As part of the ALF in Motion mobility program promoted by the Anna Lindh Foundation, the newly established Palestinian start-up small business presented its work and proposals. The event took place at the House by Phaos multipurpose venue in the city center and was organized in collaboration with the OTR Olive Tree Routes Cultural Foundation, host of Rouand Jamlan, environmental engineer and co-founder of Barakeh.
The presentation began with an introduction by Marinella Katsileri, head of the cultural program of the Olive Tree Routes Foundation, who presented the ALF in Motion program, through which this creative and professional exchange took place, focusing on sustainable innovation and Mediterranean cooperation.
During the event, Rouand Jamlan presented Barakeh as more than just a sustainable packaging startup, emphasizing that the initiative represents a creative platform that transforms olive cultivation waste into biodegradable materials and culturally inspired design products. She explained that their proposals address key Mediterranean challenges:
the underutilization of olive waste throughout the region, the packaging industry’s continued dependence on plastic, and the limited integration of shared cultural heritage into the local economy. Connecting Palestine and Greece through their shared heritage around the olive tree, Rouand Jamlan proposed a circular economy model that integrates environmental sustainability and economic opportunities through intercultural dialogue.
Rouand Jamlan and her partner Ahmed Asaf also spoke about their contacts in Messinia, where they observed the activities of important businesses such as the Biocyclic Park, where they participated in a highly interesting workshop with Professor Johannes Eisenbach, during which they presented their work and received guidance on testing methodologies, composting applications, and possible cost reduction strategies. The discussion provided valuable scientific knowledge and enhanced the technical development of the project.
They also mentioned two other meetings they had with companies in the area, “Klimis Asvestopoiia” and “Messiniaki” S.A. These meetings allowed for the exchange of expertise on olive waste treatment and opened discussions on possible future collaborations and synergies in sustainable production practices.
The event attracted a large audience and included an open discussion, with comments, questions, and thoughts on the environmental and technical possibilities of converting olive waste into value-added products.
The success of the event and the interest of the audience demonstrated that intercultural dialogue and mobility programs such as ALF in Motion can promote meaningful cross-border cooperation. Combining environmental impact, economic innovation, and cultural heritage, the project is an example of how shared Mediterranean resources, such as the olive tree, can become levers for sustainable transformation.