Innovating for Sustainability: Highlights from AQISA’s COP29 Event

On November 19, AQISA hosted an impactful event at COP29 titled “Sustainable Horizons: Innovations in Azerbaijan’s Food and Beverage Industry,” held at AZPROMO’s pavilion in the Green Zone. The event brought together thought leaders, innovators, and industry experts to discuss the future of sustainability in the food and beverage sector.

The event kicked off with a warm welcome from AQISA’s Chairman. Orkhan Mammadov, Chairman of the Management Board of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (SMBDA), emphasized the importance of Azerbaijan’s food and beverage industry and the crucial role SMEs play in sustainable development.

Keynote speeches were delivered by renowned experts, including Jens Nielsen, CEO of the World Climate Summit; Lasse Bruun, Director of Climate and Food at the UN Foundation; and Anna-Marie Laura, Senior Director of Climate Policy at Ocean Conservancy. Their presentations focused on the significant role SMEs play in building a sustainable food and beverage industry, the importance of public-private partnerships, and the need for a sustainable ecosystem. They also discussed the pressing issue of food waste and its impact on climate and aquatic life.

The second segment of the event featured Aykut Korkmaz, General Manager of Hilton Baku, and Farida Hasanova, Commercial Director, who showcased how Hilton Baku is leveraging artificial intelligence and other sustainable technologies to reduce food waste.

Rima Agayeva, an engineer from Coca-Cola İçecek Azerbaijan, shared impressive innovations in wastewater treatment and technologies aimed at providing clean water for aquatic life. She also demonstrated how energy-saving solutions, such as optical lenses that harness sunlight, are being implemented at the company’s production facility.

The final presentation was by Orkhan Mikayil, founder of the Caspian Water Innovations Forum (WIF), who provided a comprehensive overview of the forum’s mission. The forum serves as a platform for discussing efficient water usage, wastewater recycling, and environmental impacts in Azerbaijan and the Caspian Sea region.

To conclude, AQISA’s Chairman spoke about the “Coastal Clean-up” initiative, a project that began 15 years ago with 45 volunteers. Today, this initiative has grown exponentially, involving government agencies, international organizations, and thousands of volunteers dedicated to preserving Azerbaijan’s coastlines.

This event was a powerful reminder of how innovation, collaboration, and sustainable practices can shape the future of industries in Azerbaijan and beyond.