Alicante’s agri-food innovation scene celebrated a series of standout triumphs at the Mercalicante Awards, spotlighting the region’s commitment to advancing sustainable packaging, robotics in farming, and novel food products. The Oscillum project from Oscillum Biotechnology captured the first prize for its pioneering approach to extending product shelf life through active packaging. The solution combines intelligent labeling and online traceability, enabling consumers and producers to monitor product condition through color-changing indicators. Each shade on the label reflects the actual state of the product, offering a simple, intuitive tool for quick decision-making. When the indicator shifts in response to the environment, the activated packaging slows spoilage and preserves freshness for longer. This win underscores the importance of real-time product safety, freshness, and quality in today’s supply chains.
The award ceremony also highlighted the practical impact of such innovations. With online traceability, brands can tell a transparent story about their products, while the color-coded labels provide immediate visual cues about quality. This combination supports better inventory management, reduces waste, and enhances consumer confidence across digital and traditional retail channels.
The second prize went to Bumerania Robotics for the AGRai project, an ecological agricultural robot designed to weed fields. The robot operates on solar and wind energy, delivering a clean alternative to conventional farming methods without chemical inputs. Its design prioritizes environmental stewardship, offering a scalable solution for sustainable agriculture that minimizes ecological impact while maintaining field productivity.
The competition concluded with the third prize awarded to the Northern Spain project “Liquid Herbs,” presented by Northern Foods at Mercalicante. This company offers 11 varieties of organic liquid herbs intended for home cooking, professional kitchens, and restaurants. The herbs are combined with sea salt and organic vinegar for natural preservation, enabling storage for up to two years. The products remain stable at room temperature even after opening, providing convenient, long-lasting flavor options without reliance on artificial preservatives.
These recognitions were created to honor and encourage ongoing innovation among agri-food firms in Alicante Province. The awards aim to stimulate research and cross-sector collaboration, driving sustainable development and the adoption of forward-thinking practices in the industry. They also seek to promote knowledge exchange and shared learning between companies, advancing productivity and global competitiveness.
The jury for the awards included notable leaders such as the general manager of Mercalicante, Dolores Mejía; a member of the Employment and Development Council of the Alicante City Council, Mari Carmen from Spain; Mercasa’s Corporate Development and Corporate Relations Director, Maria Teresa Castillo; the founder of 1MillionBot, Andres Pedreño; and the president of AlicanTEC, Antonio Sánchez Zaplana. Their expertise guided a fair and rigorous assessment of each project, focusing on innovation, market viability, sustainability, and potential for scale.
In total, eight finalists were acknowledged for their innovative approaches. Alongside the winners, teams such as Advanced Business Digitalization, Air Pro Shoots, Moondi, Mediterranean Algae, and Quivia were recognized for their promising work. The jury evaluated each project on criteria including originality, market applicability, sustainability, impact, growth potential, and the strength of collaboration and synergies created by the initiative. The event highlighted how diverse perspectives—from digital transformation to green chemistry and agro-ecology—can accelerate progress in the sector.
Dolores Mejía, Mercalicante’s managing director, emphasized the strong potential evident across all projects showcased in this inaugural edition. The remarks reflected a shared belief that committed research and practical innovation can drive meaningful improvements in the regional agri-food landscape, benefiting producers, retailers, and consumers alike. These awards thus serve as a catalyst for ongoing experimentation and cross-pollination among Alicante’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.