Students of the Faculty of Agriculture, at Ain Shams University, won first place in the Green Innovation Hackathon during the closing ceremony of the third edition of the Regional Youth Conference on Climate Change 2024 for the Middle East and North Africa (RCOY MENA 2024), which was held in the Jordanian capital, Amman, from September 27 to 29, under the patronage of Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University, Prof. Thanaa El-Nubi, Acting Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Nevin Assem, CEO of the Training and Innovation Sector, and under the supervision of Prof. Lamia Radwan, Director of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Unit at the Faculty, and Dr. Islam, Director of the Innovation Clubs Project (ASU-iClub) at the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center.

The closing ceremony witnessed the honoring of the winners of the first three places in the Green Innovation Hackathon Competition. The representatives of the Faculty of Agriculture in the competition, student Abdel Rahman Mohamed, a graduate of the Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, and student Naira Nader, Vice President of the iClub Agr Council at the Faculty, were able to win first place for the “Qatfa” project, which is an emerging project in the field of agricultural technology (AgTech) and sustainable packaging, focusing on developing edible coatings for fruits and vegetables. This product aims to extend the shelf life of agricultural products by slowing down the ripening process and reducing moisture loss, which reduces waste during transportation and storage. The coatings are also made of natural, biodegradable ingredients, providing an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional plastic packaging.

Qatfa targets export stations and exporters, and seeks to provide innovative solutions that support environmental sustainability and improve the quality of exported agricultural products. This distinguished achievement not only reflects the team’s spirit of innovation and dedication, but also represents pride for the Arab Republic of Egypt in the field of sustainable agricultural technology, which enhances Egypt’s reputation as a center for environmental innovation.

It is noteworthy that the team had achieved first place in the "Ain Shams Innovates" competition, the fourth edition of 2023, in the Sustainability Ideas track, reflecting their continued excellence in innovation, reflecting their commitment and leadership role in the field of agricultural innovation.