Winners Announced at 3rd GPCA Innovation Competition in Riyadh

The Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) has revealed the winners of its 3rd Innovation Competition, held alongside the 14th GPCA Agri-Nutrients Conference at the JW Marriott Hotel in Riyadh. Themed "Race Towards Agri-Sustainability," the competition recognized innovative research from undergraduate and postgraduate students across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) focused on advancing sustainability in agriculture.

Rahma Hasan from the University of Bahrain secured first place in the undergraduate category for her research on the "Optimal Production of Bacterial Cellulases and Their Application on Agro-industrial Waste Biodegradation." Second place was awarded to Manar Al Attar from the International Maritime College Oman (IMCO) for her study on "Enhancing Agricultural Sustainability via Activated Carbon Production from Spent Coffee Waste."

In the postgraduate category, Ikhlas Ghiat from Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) in Qatar claimed first place for her innovative project on "CO2 Enrichment Driven Model Predictive Control for Precision Agriculture in Greenhouses in Hyper-arid Regions." Second place went to Baqer Aljaman from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia for his research on "Upcycling Food Waste with Black Soldier Fly Larvae."

The GPCA Innovation Competition, now in its third edition, honors exceptional research in agri-nutrients aimed at fostering a food-secure, climate-resilient planet. The competition attracted students from across the GCC with a focus on circular economy, soil health, sustainable resource management, and emission reduction in agri-nutrients production. Winners presented their projects at the 14th GPCA Agri-Nutrients Conference, where industry experts evaluated their entries.