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CESAM concludes in Toulouse by advancing sustainable innovation and the circular economy across the Pyrenees-Mediterranean agri-food sector

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The final event of the European project brought together institutional representatives, experts and companies from Occitania, Catalonia and the Balearic Islands to present CESAM’s achievements, discuss the future of the agri-food sector and recognise the most innovative initiatives developed by participating SMEs.

La Cité in Toulouse today hosted the Sustainable Agri-Food Innovation Day, the final event of the European project CESAM (Circular Economy and Sustainable Agri-Food in the Mediterranean). The event brought together institutional representatives, experts, companies and innovation ecosystem stakeholders from Occitania, Catalonia and the Balearic Islands to promote the transition towards a more sustainable, circular and innovative agri-food model.

The event opened with an institutional welcome by Yannick Jauzion, Regional Councillor of La Région Occitanie / Pyrénées-Méditerranée, and Xavier Bernard Sans, Secretary General of the Pyrenees-Mediterranean Euroregion (Eurorégion Pyrénées Méditerranée – Euroregió Pirineus Mediterrània). Both highlighted the importance of cross-border cooperation in addressing the sustainability challenges facing the agri-food sector and strengthening innovation across the participating regions.

This was followed by a presentation from Virginie Perron, Project Officer at EISMEA (European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency), who outlined the European funding opportunities available to small and medium-sized enterprises. Her presentation focused in particular on the I3 Instrument, which supports interregional innovation projects.

The programme continued with a conference on the sustainable future of the agri-food sector, bringing together experts from Catalonia, Occitania and the Balearic Islands to discuss the challenges and opportunities involved in building a more resilient, competitive and environmentally sustainable agri-food system. The session featured Cécile Picollet, from the OcciMore Programme; María Francisca Parets, from Cooperatives Agro-alimentàries de les Illes Balears; and Carles Gasol, from Inèdit, who shared their perspectives on circular economy, innovation and the transformation of the agri-food sector.

The event also featured a panel discussion in which the CESAM consortium partners reflected on the project’s achievements and discussed future opportunities for collaboration across the three participating regions. The panel included Pierre Camps (Pyrenees-Mediterranean Euroregion), Pascal Mouy (AD’OCC), Marina Calvo (Fundació Bit), Nicolas Nguyen The (Agri Sud-Ouest Innovation), Martí Morató Hil (Go Zero Waste) and Didier Lopez (NEWTIMES Ingénierie), who agreed on the importance of interregional cooperation as a driver of innovation in the agri-food sector.

Later in the day, the 16 circular solutions developed by SMEs supported through CESAM were presented during a series of pitch sessions, showcasing innovative projects focused on circular economy, sustainability and digitalisation across the agri-food value chain. The presentations demonstrated the capacity of SMEs to develop practical solutions capable of generating a tangible impact across the territory.

The event concluded with the presentation of the CESAM Awards, recognising the most outstanding initiatives developed within the framework of the project. The winners were:

  • Best Innovation Award: B’ZEOS Terracor SAT
  • Best Environmental Impact Award: Ferty by Probio
  • Best Market Potential Award: FoodSensing 4CE
  • Best Solution Award (People’s Choice Award): Asclepios Tech

The Sustainable Agri-Food Innovation Day also provided a valuable networking space for companies, institutions and innovation stakeholders, fostering new partnerships and encouraging knowledge exchange to continue advancing a more sustainable agri-food ecosystem across the Pyrenees-Mediterranean area.

About CESAM

CESAM (Circular Economy and Sustainable Agri-Food in the Mediterranean) promotes the transition towards a more sustainable, efficient and circular agri-food model across the Mediterranean area. Co-funded by the European Union, the project brings together nine partners from Occitania, Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, including Fundació Bit, alongside organisations such as the Pyrenees-Mediterranean Euroregion, ACCIÓ, Agri Sud-Ouest Innovation and AD’OCC.

By fostering collaboration between regions, companies and innovation organisations, CESAM supports the development of solutions in circular economy, sustainability and digitalisation, strengthening the competitiveness of small and medium-sized agri-food enterprises across the Pyrenees-Mediterranean region.

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Paasiot, the IoT solution to promote reuse, is presented at Alimentaria Barcelona by GoZeroWaste, a partner company of the European CESAM project

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GoZeroWaste, a partner SME of the European CESAM project, has presented Paasiot, an innovative IoT-based technological solution designed to facilitate the collection and return of… Read More »Paasiot, the IoT solution to promote reuse, is presented at Alimentaria Barcelona by GoZeroWaste, a partner company of the European CESAM project

EcoAljibe: Rethinking Water Tank Sanitation to Tackle the Water Crisis Sustainably

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Project Name: Study to evaluate the effectiveness of modifying the cleaning and disinfection protocol for water storage tanks intended for consumption and improve sanitary protocols in the context of a water crisis
Acronym: EcoAljibe
Participating Company: ATA Ecotecnología e Higiene del Agua
Funding Program: CESAM Cascade Funding – Open Innovation Projects

As global water scarcity intensifies, EcoAljibe is addressing a critical yet often overlooked issue: the cleaning and disinfection of water storage tanks for human consumption. Led by ATA Ecotecnología, the project proposes a breakthrough: using the tank’s own stored water for hyperchlorination, eliminating the need for pre-drainage and reducing wastewater, energy use, and chemical inputs—all without compromising sanitary standards.

EcoAljibe’s main objectives include:

  • Testing a modified protocol that reuses water during sanitation.

  • Ensuring regulatory compliance and sanitary safety under real-world conditions.

  • Demonstrating reduced resource consumption and operational costs.

  • Generating results that can inform national water hygiene protocols.

  • Supporting more sustainable, circular approaches in water system management.

The project spans multiple regions of Spain, incorporating diverse climates, water qualities, and operational settings. This interregional testing strengthens the reliability and scalability of the protocol. By tailoring the approach to real-life conditions, EcoAljibe creates a practical roadmap for nationwide implementation and uniform improvements in hygiene practices.

ATA Ecotecnología’s contribution goes beyond innovation—it is rooted in a strong commitment to circularity and environmental responsibility. As part of the NexBiolinea Group, the company maintains a dedicated sustainability department, measures its carbon footprint, and helps clients integrate circular solutions. EcoAljibe reflects this ethos: a science-driven initiative designed to deliver measurable environmental benefits in response to a pressing societal challenge.

Read More »EcoAljibe: Rethinking Water Tank Sanitation to Tackle the Water Crisis Sustainably

FoodSensing4CE: Scaling Smart Packaging for a Safer, Greener Food Supply Chain

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Project Name: Smart Sensing for Sustainable Food Supply Chain
Acronym: FoodSensing4CE
Participating Companies: ColorSensing, Inox Ferro Sanchez (IFS)
Funding Program: CESAM Cascade Funding – Open Innovation Projects & Challenges

FoodSensing4CE is set to revolutionize how the food industry monitors quality and reduces waste. Led by ColorSensing and Inox Ferro Sanchez, the project scales up a smart packaging solution that leverages AI-powered colour analysis to enable continuous, non-invasive monitoring of food products. Integrated into industrial inspection machines, this technology ensures real-time quality control across packaging lines, enhancing food safety, transparency, and sustainability.

The project has four main goals:

  1. Demonstrate a fully integrated inspection system in an operational setting.

  2. Enable real-time food quality checks to improve traceability and minimize food waste.

  3. Boost compliance with food safety regulations, reducing product recalls.

  4. Scale the smart QR-based monitoring system to promote widespread industrial adoption.

FoodSensing4CE thrives on interregional collaboration, involving stakeholders from Spain, Belgium, and Denmark. Pilot tests across Galicia, Barcelona, and Valencia ensure local validation and cross-border knowledge transfer. The technology’s scalability has drawn interest from major international players such as Walmart (USA), Lidl (Germany), and SIGMA (Mexico)—highlighting Europe’s leadership in smart packaging innovation.

The project makes a strong contribution to the circular economy. By replacing static expiration dates with dynamic quality indicators, it extends product shelf life and reduces unnecessary waste. The low-cost, eco-friendly labels provide ongoing monitoring without destroying the product—supporting responsible consumption and a reduction in CO₂ emissions. Ultimately, FoodSensing4CE aligns closely with global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), offering a smarter, greener future for the food supply chain.

Read More »FoodSensing4CE: Scaling Smart Packaging for a Safer, Greener Food Supply Chain