Al-Ahliyya Amman University (AAU) exemplifies environmental leadership in higher education through a landmark initiative that transforms grape pomace historically discarded agricultural waste into premium antioxidant supplements. Embedded in the EU-funded BESTMEDGRAPE programme under the ENI CBC Med framework, the project crystallises AAU’s institutional commitment to climate action, circular-economy innovation and region-wide sustainable development.
AAU marshalled the collective expertise of its Entrepreneurship and Innovation Centre, Faculty of Agricultural Technology and Pharmacological and Diagnostic Research Centre (PDRC) to create a seamless research-to-market value chain. At its core operates H&H, a university-incubated start-up deploying green-chemistry extraction that eliminates toxic solvents, minimises waste and cuts energy demand, demonstrating a replicable alternative to conventional nutraceutical manufacturing.
Environmental outcomes are precise and compelling. To date, 1.2 tonnes of grape pomace have been diverted from landfill, preventing methane release and turning biomass into revenue. Controlled greenhouse cultivation of selected grape varieties, coupled with drip-irrigation sensors, has delivered a 35% reduction in electricity consumption and water savings approaching 40 %, establishing a new efficiency benchmark for bioactive product pipelines.
A rigorous life-cycle assessment nearing completion is projected to verify carbon-negative production, positioning AAU as a MENA pioneer in climate-positive entrepreneurship. The initiative advances four United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) through science-validated supplements; SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) via inclusive job creation; SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by closing resource loops; and SDG 13 (Climate Action) through measurable emission avoidance.
Impact extends beyond laboratories. Sustainability is woven into AAU’s strategic plan, engaging faculty, students, researchers and rural farmers as equal partners. Tangible achievements already include five new green jobs, entrepreneurship training for 20 students, a peer-reviewed publication in an open-access journal and a regional patent initiative.
The business case is equally strong. Eco-investors, agritech accelerators and clinical research organisations have entered memoranda of understanding with H&H, validating commercial potential and accelerating regulatory pathways. Parallel purchase agreements guarantee farmers fair prices for pomace, supplying fresh income streams while embedding traceable, ethical sourcing.
Scalability is central. AAU is coordinating a Mediterranean replication task-force with universities in Lebanon, Italy and Tunisia, each mapping local grape-waste flows and adapting AAU protocols. Early modelling suggests the approach could divert fifty thousand tonnes of pomace annually across the basin, offsetting nearly thirty-two thousand tonnes of CO₂-equivalent emissions and catalysing hundreds of rural jobs.
This initiative therefore embodies the essence of contemporary environmental leadership: visionary in concept, collaborative in execution, scientifically robust, financially viable and socially inclusive. It proves that higher education institutions can transcend traditional academic boundaries, delivering solutions that heal ecosystems while strengthening economies. Its holistic vision aligns with every evaluation criterion of Times Higher Education Awards.
Al-Ahliyya Amman University is not merely managing sustainability targets; it is redefining them, offering a blueprint for universities worldwide to convert pressing environmental challenges into scalable opportunities. Through grape-waste valorisation AAU demonstrates that purposeful research, anchored by community partnership and entrepreneurial drive, can generate health benefits, rural prosperity and climate resilience in one integrated worthy package.
