer.MED;
● Please send us the proof of payment to: inovfarmermed@gmail.com;
● If you register as a student, please send us proof of your student status via email. This proof can be a copy of the student card including the academic year, a letter from your supervisor, or a registration certificate;
● Registration is not considered complete until full payment of the fees.
Accommodation
Sheraton El Montaza
Hilton Alexandria Corniche Hotel
Tolip Hotel Alexandria
Romance Alexandria Hotel
Plaza Hotel Alexandria
Contact
Email: inovfarmermed@gmail.com
Organizing Committee
- Yasser Gaber Dessouky, Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, Egypt (Chair)
- Dulcineia Wessel, Polytechnic University of Viseu, Portugal (Chair)
- Carlos Catorze Pereira, Polytechnic University of Viseu, Portugal
- Cláudia Neves, Polytechnic University of Viseu, Portugal
- Essam Abdel Mawlla, Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, Egypt
- Karim Tonbol, Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, Egypt
- Elena Cassim, University of Aveiro, Portugal
- Maria Odete Lopes, Polytechnic University of Viseu, Portugal
- Mahmoud Abdel Sadek, University of South Valley, Egypt
- Mohamed Youssef Omar, Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, Egypt
- Rania Rageh, Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, Egypt
- Silvia Moreira, Food4Sustainability, Portugal
- Thaís Brum, Food4Sustainability, Portugal
- Youssef El Garabawy, University of South Valley, Egypt
Scientific Committee
- Dulcineia Wessel, Polytechnic University of Viseu, Portugal
- Abdelhamid El Mousadik, University Ibn Zohr, Morocco
- Ahmed Solyman, Glasgow Caledonian University, United Kingdom
- Cristina Amaro da Costa, Polytechnic University of Viseu, Portugal
- Carine Le-Bourvellec, National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment, France
- Cláudia Neves, Polytechnic University of Viseu, Portugal
- Congduc Pham, Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, France
- Elisabete Coelho, University of Aveiro, Portugal
- Essam Abdel-Mawla, Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, Egypt
- Gianfranco Romanazzi, Marche Polytechnic University, Italy
- Luca Camanzi, University of Bologna, Italy
- Meriem-Hind Ben-Mahdi, Ecole Nationale Supérieure Vétérinaire, Algeria
- Sónia Silva, University of Aveiro, Portugal
- Susana Cardoso, University of Aveiro, Portugal
Organization
Co-Organization
Conference Partners
Resilient Small Holder Initiative
https://resilientsmallholder.live-website.com
Registration Form
Conference on transformation agri-food supply chain for a sustainable future
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