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2023/24 Semi Finalists

Please see below the Top 20 Semi Finalists of Cohort 2023/24

Farm as an ecosystem

KAUST University, Saudi Arabia

Healthy Soil Regeneration

Transforming the monoculture farm system into a more diverse, resilient, and self-sustaining ecosystem, creating a farm-resources closed system that mimics nature. This includes both agriculture practices and a self-farm microbiome bioreactor.

Researcher(s)

Ahmed Elhady

The Waste Lab - From Food Waste Rescue to Compost Production to Soil Building in the UAE and the Region

Individual, UAE

Organic fertilizers

The Waste Lab’s solution is to create an opportunity for every food scrap to become a solution for rather than a burden on our society and environment by combining nature-based principles, data-driven operations, local production and application of compost, and community engagement.

Researcher(s)

Lara Hussein, Ceylan Uren, Nick Little, Sara Al Darras

Affordable Nanotech for Arid Environments

KAUST University, Saudi Arabia

Minimizing Chemical Footprint

Revolutionizing agriculture, MePhSIN, a groundbreaking nano-platform, encapsulates plant growth regulators, unlocking a new era of enhanced crop resilience, doubling wheat production by 2050, and overcoming challenges in global food security.

Researcher(s):

Katya Michelle Aguilar Perez, Valeriia Nikolaeva,

Viiktoria Zheltova, Khozama Al Mohawes

Better Soil & Better Food

Individual, Syria

Biofertilizers

Nature’s solutions are at your fingertips.

Researcher(s)

Souliman Alhassan, Reham Hasan

Conservation agriculture (zero tillage) and organic transactions

Individual, Turkey

Diversified Crops

Conservation agriculture and organic agriculture (zero tillage) of olive trees

Researcher(s)

Yousef Hallak

Agrisolutions

Individual, Morocco

Technological solutions

Empowering farmers to double yields, slash water waste, and conquer disease with next-gen solutions for all vegetables

Researcher(s)

Yacer Manyani, Salah Eddine El Abbass, Yasser Mimouni

,Khaoula Mahres

More Drop, More Crop

Individual, UAE

Technological solutions

Sustainable Water Conservation Techniques for Arid Regions.

Researcher(s)

Khalil Ur Rahman, Mohammad Khalifa Bin Thaleth

Natural fiber reinforced bio-composites for soil erosion control

Individual, UAE

Use organic waste

Sustainable natural fiber reinforced bio-composites for enhanced soil erosion control in agricultural environments. 

Researcher(s)

Diana Sandoval

Sustainable strawberry production for small farmers in KSA

Individual, Saudi Arabia

Diversified crops

Sustain strawberry seedlings production for local farmers in KSA.  

Researcher(s)

Mohamed Ewis

MicroFert

Heliopolis University, Egypt 

Technological solutions

Natural customized bio-products with a beneficial impact on the environmental and agricultural ecosystem. Designed to boost crop productivity and enhance soil fertility.

Researcher(s)

Hend Elsawey, Rahma Ahmed Mohamed

 

Transforming organic Waste into Sustainable Solutions (TOWSS)

Benha University, Egypt

Organic fertilizers

Creating organic fertilizers by repurposing organic waste for sustainable agricultural practices.

Researcher(s)

Fathy Yacoub

 

Systemic Farming, carbon sequestration for future food security

Individual, UAE

Technological solutions

Systemic Farming Method – “The Simple way of growing Food as The Medicine for everything at an affordable price”.

Researcher(s)

Thoufik Rahuman Amanullah,Dr. Gnanapragasam

Singaravel, Dr. M.Ganesan

Soil2soil

ICT Mumbai, India 

Minimizing chemical footprint

Soil2Soil develops modified biochar from agriculture waste to reduce the use of chemical fertilizer and increase the fertility of the soil, with reducing water and air pollution due to agriculture waste.

Researcher(s)

Jay Thakkar

Addressing Soil Salinity: Challenges and Innovative Solutions

Plovdiv University, Bulgaria 

Healthy Soil Regeneration

Reclamation of saline soil using gypsum and microbial assisted phytoremediation in Turkey.

Researcher(s)

Georgina Asare

The cactus: a structuring plant for the environment and the food industry

Center de Recherche en Technologies
Agro-Alimentaires, Algeria

Diversified crops

By leveraging the inherent qualities of cacti and employing sustainable cultivation practices, the MENAT region can mitigate some of its agricultural, climate, and ecosystem challenges while capitalizing on the opportunities presented by this resilient crop.

Researcher(s)

Khodir Madani

Optimizing No-Till Planting Wheat with Summer Cover Crops

Minia University, Egypt 

Healthy Soil Regeneration

Improve the efficiency of organic no-till planted wheat systems using optimal cover crops.

Researcher(s)

Mohamed Asaad

Cyanoboost: Transition to regenerative farming with biofertilizers

Heliopolis University, Egypt 

Biofertilizers

“Cyanoboost” is a bio-fertilizer product that enhance the whole plant growth performance, improve the extracted essential oils, and increase the diversity of the rhizospheric microbiome in medicinal plants.

Researcher(s)

Doaa Ibrahim, Eman Nour El-deen Hamed

Optimizing Harnessing Biofertilizer for Efficient Organic Waste Utilization and Environmental Conservation

Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University,

Saudi Arabia

Organic fertilizers

Integrating cutting-edge biofertilizer technology into Saudi Arabia’s agricultural practices. It aims to enhance regenerative agriculture by efficiently utilizing organic waste, contributing to sustainable soil health, and aligning with the principles of Vision 2030 for comprehensive environmental conservation and agricultural efficiency

Researcher(s)

Dr Nadia Adnan

Egrobots

Individual, Egypt

Technological solutions

Imagine tiny robot farmers working 24/7, protecting your crops like superheroes. Our AI-powered scouting bots see pests, diseases, and weeds before your eyes do, saving you money, time, and the environment. Boost yields, slash costs, and farm smarter, not harder. Let’s robot-fy your future!

Researcher(s)

Akhlad Alabhar, Hanan Sabry, Ahmed Thabet

 

Weed Management with Advance AI Supported Mobile Robot

Individual, Turkey

Technological solutions

Orbiba Robotics offers autonomous, AI-powered robots designed to revolutionize regenerative farming by providing sustainable weed management and crop monitoring solutions.

Researcher(s)

Ilker Bektas, Murat Can Demiral, Zeynep Muradaermiş,


Zehra Altınkum

Sesame breeding for high-value production in hot and dry climates

KAUST University, Saudi Arabia

Diversified Crops

Improved sesame varieties could produce a high-value harvest using low inputs of fertilizer and water, while supporting local food systems and returning biomass carbon to the soil.

Researcher(s)

Conner Johnson, Jesse Poland, Ibrahim

Elbasyoni