SMART-UP - Powering Mediterranean Agri-food value chain

Sicily’s agri-food system generates significant quantities of secondary agricultural products and waste (e.g. from citrus, olive, edible flowers, snail farming). These by-products are typically discarded or under-utilised, resulting in environmental (e.g. waste accumulation, inefficient use of resources) and economic (untapped potential value) problems. In parallel, there is a growing demand in the nutraceutical and cosmetic sectors for natural and sustainable bioactive compounds. The innovations introduced by the EIP-OG aim to reduce the environmental impact associated with waste and over-processing in various agri-food sectors. Through this project, low-value by-products (secondary agricultural commodities and residues from industrial processing) will be valorised and transformed into high-value raw materials. These will be used to develop a new nutraceutical supplement and a novel cosmetic formulation. To achieve this, the project will implement technological innovations at the farm level and promote the acquisition of technical and scientific knowledge. This includes best practices for managing agricultural waste and production surpluses, as well as assessing the technical feasibility and economic viability of producing specific nutraceutical products derived from citrus fruit extracts, olive leaves, edible flowers, and snail slime. The initiative aims to promote environmental sustainability, open new income opportunities for farmers and processors in the region.