After the completion of all preparatory stages, and with the specialized committee having evaluated the submitted projects and selected the winners, the Jordanian Association for Scientific Research, Entrepreneurship and Innovation organized the award ceremony to announce the winners of the “Small Innovative Green Projects Competition in Jordan,” in partnership with the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD). The ceremony took place on Monday, January 27, 2025, at the Olive Tree Hotel under the slogan “Innovate Today for a Greener Tomorrow,” and was held under the patronage of His Excellency Eng. Sami Smirat, Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship.
A total of 19 projects were selected as winners, with the combined grant funding requested amounting to USD 365,000. The projects were distributed across the following thematic areas:
Technology: 2 projects
Agriculture: 2 projects
Hydroponics: 3 projects
Energy & Renewable Energy: 3 projects
Fertilizers, Feed & Pesticides: 3 projects
Waste Management: 1 project
Food: 1 project
Climate & Green Tourism: 3 projects
Green Business Incubators: 1 project
The ceremony opened with a speech by Prof. Dr. Reda al-Khawaldeh, President of the Jordanian Association for Scientific Research, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, who emphasized the importance of supporting green innovation. Dr. Khaled Khreisat, Executive Director of JAIP and member of the competition’s advisory board, then presented a detailed overview of the competition’s implementation stages, evaluation mechanism, and the winning projects.
During the opening, contracts were signed for some of the winning projects—among them partnerships with the German Jordanian University, Petra University, and the Mansour Group. This was followed by a segment dedicated to presentations by the winning teams, in which participants explained their entrepreneurial ideas in detail and highlighted the added value their projects bring to the green economy.
The ceremony also featured a panel discussion titled “Entrepreneurship and Innovation: The Green Economy as a Global and National Priority,” moderated by Dr. Khreisat and including:
Prof. Dr. Mahmoud al-Duwairi, Chair of the Advisory Committee for the Green Projects Competition
Prof. Dr. Samih Abu Bakr, Member of the Advisory Committee
Dr. Fadel al-Zoubi, Senior Strategic Advisor, FAO Regional Office for Near East & North Africa
Dr. Ismat Karadsheh, Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Coordinator, European Union
The event concluded with a reaffirmation of the importance of supporting green entrepreneurial projects as an essential pillar of sustainable development in Jordan, of fostering partnerships between the public and private sectors to drive green‐economy innovation, and of the organizers’ commitment to continuing support for the winners to ensure the longevity and success of their initiatives.
Overview of the Winning Projects
Project Name: Plant World
Owner: Plant World AI Software
Overview:
An AI‐powered agricultural platform providing farmers with specialized consulting to improve both the quality and quantity of their crop yields. By leveraging computer-vision disease diagnostics and early‐warning algorithms, it detects plant pathologies precisely and promptly. The platform also offers free educational articles alongside affordable, unlimited expert consultations. The team aims to scale across Jordan and neighboring countries to bolster the agricultural sector and advance regional food‐security sustainability.
Project Name: Agricultural Technology for Climate Change Adaptation
Owner: Nature Alliance for Technical Solutions (Ltd.)
Overview:
Responding to documented impacts of climate change on Jordanian agriculture—where only high-income farmers currently benefit from modern ag‐tech—the project develops a low-cost, user-friendly sensor network (weather and soil) to generate precise data for mitigating heatwaves, drought, and frost. The grant will cover development kit costs, enabling wider farmer adoption and enhancing resilience to climatic stressors.
Project Name: Water Harvesting for the Integrated Farm
Owner: West Kufrasid Multipurpose Cooperative Society
Overview:
An integrated‐farm model designed to secure year-round water supply—one of its chief challenges—by constructing earthen reservoirs (2,000–2,500 m³ capacity) to collect and store rainwater from surrounding wadis. Stored water is used for on-site irrigation and to supply nearby agricultural lands, boosting both farm sustainability and the local environment.
Project Name: Jordan Turmeric
Owner: Aiham Munther Abu Annab Fruit Processing & Preparation Company
Overview:
A greenhouse‐based system (46 m × 9 m) for cultivating natural turmeric under controlled conditions. It employs a thermostat, cooling/exhaust fans, and an automated control network that runs equipment as needed. Crops are drip-irrigated via GR water-efficient lines, and the system generates periodic reports on temperature and water usage to optimize resource efficiency and plant health.
Project Name: Al-Khairat for Sustainable Organic Farming
Owner: Ikram al-Shouha & Rahaf al-Shammari Foundation (Partnership Co.)
Overview:
An aquaponics/fish-culture system producing chia and flax seeds, combined with rainwater harvesting ponds. Harvested rainwater is reused in hydroponics, cutting freshwater use by up to 90% versus traditional methods. The project reduces fertilizer and pesticide reliance, creates jobs in water-system management, and targets niche markets for high-value seeds, thereby enhancing productivity and competitiveness.
Project Name: Your Saffron
Owner: Mona al-Siyah Saffron Cultivation Foundation
Overview:
An aeroponic cultivation system for saffron that replaces soil with nutrient-laden mist, reducing water use by up to 95%. Specialized lighting and mist-nozzle arrays boost yields by 200% over conventional farming, enhance color, taste, and aroma, and allow four annual harvests instead of one. This scalable, year-round model represents a breakthrough in sustainable, high-efficiency agriculture.
Project Name: Hydroponics Oasis
Owner: Al-Sanara Al-Khadra for SME Incubation
Overview:
A modular hydroponic farm model supporting small and medium-scale Jordanian growers facing water shortages and climate challenges. By circulating nutrient solutions in a closed system, it drastically cuts water consumption while maintaining or increasing yields—strengthening economic and agricultural sustainability in vulnerable communities.
Project Name: Eco-Sprinklers Agrivoltaics
Owner: Solar PiezoClean
Overview:
An agrivoltaic setup combining under-panel crop cultivation with an intelligent sprinkler array that cleans PV modules and recovers wash water for irrigation. This dual-use system reduces panel soiling, enhances energy yield, reuses water, and leverages panel shade to curb crop evapotranspiration—integrating renewable energy production with food security.
Project Name: SolarDrain Clamp
Owner: Wamda Design & Innovation Co. Ltd.
Overview:
A patented fastening device that channels rain and wash water off solar panels to prevent dust and scale buildup on edges, thereby maintaining energy output and extending module lifespan. It doubles as a transport spacer, reducing packaging waste. Produced locally in tafileh, it creates manufacturing and R&D jobs while lowering solar‐system O&M costs.
Project Name: Inogea – GeaComb for CO₂ Credits Generation
Owner: IFISA Investment & Software Development (Ltd.)
Overview:
A microalgae-based carbon-capture unit that sequesters CO₂, emits O₂, and generates tradable carbon credits. Proprietary high-intensity lighting and acoustic growth accelerators yield 67% more oxygen while using 40% less energy than competitors—offering a compact, cost-effective CO₂-reduction solution for industrial emitters.
Project Name: OrganicG
Owner: Green Culture Agricultural Fertilizers Co. Ltd.
Overview:
A circular-economy startup turning fish-waste and spent cooking oils into organic fertilizers and biopesticides at half the cost of imports. Its products boost farmer income, reduce environmental pollution, and have earned invitations to the Dubai Agro-Food Expo and the Global Agri-Tech Innovation Summit. A Queen Rania Award incubatee, it’s patent-pending and aims to lead Jordan’s organic-fertilizer market.
Project Name: Ecofriendly Mineral-Based Natural Fertilizer
Owner: Manaseer Industrial Complex
Overview:
A chemical-free, mineral-derived fertilizer supplying macro- and micronutrients from Jordanian ores. It enhances soil health, conserves water, and aligns with national green-economy and Arab Green Development Vision objectives. Continued investment will ensure market penetration, environmental benefits, and job creation.
Project Name: Bio-Pesticide from Cruciferous Plant Waste
Owner: Al-Balqa Applied University, College of Agricultural Technology
Overview:
A pioneering biopesticide using glucosinolate compounds extracted from Brassicaceae crop residues and wild mustard. It offers an eco-safe alternative to synthetic chemicals, reduces organic waste pollution, and protects farmer health. The university will develop and test the formulation, the Royal Scientific Society will analyze its chemistry, and Al-Qawafel Agrichemicals will commercialize it.
Project Name: Circularity Hub for Spent EV Batteries
Owner: German Jordanian University
Overview:
C-HUB will deploy an end-to-end service for collecting, refurbishing, reusing, and recycling electric-vehicle batteries, fostering a circular-economy ecosystem. It will build technical capacity, inform policy, manage local waste streams, and adhere to global standards—driving sustainable growth and green-job creation in Jordan’s EV sector.
Project Name: Purslane Cultivation & Baked Goods
Owner: Umm Qais Hills Camp
Overview:
A dual field-and-lab program to cultivate the salt-tolerant wild plant purslane (Portulaca oleracea) and develop high-protein, gluten-free bakery products from its seeds. Protocols will be refined in agricultural trials and food-science labs, opening new uses for an underutilized native crop.
Project Name: Recycle of CO₂
Owner: Green Environment for Social Entrepreneurship & Ventures
Overview:
An innovative in-line industrial filter that captures flue-gas CO₂ and converts it—via an ammonia reaction under low electrical current—into solid organic fertilizers (e.g., urea, oxalate). It’s currently patent-pending and promises to reduce emissions, cut compliance fines, and generate a marketable byproduct.
Project Name: Qais Environmental Camp
Owner: Umm Qais Hills Camp
Overview:
A sustainable eco-camp offering affordable, low-impact visitor experiences. Phase I equips rest areas, sanitary facilities, fencing, and an on-site renewable-energy system; Phase II envisions guest cabins and strategic partnerships. The project promotes green tourism, community engagement, and environmental stewardship.
Project Name: Sustainable Mafraq Agricultural Resort & Safari
Owner: Environmental Footprint Association
Overview:
A hybrid agritourism and eco-resort initiative addressing water scarcity and rural underdevelopment in Mafraq. It integrates water-recycling, clean-energy systems, and guided safari experiences to create jobs, bolster rural incomes, and ensure long-term environmental resilience.
Project Name: Hectare Incubator
Owner: Hectare
Overview:
A green-business incubator offering startups in industrial agriculture and circular-economy sectors intensive training in project management, marketing, modern ag-tech, and sustainable energy solutions. The curriculum blends theory, hands-on workshops, and one-on-one mentorship, with regular progress assessments to ensure readiness for market entry.