Founded in 1972, the University of Cordoba (UCO) is well-regarded for its Agriculture & Forestry teaching, which is ranked as the joint fourth-best in Spain, in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023. The Food and Agriculture, Science and Technology area has been further consolidated with the Agrifood Campus of International Excellence (CeiA3) and the creation of the Rabanales 21 Science and Technology Park or The Maimonides Institute

The National School of Engineers of Sfax (ENIS) was founded in 1983. It is part of the University of Sfax (US, created in 1986). The US is one the best Universities in Tunisia and is also ranked in QS Quacquarelly Symonds in 2023. In addition to undergraduate activities, ENIS includes different research laboratories in its seven departments. The department of Biological Engineering contains 4 research laboratories of which the Laboratory of Plant Breeding and Valorisation of Agricultural Resources (LAPVA) was created in 2016

UM6P (Mohammed VI Polytechnic University) is a Moroccan non-profit private research university situated in Ben Guerir near Marrakech, with additional branches in Rabat and Laayoune. The university emphasises applied research, innovation, and economic and human development, particularly focusing on African development. The Department of Materials Science, Energy, and Nano-Engineering (MSN) operates under an agile organisational model to support research, education, and entrepreneurship.

The University of Turin (UNITO) is one of the largest Italian Universities, with about 70,000 students, 3,900 employees (academic, administrative and technical staff), 1,800 post-graduate and post-doctoral research fellows. According to ARWU international ranking, UNITO is ranked among the top 300 universities and is ranked in the first position among Italian universities in the area of biological sciences and in the third position in the area of agricultural and veterinary sciences. UNITO manages roughly 500 projects per year, both at the national and international level.

The Université des Frères Mentouri Constantine 1 (UFMC1) is an Algerian university established in 1969 and situated in the city of Constantine. In the 2016 regional ranking of Arab universities, it was positioned at the 50th spot according to the U.S. News & World Report. The University of Constantine operates with various faculties and institutes, one of which is the Institute of Nutrition and Food and Agri-Food Technologies. With over 30 years of existence, the institute has emerged as a leading centre for teaching and research in the field of food science.

Université Cadi Ayyad (UCA), Marrakech (Morocco), is a prestigious institution of higher education established in 1978. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs across various disciplines, including sciences, humanities, social sciences, and engineering. With a focus on research and innovation, UCA plays a vital role in advancing knowledge and contributing to societal development in Morocco and beyond. This institution is a key player in the region’s educational landscape and a symbol of Morocco’s commitment to higher education and research. UCA is one of the top public universities in Marrakech and is ranked #81-90 in Arab Region Rankings 2023.

PackBenefit (PB) is a prominent global company within the sustainable packaging sector, particularly excelling in compostable food packaging crafted from virgin cellulose pulp with surface coating. Established in 2013, PB has garnered a leadership position by delivering comprehensive and sustainable solutions with a strong emphasis on food safety. Their solutions ensure the safety of materials, eliminating toxic migration and preserving food’s sensory properties over extended periods. Distinguished by a wide working temperature range, PB’s naturally derived trays maintain rigidity even when heated, without releasing harmful substances into food. These trays stand out as an ecologically sound choice, being recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable. Extensive research, development, and innovation have fueled PB’s exceptional product range, consistently addressing trends in innovation, food safety, waste reduction, legislation, cost efficiency, logistics, and customisation

GTE Carbon Sustainability and Energy Consultancy (Ankara, Turkey) is an engineering and consultancy firm that possesses extensive local expertise and interdisciplinary experience in various aspects of climate services, sustainability, resource efficiency, and circular economy. With a focus on corporate, industry, and city levels, GTE has been operating since 2008 and has developed competency in four key areas: (i) Resource Efficiency and Circularity Assessments/Implementations (Cleaner Production – Industrial Symbiosis – Circular Economy) (ii) Climate Services (Mitigation and Adaptation) (iii) Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (iv) Carbon & Renewable Energy Certification. GTE has established itself as a reputable consultancy firm, having worked extensively with various clients and partners, including renowned organisations such as the World Bank Group (WBG), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Commission (EC), Municipalities, Government Agencies, Private Sector, Universities, and NGOs. The company has an impressive portfolio of carbon projects in Turkey and has collaborated with more than 100 institutions across different sectors, including public and private entities and NGOs, on over 200 projects. In 2020, GTE expanded its operations to the United Kingdom.

Founded in 2012, Computomics GmbH (COMPU) is a science-focused company dedicated to molecular biology data analysis. Its main focus is to translate cutting-edge bioinformatics discoveries into practical industrial applications. Based in Tübingen (Germany), it also has a subsidiary in the United States. Its team of experts employs advanced machine learning algorithms to harness the potential of plant breeding and metagenomics data. Its core competencies include analysing extensive genomic datasets and bringing molecular biology expertise to optimise crop footprints and investigating microbiome dynamics in diverse fields such as food, nutrition and biomedicine. It delves into intricate genotype-phenotype relationships, discovers novel genetic elements and metabolic pathways, and tracks microbiome evolution in a wide range of samples. To ensure the cutting-edge nature of its methodologies, it maintains a strategic and scientific advisory board composed of industry luminaries and esteemed professors from institutions including the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, the University of Tübingen and ETH Zurich.