Algeria 
Bahrain 
Egypt 
Iran 
Iraq 
Israel 
Jordan 
Kuwait 
Lebanon 
Libya 
Morocco 
Oman 
Palestine * 
Qatar 
Saudi Arabia 
Syria 
Tunisia 
United Arab Emirates ORIENTATE Kick-off Meeting: Transforming Agricultural Waste into Environmental and Economic Benefits Across the Mediterranean
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.
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.
ORIENTATE brings together six complementary partners working collaboratively across the Mediterranean:
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.
Countries covered:
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Jordan
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Lebanon
