ORIENTATE Kick-off Meeting: Transforming Agricultural Waste into Environmental and Economic Benefits Across the Mediterranean

The ORIENTATE project held its kick-off meeting in Jordan, bringing together partners to support cross-border cooperation and innovation in the Mediterranean basin

Publication Date
06/03/2026

Reading Time
2 minutes

The ORIENTATE project officially launched on 3–4 February 2026 in Amman, Jordan, bringing together partners from Italy, Spain, Jordan, Turkey, and Lebanon, united by a shared ambition: transforming citrus and olive agricultural waste into valuable bio-based products while strengthening cross-border cooperation and innovation across the Mediterranean basin.

The official opening ceremony gathered over 110 participants, demonstrating strong engagement at both national and international levels. Discussions centered on concrete approaches to agricultural waste valorisation, emphasizing the importance of innovation, strategic partnerships, and EU-funded cooperation in developing sustainable value chains throughout the Mediterranean region.

Tackling agricultural waste in the Mediterranean

The project focuses on transforming citrus and olive waste into valuable bio-products, addressing one of the Mediterranean region’s key environmental challenges. Agricultural residues such as olive pomace and pruning biomass are often difficult to manage and, if mismanaged, can contribute to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. ORIENTATE aims to turn these challenges into opportunities through innovative circular economy practices.

By supporting farmers, agri-businesses, and public authorities, the project will promote technology transfer, pilot testing, training, and scaling-up activities, engaging over 400 stakeholders across the region. The goal is to improve resource efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and create new green economic opportunities.

A transnational partnership for agricultural waste valorization

ORIENTATE brings together six complementary partners working collaboratively across the Mediterranean:

Project duration and funding

ORIENTATE runs for 30 months with a total budget of €2.5 million, with 89% funded by the European Union through the Interreg NEXT MED Programme.

By fostering innovation, knowledge exchange, and cross-border collaboration, ORIENTATE contributes to building more resilient, circular, and sustainable agri-food systems throughout the Mediterranean region.

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